Coffee, wine and sushi are okay for consumption among pregnant women, but still in moderation, according to a new book which researched the long-held belief.
Emily Oster, associate professor at the University of Chicago's business school and a mother, wanted to know the actual facts or rules in relation to pregnancy. She decided to plunge into finding out whether or not the mainstays of pregnancy advice are actually true, and found that most are inconclusive, according to the Associated Press. As an economist, she used her data crunching skills to analyze the effects of coffee, sushi and alcohol on pregnant women.
In her book, "Expecting Better," Oster says weight gain during pregnancy is less important than a woman's starting weight and not gaining more than enough weight throughout the course of pregnancy may be more harmful.
She also concluded that light drinking is fine - two glasses of wine a week during the first trimester is alright and up to a glass a day in the second and third trimesters are also not a problem.
"Actually getting the numbers led me to a more relaxed place: a glass of wine every now and then, plenty of coffee, exercise when I wanted it," she told the Daily Mail.
Most of the evidences she found also claimed that three to four cups of coffee daily is actually healthy for pregnant women, according to the report.
Oster presented more information about the findings of her own research in the book she authored entitled "Expecting Better."
