Food Cravings During Pregnancy 

Pregnancy period brings in a lot of changes in a woman's body. The most noticeable change one notices during pregnancy happens to be craving. Generally, the change in hormones make the expectant mother crave for certain food types. Some women form a liking for ice-creams while some just crave for pickles.

These cravings may range from pickles to fruits to sour lemons, whatever they may be, but the fact is that they have to be catered to.  

Some common cravings

Some common cravings among pregnant women are for sugar products, dairy products, spicy food, cheesecakes, animal meat, ice creams, and chocolates.

Some pregnant women have a craving for certain strange things like chalk, dirt, detergent powder or soap, toothpaste, coal or even cigarette butts. These are called ‘pica’ cravings. Indulging in pica cravings may prove to be dangerous and unhealthy for both the child and the mother.

Reason behind pica cravings

• Hormonal changes in pregnancy: Hormonal changes at the time of pregnancy alter the sense of smell and taste of a woman. She may start craving for food that she earlier used to avoid.

• Emotional needs: The emotional needs of a person are known to have a connection with the kind of food that we intake. A pregnant woman may crave for certain food items consciously or even subconsciously depending upon her emotional state.

• Fighting the pregnancy symptoms: Fighting away the pregnancy symptoms such as nausea or morning sickness may be the reason behind the food aversions. Things like alcohol, coffee and other fried substances are known to induce nausea and harm the baby.

• Nutritional Deficiencies that are temporary: Nutritional deficiencies may also trigger certain cravings like for example craving for a pickle indicates a lowered sodium level in the body whereas a craving for chocolate may be because of a deficiency of vitamin B.

Dealing with the Cravings

The best way to deal with these pregnancy cravings is to replace them with some similar but healthy food. Also you can integrate your daily diet with all kinds of sugary, spicy and sour food so that you readily cater to your food cravings. Like for example ice creams can be replaced with non fat frozen curd and chocolates with non fat syrup of chocolate on a fruit.

Being pregnant is a wonderful experience and with it comes the responsibility of a child. A mother- to -be should watch out for her cravings. Make sure that you take proper and balanced diets. Keep a track of the food that you eat and take all varieties of food. Make sure you compliment all the unhealthy food that you take in with some healthy food. Make sure to discuss any and every problem that you face with your doctor and try to avoid having pica cravings because thay may prove hazardous to you and your child.