Sometimes it happens to us too, right? Even when you see a food that you used to enjoy, now you feel disgusted. Or you don't even feel like putting a new food in your mouth, and even when you see it, you feel like vomiting. This is what we simply call 'food aversion' or 'food aversion'. It is very important for you to know exactly what this is.
What is Food Aversion?
Simply put, food aversion is a strong feeling of disgust that we have when we see, smell, or taste certain foods. It means that we are so disgusted that we don't even want to eat that food. This can happen to any food. It could be a food that you used to really enjoy, or it could be a food that you used to hate. It can also happen suddenly.
Who is most affected by this food craving?
Anyone can develop this food aversion. But it is most common in pregnant women and young children . It is actually quite common. Just think, as surveys show, nearly 70 out of 100 pregnant women develop this aversion to at least one food during pregnancy.
How does food cravings affect our bodies?
It's normal for us to dislike certain foods. But when we have food allergies, your brain tells your body, "This food is not good to eat, it's like poison." So your body rejects that food. Not only that, but when you see, smell, or taste that food, you may feel nauseous or vomit. It's like your body is telling you, "No more."
What are the symptoms of anorexia?
The symptoms of this food aversion can vary from person to person. For some people, it may be very mild, meaning just a strong aversion to certain foods. For others, it can be so severe that even the sight of certain foods makes them feel nauseous.
Common symptoms are:
- A strong dislike for certain foods.
- Coughing, gagging, nausea, or vomiting at the smell or taste of that food.
Symptoms in young children
When young children try new foods, their bodies may react differently than adults. So the symptoms of food intolerance in young children may be slightly different. See if your baby experiences any of these:
- When they are given food they don't like , they cry loudly, scream, and roll on the ground (throwing a tantrum).
- They say they can't eat other foods that look, smell, or have a texture similar to the food they don't like.
- They don't eat that food the way they eat other foods (for example, they smear the food everywhere and try to swallow it without chewing it properly).
- When you are given a food you don't like, it takes longer than usual to finish the meal.
Severe symptoms
If this food intolerance becomes severe, both young children and adults can experience the following symptoms. These are things to be aware of:
- Inability to gain weight or persistent weight loss.
- Malnutrition.
- Dehydration (loss of water in the body).
- Frequent headaches.
When does anorexia start during pregnancy?
This food craving during pregnancy usually starts during the first trimester. The main reason for this is that during this time, the body of pregnant mothers produces more of a hormone called ``Human Chorionic Gonadotropin - HCG''. This hormone is often the cause of things like morning sickness.
What can cause loss of appetite?
The exact cause of this food aversion is not yet known, but some studies suggest that it is caused by hormonal changes or challenges in the way our brain processes what we feel through our senses (sensory processing).
Hormonal Changes
Research shows that hormonal changes in the body of pregnant women, especially the increase in the aforementioned hormone (HCG), can cause food cravings. This is the same hormone that causes cravings for certain foods during pregnancy.
This hormone (HCG) is also responsible for morning sickness during pregnancy. Often, mothers who experience this discomfort associate the unpleasant experience with the food they ate and vomited at the time. They think, 'Oh... I ate that food and this happened to me.' This can change their relationship with that particular food, meaning they may dislike it.
Sensory Processing Issues
Our brains process everything we see, smell, touch, taste, and feel. This is called sensory processing. These sensory processing challenges are most common in young children, especially as they learn to use all of their senses. They can also affect those with underlying conditions that affect the senses, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Young children usually develop aversions to new, unfamiliar foods, or when they have experienced a traumatic experience, such as having a stomach ache after eating a previous food. For example, if a piece of fish gets stuck in their throat as a child, they may not be able to eat fish at all later in life.
Sensory processing problems can cause a young child to dislike a food for the following reasons:
- Dislike of the texture of the food when it is put in the mouth (e.g. some people dislike the liquid consistency of porridge, while others dislike crunchy foods).
- Feeling full, not hungry.
- The food feels very hot or very cold.
- The food may not look as appetizing as he thinks (e.g. some children say they can't eat green food).
- Dental problems (like a toothache).
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing food.
- An unidentified allergy – meaning that the body may react adversely to that food when it is eaten.
How do you recognize food cravings?
