Truth Behind A Pregnant Woman's Food Craving and How to Control It
Cravings are feelings desiring food combinations which women
either do not normally eat or may even stomach under usual
eating conditions. In a survey conducted recently, expectant
mothers usually crave for "something sweet" like an ice cream
(40%), most often called the "middle-of-the-night" urges. Coming
in second is the salty snacks (33%). They also go for spicy
foods (17%) and lastly, the lip-puckering sour foods like tarts
and citrus fruits (10%).
While no scientific explanations could be given, some reasons
offered by physicians include:
* strong hormonal changes; * deficiency of nutrients; * a
conscious or subconscious response to emotion; * food with
special meaning, religion and cultural reasons; * maybe
nutritionally based; and, * expectations about getting cravings.
On the other hand, food aversion is the opposite of cravings.
These are the most hated foods by the expectant mother. Reports
state that red meat is the most common aversion of would be
mothers.
Expectant mothers need all the nutrients in the right amount to
stay healthy and to help their babies develop and grow normally.
Cravings may help would-be moms achieve this by desiring
nutritious food over those with excessive calories which they
sometimes fill their bodies with. Most pregnant women also have
a strong yearning for chocolates that stimulates the release of
"feel good" brain chemicals in the body. This sometimes helps
pregnant women to feel better and manage their moods even for
only a short period of time.
Most popular cravings are: apples, melon, cheese, eggs, milk,
olives and pickles, peanut butter and nuts
Experts break down the food cravings of women into trimesters
during the pregnancy:
First Trimester - a strong bitter taste; this may be a signal of
the body that warns the expectant mother of the presence of high
toxic substances in plants and fruits.
Second and Third Trimesters - a craving for sour tasting foods
like pickles (this helps women to get a varied diet later on in
her pregnancy); urges for sweet and sour foods make fruits a
popular craving for pregnant women.
As the pregnancy progresses - an increased preference for salty
foods like potato chips; as the blood volume increases in the
body of a pregnant woman her need for sodium also intensifies.
Other Cravings
Unusual cravings are called the "pica" phenomenon. These are
cravings for inedible substances such as dirt, chalk, laundry
powder and coal, etc. Pica is the Latin name for Magpie, a bird
that eats almost anything.
Pica is said to be a sign of an underlying physical or mental
illness. If you develop a craving like this, resist it and award
yourself with an ice cream, a bar of chocolate or a piece of
cake. Remind yourself that the craving
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will pass and not to
stress yourself about it. You shall not give in because this
would mean mental problems for the child, impaired hearing and
low motor skills development.
Healthier Options
During pregnancy, there's no harm in giving in to food urges
but, just don't make it a habit that will endanger you and your
child.
Here are some healthy fixes that you can substitute your sinful
cravings with:
Ice cream - opt for a nice cold fruit smoothie, non-fat frozen
yogurt, sherbet/sorbet or popsicle;
Cola/Soda - flavored seltzer, mineral water with fruit juice or
lime juice;
Doughnuts and pastries - whole-grain bagels or toasted bread
with jam;
Potato chips - low-fat or baked chips, pretzels or light
microwave popcorn;
Chocolate - have a few squares only, chocolate milk, fat-free
hot cocoa or make some trial mix with a small handful of
chocolate chips, dried fruits and nuts; and,
Cakes and cookies - low-fat banana-nut or zucchini bread or try
an Angel food cake topped with fresh strawberries, Graham
crackers with a little peanut butter.
Suggestions to control your cravings:
Cravings lose their intensity while the pregnancy progresses.
But here are some ways to help you manage your food yearnings:
1. Eat breakfast everyday to lessen the intensity of your
cravings.
2. Understand your cravings to help find healthier substitutes
for your food urges. Try to take time breaking your cravings
down: What are you longing for: something cold, smooth, creamy,
and sweet? This will aid you in identifying more nutritional
substitutes.
3. Keep a food diary and review whether you're eating a balanced
diet or not.
4. Work out to help you curb hunger.
5. Have lots of emotional support from loved ones.
6. Think small in terms of the amount of intake.
7. Always consult your doctor.
While pregnant, keep in mind that this is no time for dieting
but a time to experiment with foods and make eating fun as it
should be. Have assortment in your foods, balance your diet
well, and make eating fun, not weird.
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Elysiana Canlas 2005. For up to date links and information about
Pregnancy, please go to: PregnancyClue.com
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About the author:
Elysiana Canlas is a copywriter, a database management
specialist, and a wedding coordinator. She is the webmaster of
PregnancyClue.com, a web nook of a bunch of up to date pregnancy
tips.
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