Pregnancy is a time that is notorious for food cravings. But what do these cravings mean? Believe it or not, craving something specific can be a way for your body to communicate to you what it needs. While there are no definitive studies on food cravings, there is evidence that your body could be trying to communicate that you are not eating enough or that you are deficient in a vitamin, mineral, or essential nutrient.
What Causes Pregnancy Cravings?
Craving something can be completely hormonal, but it can also mean that your body is in need of some type of vitamin or mineral. Cravings typically begin during the first trimester and can continue until you are done breastfeeding. Sometimes your body wants certain things that may make your friends and family raise their eyebrows. Don’t worry, strange combinations are common as your body may need more than one thing at once. Want chocolate and hamburger? You may need iron, magnesium, or protein. Cravings are a great way for your body to let you know exactly what it needs.
Are Pregnancy Cravings Bad?
Absolutely not! Pregnancy is one of the most intense, complicated things your body will ever go through. Even if your body does not need a certain thing and your cravings are purely hormonal, it’s still not a bad thing to give in. All things in moderation. Be wise about how much you eat of certain things (such as sugar and processed foods) but don’t deprive yourself either! Food is fuel, so making sure your fuel is giving your body what it needs to function properly is important. Keep that in mind, and also don’t feel guilty about eating that candy bar 😉
Do Cravings Indicate the Gender of Your Baby?
Some believe that craving salty foods can indicate that you are having a boy, while craving sweet foods mean you are having a girl. This is nothing but an old wives tale, but it can be fun to guess the gender of your baby based on your cravings!
What are Common Foods that Women Crave and Why?
- Milk Many women crave milk, and some even enjoy drinking it warm before bed. If you constantly need milk, your body could be trying to tell you that it needs calcium. Pregnancy depletes your calcium stores as it works hard to create another human. You can also get calcium from dark leafy greens, dairy products, fish, juice, nuts, and sesame seeds.
- Meat If you are craving meat, your body may need protein and iron. It’s important that you eat iron-rich foods as you need around 27mg of iron per day. Your protein intake should also increase during pregnancy so that you were getting around 75g per day. You can find iron and protein in nuts, beans, eggs, fish, meat, dark leafy greens, and some whole grains.
- Sour things This could mean that your body needs vitamin C. Lemons and limes are both high in vitamin C. They can often adequately fulfill your need for something sour. Sour things can also help alleviate morning sickness and nausea. This can also cover your desire for pickles. They may not have very much nutritional value, but sometimes you’ve just gotta have them!
- Chocolate Chocolate contains a naturally occurring chemical called tryptophan, which produces serotonin and can release endorphins in your brain. Yes, that does mean that chocolate makes you feel happy! (I’m sure you already knew that haha!) Dark chocolate can also help lower your blood pressure if it is high. Chocolate also contains theobromine, magnesium, and iron, all things that your body may need when pregnant!
- Spicy foods Thanks to fluctuating pregnancy hormones, your body can sometimes crave something hot or spicy. These foods “ warm you up” from the inside. Just be careful not to eat too much all at once, as spicy food can irritate your tummy as well as make heartburn worse.
- Ice Sometimes you just need to chew on something and ice is a great option for that! Other times, ice can be an indication of anemia, which is caused by iron deficiency. Ice can help relieve the inflammation in your mouth and tongue in anemic people. Tell your doctor or midwife if you constantly need ice.
- Fruit There are a number of different vitamins and minerals that you can get from eating fruit, but one of the most common is vitamin C. If you feel like you need fruit, try eating fresh fruits instead of canned (especially if you have gestational diabetes). Fruits like grapefruit and berries are lower in natural sugars, but still talk with your doctor about which fruits are best for you if you are on a low sugar diet.
What Does it Mean if I’m Craving Something and I’m Not Pregnant?
Craving something when you’re not pregnant can mean the same things as if you are pregnant. Your body could be deficient in something, depending on what you really want to eat. In this day and age, many people struggle with vitamin and mineral deficiencies. If you can’t figure out what you really need, talk with your doctor and brainstorm what foods you should add into your diet or what supplements you should be taking.
What if I Crave Something Abnormal?
Some pregnant women experience some thing called Pica. Pica is a desire to eat non-food substances. In some cases, you can crave things like laundry starch, dirt, crayons or Play-Doh. These cravings may be due to a serious deficiency in essential vitamins and minerals. Be sure to talk with your doctor or Midwife and let them know that you want to eat abnormal things. They can help you pinpoint what supplements to take/foods to eat to help curb your desire to eat things that you shouldn’t.
Ways to Curb Your Cravings
Sometimes you crave something that you shouldn’t eat a lot of, such as sugar or fried foods. One of the best ways to avoid pregnancy cravings is to make sure you have well-balanced meals throughout your day. Also, make sure you are taking your prenatal vitamins as well as any supplements you have discussed with your healthcare provider.
When a craving hits you hard, distract yourself. Go for a walk, play a game, get out in the sun, visit with people, take a shower. If you still can’t get away from your craving, listen to your body and have a little bit of whatever it is you think that you need. Or try and find a healthier alternative! If you need ice cream, blend up some fruit and have a smoothie bowl. If you really want pizza, make sure it’s topped with a lot of vegetables. No matter what it is, don’t feel like you have to eat badly just because your body is asking for something specific. Pregnancy is a beautiful experience, embrace these changes in your body and your appetite. Just be careful to make sure your cravings don’t compromise yours or your babies health when you give in 🙂
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