Pregnancy is a transformative period for you with both physical and mental changes. Among these changes, pregnancy cravings is a common change you may experience during the pregnancy. These pregnancy cravings can range from a sudden desire for a specific food to weird combinations. This article provide you a better understanding about pregnancy cravings including causes, common pregnancy cravings, and effective management strategies.
Why Would I experience Pregnancy Cravings?
Here is a detailed explanation for proposed causes of pregnancy cravings.
1. Hormonal Changes:
During pregnancy, your pregnancy hormones including estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate. These hormones influence taste and smell and lead to altered food preferences. As pregnancy progresses, hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) levels increases and leads to early pregnancy cravings.
2. Nutritional Deficiencies:
Another reason for pregnancy cravings may due to nutritional deficiencies. Some pregnant women crave for red meat. It may be due to deficiency in iron which is essential for increased blood production during pregnancy. Cheese cravings during pregnancy can be a signal to calcium requirement. Calcium supports your baby’s bone growth and the density of maternal bones such as pelvic bone.
3. Sensory Changes:
Your sensitivity to taste and smell changes during pregnancy. This can be a cause that make some foods more appealing to you than before. Sometimes you may suddenly taste some foods better even you dislike them before.
4. Psychological Factors:
You may experience emotional states such as stress, anxiety and mood fluctuations. Your mind can find some foods offer emotional reassurance for these sudden mood swings. Therefore, you start to crave for some foods such as foods associated with your childhood or home-cooked meals.
What types of food I might crave for?
Here is the detailed explanation for pregnancy cravings list.
1. Sweets:
Your desire for chocolates, ice cream and other sweets can develop as your pregnancy progress. During pregnancy, your energy demand increases and these sweets provide a quick and accessible energy source. Therefore, you may crave for these sweets during pregnancy.
2. Salty Foods:
You may crave for salty foods such as pickles, chips and salted nuts while holding your baby for 9 months. This may be linked to changes in your body’s sodium levels. During pregnancy, increased blood volume causes fluctuations in sodium level.
3. Dairy Products:
Dairy products are another food in the pregnancy cravings list. You may experience craving for dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese cravings during pregnancy. This may be due to the body’s need for calcium which is important for your baby’s growth.
4. Spicy Foods:
Many pregnant women crave for spicy foods such as hot peppers, curries and chili-flavored snacks. The exact cause for pregnancy craving for spicy foods is unclear. But, some experts suggest that you may have cravings for spicy foods to enhance your digestion during pregnancy.
5. Citrus Fruits:
Your favor for citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and mandarin may increases during pregnancy. Citrus fruits have a refreshing taste and high vitamin C content. Therefore, these fruits support to enhance your immunity and improve iron absorption during pregnancy.
Pregnancy Cravings and Gender:
There is a popular belief that the nature of pregnancy cravings can predict the baby’s gender. People believe that craving for sweets indicate a girl while salty or sour cravings point a boy. But, still there is no scientific evidence to support this belief. Pregnancy cravings and gender are more likely related to your physiological and hormonal changes rather than your baby’s gender reveal.
How Can I manage Pregnancy Cravings?
Pregnancy cravings are generally harmless. But, you can manage them to ensure proper nutrition intake and the quality of your life.
Practice Moderation:
Occasional pregnancy cravings are fine. But, intake of unhealthy foods often can lead to complications such as diabetes, excessive weight gain and cloudy urine pregnancy. You can practice moderation to maintain your overall health while satisfying pregnancy cravings.
Choose Healthier Alternatives:
You can choose healthier foods when you crave for some foods such as sweets, salty and instant food. You can replace these unhealthy foods with naturally sweet and salty foods such as citrus fruits, unsalted nuts, baked chips and citrus fruits.
Stay Hydrated:
Sometimes your body mistakes dehydration for hunger and therefore cravings. You can drink enough water throughout the day to stay hydrated to avoid unnecessary food cravings.
Plan Balanced Meals:
Remember to take a balanced diet containing a mix of proteins, healthy fats and complex of carbohydrates. This helps you to reduce sudden cravings and energy crashes.
Consult your Doctor:
Sometimes you may experience weird pregnancy cravings that is out of your control. If you are facing such a situation, the best management strategy is to consult your doctor.