Food Cravings During Pregnancy

Almost all pregnant women experience food cravings during pregnancy. In fact, 'food cravings' is one of the early and important symptoms of pregnancy. The exact cause of food cravings experienced during pregnancy is unknown, but it mainly indicates nutritional deficiency. Scientists are still researching on 'pica cravings' or cravings for foods that are low in nutrition (or nutrition-less foods) or cravings for non-food items like chalk, ice, etc.

Pregnancy and Food Cravings

Chocolate and Sweet Food
Most pregnant women feel like eating 'something sweet'. Chocolate cravings, ice-cream cravings are common during pregnancy. You might think that it is just an indulgence. Do you know that chocolates stimulate release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter? Release of serotonin makes you feel happy and it helps increase the feelings of well-being. Moreover, chocolate cravings indicate magnesium deficiency. It has been proved that scarcity of various minerals or essential elements like chromium, carbon, sulfur or phosphorus results in sugar cravings.

Spicy food
Craving for spicy food during pregnancy indicates that your body needs something to maintain its temperature. Your body may be unable to regulate its temperature due to deficiency of zinc. Your body may be giving out signals through cravings during pregnancy. But instead of eating only hot and spicy food, you should follow a healthy pregnancy diet.

Red Meat
Meat cravings indicate that your body needs more protein. You should include sufficient lean pieces of meat like chicken, pork, beef, turkey, lamb, fish along with eggs and supply enough protein to your body. You can also eat legumes, lentils, beans, brown rice, whole wheat bread, oat bran, oatmeal, whole wheat pasta, etc. so that you will feel satiated for a longer period of time.

Fruits
Craving for peaches, strawberries or cantaloupes indicates deficiency of beta carotene. All yellow, orange or red fruits contain beta carotene and beta carotene rich foods are good sources of vitamin A. You should not neglect food cravings but you should try to understand what your body is really trying to tell you.

Pica Cravings
Craving for non- food items like laundry detergent, chalks, dirt, soap, toothpaste, coal, cigarette butts, etc. is termed as 'pica cravings'. Such type of cravings can affect the health of the mother and the baby seriously. It is believed that weird cravings during pregnancy arise out of calcium or iron deficiencies. Sometimes, women eat non-food items because they desperately need something to overcome nausea and vomiting.

Salty Snacks and Sour Pickles
These can be described as the most common food cravings; but they actually indicate scarcity of sodium, vitamin C in the body. Most pregnant women love eating salty snacks, sour pickles, dairy products, tomatoes, tomato sauce, lemon, cheese, etc.

Why Do Pregnant Women Crave for Certain Foods

Vitamins and mineral deficiencies, hormonal imbalance, emotional needs may cause food cravings during pregnancy. The body of the pregnant woman needs more nutrients and more calories. While warding off pregnancy symptoms like nausea and vomiting, pregnant women should not fall prey to pica cravings. They should also try to avoid nutrition-less food items. Though pregnant women need extra calories and nutrients, going crazy with sugar or salty foods should be avoided. Consumption of foods which should actually be avoided during pregnancy may lead to certain health problems. Overweight women should especially stay away from foods rich in fat and sugar. Pregnant women can opt for low fat versions of food items. Instead of eating chocolate, they may add some chocolate syrup on fruits and enjoy the flavor. Along with chicken and eggs, they should include lots of nuts, seeds, dry fruits, fresh fruits and vegetables in diet to overcome vitamins and minerals deficiencies.

Food Cravings and Gender of the Baby

We all like to guess the sex of the baby with the help of pregnancy symptoms. Ultrasound tests can surely help you but for the sake of fun, you may check out these old wives' tales to find out whether you're having a boy or girl....

• If you are craving salty or sour foods, meats and cheese, potato fries, pretzels and popcorn then it's a BOY!
• If you are craving ice cream, chocolate, and candy then it's a GIRL!

Pregnant women should consult a doctor in case of weird cravings or if they have any doubts regarding vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Healthy diet plays an important role in the health of both the mother and the fetus.