Is Food Cravings Normal During Pregnancy?
Food cravings form an integral part of pregnancy and most women experience it at some time of their pregnancy. They may crave for certain cuisine and unusual food like craving for clay , coffee grounds, plaster, toothpaste, paint chips or other unusual substances. There are many reasons as to why women experience food cravings during pregnancy. One of it could be because your body works 24/7 to form a healthy baby and your food cravings could be to satisfy your body’s need for more calories.
Food cravings are normal during pregnancy and could signify certain nutrient deficiencies . You need not overindulge but satisfying normal food cravings for chocolates, pickles or ice cream is nothing wrong provided you do it in moderation. It is amazing but true that vegetarian mothers may crave for steak or red meat during pregnancy. This just indicates that she needs more iron or protein for herself and her growing child.
Food cravings could be overpowering and make you eat things that you would never dream of at ordinary times. A food craving is never bad but just a message as to what your body needs. So it could just be helpful to understand them and not overindulge.
However do take care if you crave to eat clay, dirt, coffee grounds, plaster, toothpaste, paint chips, laundry starch or other unusual substances. You then need a consultation with your doctor who will test you for iron and calcium deficiency . The doctor may then prescribe additional supplementation to help relieve your weird cravings.
There is nothing wrong in cravings for chocolates because they bringing about complex biochemical reactions in the body. Dark chocolates give magnesium and iron to help in anemia. However eating nuts, seeds, dates and figs for magnesium and red meat, eggs, nuts, seeds, beans and oatmeal for iron could help.
It is quite common to see women who eat vegetarian food to suddenly develop an aversion for red meat during pregnancy. So you can have plenty of other protein and iron items like fish, cheese, nuts, tofu and green leafy vegetables.
Food cravings and aversions are normal during pregnancy and just signify s dietary imbalances. So do not worry just enjoy your food cravings.
