Written by Editorial Team
Well, practically everybody has had a food craving, be it something spicy or sweet or any such specific thing, but pregnancy yearnings are a mammoth all their own. Researchers don’t have any record of a particular reason for pregnancy cravings; however, there are a couple of speculations.
While pregnancy cravings are usually portrayed as a dramatic phenomenon, for a lot of pregnant women, they are not a giggling issue. A US study estimated that 50–90% of pregnant women experience specific food cravings (1). Although pregnancy cravings are a frequently seen phenomenon, the underlying reasons for their existence remain mostly unknown. Cravings mostly stem from the hormonal changes that accompany pregnancy. Continue reading to discover the seven most common pregnant cravings and the safety tips you should follow when giving in to these cravings.
In This Article
Pregnant women may start to feel hungry as early as five weeks into their pregnancy. The cravings often reach their highest point in the second trimester and start to drop in the third.
Here, we present the seven most common pregnancy cravings, be they spicy or sweet cravings during pregnancy.
Chocolate is one of the most common pregnancy cravings among women (2). Pregnant women can benefit from the flavonoids present in cocoa nuts, the raw material for chocolate. Flavonoids are beneficial to the immune system. In other words, the more you crave chocolate, the more flavonoids you consume. Even if it sounds like a wonderful idea, pregnant women should limit their consumption of chocolate.
Pros
Cons
Points to Note While Eating Chocolate During Pregnancy
[Read: 6 Amazing Reasons Why Women Need To Eat Chocolates During Pregnancy]
Craving fries and other salty foods out of nowhere might baffle you and others around you. During pregnancy, the amount of fluid in your body increases, and blood plasma increases by 30%–50% (5). Salt plays a vital role in regulating the balance of fluids in the body. Looking at the nutritional profile of fries and chips, moderation while eating is the best approach. This is because one mostly craves them in frozen or deep-fried form, or from a fast food restaurant.
Pros
Cons
Points To Note While Eating Fries and Chips During Pregnancy
A healthy alternative to the usual fries and chips would be homemade ones. It’s better if you use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes.
How the fries are made can either make you healthy or leave you with hospital visits. It is a notable fact that air-fried and oven-baked cooking is better than deep-fried cooking in oil. You’ll consume much less fat.
The words of several pregnant mothers unite to say that cravings for spicy food were the first ones they had. Such cravings are the result of hormonal rushes and changes in the taste buds. Answering all your cravings for strong flavors isn’t healthy for you. Introduce some spicy cuisines into your diet gradually. Further research has unveiled a very interesting link between a pregnant mother eating foods of certain flavors and the baby later showing preferences for them.
Pros
Cons
Points To Note While Eating Spicy Food during Pregnancy
Craving sour foods like lemon is one of the most basic pregnancy cravings. Satisfying your yearning for a sour taste in your tongue through lemon juice is the ideal way. It will energize your body and mind and help you swiftly go through your day.
Pros
Cons
Points To Note While Eating Sour Food During Pregnancy
Keeping the clichés aside, craving ice cream is very common in the pregnant camp. It would be alright to simply give in to the temptation and empty the ice cream cups. But during pregnancy, you are ‘eating for two’. Accordingly, you’ll have to be cautious while eating ice cream.
Pros
Cons
Points To Note While Eating Ice Cream during Pregnancy
[Read: Ice Cream During Pregnancy]
Some ladies love coffee, while others feel like throwing up just from the smell of it. The dependence on coffee that most people have developed, be it a pregnant woman or a person on any other day, cannot be overlooked. Studies suggest that drinking more than a few cups of coffee a day makes a miscarriage more likely to occur (12).
Pros
Cons
Points To Note While Drinking Coffee During Pregnancy
[Read: Is it Safe to Take Caffeine During Pregnancy?]
It is the coolest craving of pregnancy. The temptation to crunch on ice is called ‘pagophagia’, and is completely normal in expecting mothers. Crunching on ice may become a woman’s favorite pastime while pregnant due to hormonal changes.
Pros
Cons
Points To Note While Crunching on Ice Cubes During Pregnancy
There is something so fresh about it that some pregnant ladies can’t get enough. As long as the pregnancy craving is being limited, it’s fine, but care should be taken. Her medical care professional should do regular checkups; they will assist her in deciding whether she needs an extra supplement to remain healthy and have as sound a pregnancy as could be expected under the circumstances. This will likewise help to get birth going as quickly as possible.
Many women actually have pregnancy cravings during their pregnancies. On occasion, one could get desires for everyday things like dosa, some snacks, chocolate cake, or apples. Additionally, it has been observed that pregnant women may crave strange food combinations or items they ordinarily detest.
As long as you’re eating a good, balanced diet, there is no evidence to suggest that not addressing pregnancy cravings could be harmful to you or your unborn child.
If you have a hankering for a midnight snack, consider something nutritious that will also fulfill your hunger. Choose a grain-and-dairy snack that is light, such as crackers with low-fat cheese and fruit or low-fat yogurt with toast and a healthy spread. Wait an hour before sleeping. These pregnancy-friendly foods digest rapidly, allowing you and your stomach to relax.
Reference
Read Also: Top 8 Ways To Deal With Food Cravings During Pregnancy
With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting.Read more.
Butterfly Exercise For Pregnancy to Improve Your Health – Is it Safe
Shingles During Pregnancy – Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis
Arbi in Pregnancy – Can We Eat, Nutritional Benefits and Side Effects
500 Top Unique Tamil Baby Boy Names With Meanings
Mayonnaise For Babies – Is it Safe to Give and Top Health Benefits
Empowering Expectant Mothers: Guidelines for Progesterone Cessation
Get regular updates, great recommendations and other right stuff at the right time.