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Consuming too many potato chips during pregnancy could have a negative effect on the development of the baby.

Potato Crisps contain an omega-6 fat called linoleic acid that was previously thought to have health benefits such as lowering blood cholesterol.

But researchers found that feeding rats with three times the recommended daily intake of linoleic acid decreased hormones that regulate the growth and development of their unborn babies.

It also affected their liver function and increased proteins that cause contractions in the uterus, according to the findings published in The Journal of Physiology.

Study senior author Dr Deanne Skelly, of Griffith University, said: “It is important for pregnant women to consider their diet, and our research is yet another example that potentially consuming too much of a certain type of nutrient can have a negative impact on the growing baby.”

The research team at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, fed rats for 10 weeks on a diet with high linoelic acid and mated them.

They then investigated the effects of the diet on their pregnancy and the development of their offspring.

The team also found rat mothers who ate a high linoleic acid diet had a reduced number of male babies.

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  • I’m not convinced based on one study, so many worse environmental factors.

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  • Not something I consumed or desired during pregnancy.

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  • I dare you to try and take a pregnant lady’s chips off her! Eat a balanced diet chips and chocolate!

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  • Potato crisps have a very high salt content. The only ones I know of that aren’t as salty is the Aldi ones. I could also be something either the oil they use or something they add to it

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  • Please I graved salt plus plus whilst pregnancy and ate chips like they where veggies and no issues here

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  • Oh dear, during my first pregnancy half my diet was plain Kettle chips. And chocolate mud cake. I craved them bad. My son turned out to be 9 pound 6 and born before his due date (6 days) so I don’t think it affected his growth. I didn’t eat bags and bags everyday though.

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  • Having hyperemesis for the first trimester and half all i could stomach was chips

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  • Chips aren’t great for you anyway but if it’s all you can keep down then it’s all you’ve got!

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  • Asking a pregnant woman to avoid potato chips is like asking a child to avoid toys… Haha

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  • This makes sense, potato crisps are not very healthy. A healthy diet (not only) during pregnancy is important.


    • I agree – not something I consumed – would have made me ill.

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  • I think as the old saying goes, “Everything in moderation”.


    • 100% correct! A healthy diet is moderation and variety

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  • All about balance

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  • So how many chips is too many?

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  • Interesting, a balanced diet is super important during pregnancy.

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  • I think too much of anything is bad for anyone.

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