In most cases, if this food aversion is not severe, meaning that you only have aversions to a few foods that do not interfere with your ability to eat a balanced diet, a specific medical diagnosis is not necessary.
If you are pregnant, your doctor will do a urine or blood test to check your levels of the hormone ``(HCG)`` to determine if this is a food intolerance.
However, it can be difficult to diagnose in young children and non-pregnant women, as the exact cause is not known. In such cases, your doctor will ask about your complete medical history, perform a physical exam, and perform blood or urine tests to check for other underlying conditions that may be causing your loss of appetite. The doctor's goal is to rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms to yours and arrive at an accurate diagnosis.
How to treat anorexia?
In some cases, especially for pregnant women, it is okay to avoid certain foods that cause aversion, but you should get the nutrients from those foods from other foods that are safe to eat. For example, if you can't eat meat at all, you can eat fish, eggs, or lentils instead.
But if the food you dislike is essential to your health (e.g. vegetables, fruits), you can try these things to treat this food aversion:
- Eating foods you don't like, hiding them inside foods you like (for example, adding some spinach leaves to a fruit juice smoothie. Then you don't taste it).
- Changing the texture of food (for example, frying, grilling, or eating it as a salad instead of boiling).
- Work with a counselor or therapist to understand why you don't like this food, or to desensitize yourself to your food cravings.
- Slowly increasing exposure to foods you don't like. First look at the food, then smell it, then put a small piece in your mouth.
Does appetite disappear over time?
Sometimes, if the food cravings are not too severe, the aversion to that food may lessen over time. That is, you may become accustomed to it (desensitize). Cravings, especially those that develop during pregnancy, often go away after the baby is born.
But if your appetite is severe, especially if you are experiencing nausea, or if you or your child are not liking many foods that are essential for your health , don't expect it to get better over time. In severe cases, it's best to talk to your doctor about treatment options.
Can you prevent food cravings?
Since the exact cause of food cravings is not known, there is no specific way to prevent it. It is especially difficult for pregnant mothers to prevent food cravings due to hormonal changes.
But you can take these steps to prevent food cravings in young children:
- Introduce new foods to your child slowly and gradually. Don't give too many new things at once.
- Presenting new foods in creative ways (for example, arranging food on a plate in the shape of a smiley face, or cutting carrots into cute shapes).
- Avoid punishing or scolding your child for not eating a certain food. Doing so may make the child even more afraid of food.
- Eating new foods together with your child; being a good role model for your child. When your child sees you eating with pleasure, they are more likely to try it too.
- Offering new foods on the same plate as familiar foods that the child likes.
- Be careful about portion size when offering new foods (give a little at first) and don't force your child to eat more if they say they're full.
What happens if you have an appetite?
If you have a food aversion, you may find it difficult to eat certain foods because your body reacts negatively to the look, smell, and taste of those foods. It's okay to avoid foods you don't like, but only if you can get the nutrients they provide from other foods or supplements. Some food aversions go away over time, and in severe cases, treatment may be needed to overcome the aversion.
When should you see a doctor?
If your appetite is making it difficult for you to eat, or if you are not getting vital nutrients because of this appetite, you should definitely see a doctor. Also, if a child is not gaining weight or is constantly refusing to eat, it is important to seek medical advice.
What questions should you ask the doctor?
When you go to see the doctor, you can ask questions like these:
- Do I need to see a specialist to treat my anorexia?
- How do I introduce new foods to my child? What do I do when he refuses food?
- Will I get enough nutrition if I don't eat these foods I don't like? Do I need supplements?
- (If you are pregnant) Will this food craving go away after my baby is born?
What we need to remember from this (Take-Home Message)
Food cravings are very common and can happen to anyone, even if it's just for a moment. It could be a food you used to enjoy, or it could be a food you've only tried once and then disliked. There's nothing wrong with avoiding foods you don't like if you can get the nutrients you need in other ways.
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However, if this food craving is interfering with your eating habits, affecting your daily life, or making it so bad that you can't eat a balanced diet, definitely talk to your doctor about treatment options. Don't worry, there are solutions! You're not alone.
` Food Aversion, Food Aversion, Pregnancy, Child Health, Nutrition, Nausea, Food
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