Pregnancy Cravings: Let's Talk About This!

Have you ever wanted to eat chocolate ice cream with some lime pickle? Or have you ever woken up in the middle of the night and craved a piece of mango sprinkled with chili powder? If you are an expectant mother, you are probably all too familiar with these strange, incompatible food cravings, or what we all know as "food cravings." This is a common occurrence during pregnancy. But why does this happen? Can these cravings be dangerous? Let's talk about this in detail.

Why does this kind of suffering occur?

To be honest, it's still not exactly known why these cravings arise during pregnancy. But there are a few theories that suggest this could be the cause.

The first theory is nutritional deficiency . Simply put, when your body and your unborn baby are lacking a certain nutrient, this craving is your body’s way of asking for it. For example, if you suddenly have a craving for salty foods like pickles, pickles, and limes, it could be a sign that your body needs sodium (salt). Similarly, if you feel like eating something like a cheeseburger or French fries, it could be a sign that you need protein, potassium, or sodium. Do you feel like eating chocolate ice cream? It could be a sign that your body needs calcium or fat.

The second factor is hormonal changes . During pregnancy, your body's hormone levels increase dramatically. Due to the effects of these hormones, your sense of smell and taste can change dramatically. This is why you may find yourself craving certain foods and finding it hard to stand the smell of foods you used to enjoy. This can also cause many mothers to experience morning sickness.

Can this food craving be dangerous? What is pica?

Most of the time, these food cravings are not harmful to the mother or the baby. However, if you are craving something that is not food , it can be a serious condition. This condition is medically known as Pica .

A person with this condition, Pica, has an uncontrollable desire to eat things that are completely unsuitable for human consumption, such as clay, chalk sticks, bark on walls, laundry detergent powder, ice in the fridge, and pieces of burnt pottery. While this may sound strange, the desire can be very strong.

Why is Pica dangerous?

The main cause of pica is considered to be iron deficiency anemia . Other nutritional deficiencies, such as zinc, can also contribute to it.

The most dangerous thing about this is that if you eat things like clay or soil, you can ingest toxic metals like lead . This lead can pass through the mother's body to the baby in the womb.

• It can seriously damage the child's brain development and nervous system.
• The child's intelligence quotient (IQ) may decrease.
• Hearing impairment and motor impairment may occur.
• The risk of developing learning difficulties and attention deficit disorders increases later in life.

Don't normal food cravings cause problems?

Okay, Pica is scary. But isn't it a problem to have a craving for normal things like sweets, fatty foods, and salty foods? It can be a problem. Let's see how that works.

The main problem is that you fill your stomach with unhealthy foods because of these desires, and avoid nutritious foods that are essential for your body and baby . For example, if you eat ice cream, chocolate, and biscuits instead of rice all day long, your baby will not get the protein , vitamins, and minerals needed for growth.

The other most serious issue is excessive weight gain . It is normal to gain weight during pregnancy. But it should be within limits.

• If you were at a normal weight when you got pregnant, it's ideal to gain between 11 and 16 kilograms (25-35 pounds) throughout your pregnancy.
• If you were overweight when you became pregnant, you should limit your weight gain to between 7 and 11 kilograms (15-25 pounds) .

Excessive weight gain increases the risk of preeclampsia (a dangerous condition in which blood pressure rises excessively during pregnancy) and various complications during childbirth.

Additionally, continuing to eat foods high in sugar increases the risk of developing gestational diabetes (a condition that occurs only during pregnancy). This can have adverse effects on both mother and baby.

So how do you intelligently control these food cravings?

You don't have to stop cravings completely. But you can manage them wisely. The important thing is to think about what you're craving when you feel like eating something. Ask yourself, "What is my body really asking for?"

For example, let's say you're craving strawberry ice cream. Think about it. Do you really want something cold, creamy, and sweet? Or do you want something with a strawberry flavor?

• If you want something cold and sweet , instead of high-fat ice cream, you can eat low-fat yogurt, fruit sorbet, or some fresh fruit.
• If you want something salty , instead of a packet of greasy chips, you can eat some salted cashews, some roasted chickpeas, or some vegetable pieces dipped in a dip.

See the table below. It will help you choose healthy options for your tastes.

Pica, pregnancy cravings, maternal nutrition