Managing
Food Cravings During Pregnancy
You’re in your first trimester
of pregnancy and suddenly you’re nearly bowled
over by a powerful craving for a certain food. Sure,
you’ve heard about the old stereotype of pickles
and ice cream at midnight. But there’s no way
you could have been prepared for how overwhelming the
feeling could be. That’s the strange reality of
pregnancy cravings: They can be sudden, intense, and
at times downright bizarre.
|
Although
there are many myths surrounding food cravings or aversions
during pregnancy, the truth is, we don’t know exactly
why they happen or what they mean. Some women never even
experience them. Other women find themselves driven to
distraction by an obsessive need for foods that they might
never have eaten in the past. Whether it’s pineapple,
chocolate, or even peanut-butter-and-bacon sandwiches
– and whether it lasts for just a week or for the
entire nine months – your craving will probably
be as unique as your pregnancy.
Reasons for Food Cravings in Pregnancy
One partial explanation for pregnancy cravings is that
your body is growing another person. You simply need
more calories, and if you’re not getting enough,
your body has powerful ways of getting you to eat more.
Some doctors believe that pregnancy cravings reflect
a certain deficiency in your diet. But experts disagree
on whether there is a real correlation. Sure, if you
are craving beef, you may have an iron deficiency. But
it’s hard to believe that a craving for triple-chocolate
fudge cake means that your body is lacking some vitamin
or mineral.
More plausibly, your hormones are just in overdrive,
especially in the first trimester when most food cravings
and aversions are the strongest. This can lead to experiencing
desires more intensely, whether it means an overwhelming
urge to eat grilled cheese, or a virulent aversion to
any strong-smelling foods. Either way, pregnancy cravings
and aversions may serve a protective purpose for your
body to help ensure that you eat more for your growing
fetus and to keep you from eating foods that may be
harmful.
Managing Pregnancy Cravings
So, given that you’re eating for two anyway,
shouldn’t it be OK to give in to your pregnancy
cravings? Well, yes and no. To manage your pregnancy
cravings, you should make sure that those foods you
choose to eat fit in with your overall plan for a
healthy pregnancy diet. If you feel like
you need fruit, go ahead and indulge. If you feel like
you need chocolate, try to moderate your cravings with
a glass of low-fat chocolate milk. If you are dying
for French fries, make sure you have your fill of a
nutritious lunch, and then allow yourself a small handful.
But if you are driven to distraction thinking about
something that clearly isn’t going to deliver
any nutrition at all – say, candy bars –
find another way to make yourself feel good. Take a
short walk or a swim (if your doctor approves), call
a friend, or eat some sweet fruit.
While some pregnancy cravings are simply unusual, others
can be dangerous. If you find yourself craving non-food
substances like dirt or chalk, it could be a sign of
a disease called pica, which could indicate an iron
deficiency. As always, make sure you tell your doctor
immediately if you have any of these or other strange
symptoms. But beyond that, enjoy all of the new and
unusual sensations that being pregnant can bring to
your body. Even if it only lasts for a week, your sudden
craving for sardines and chow mein noodles will make
a great story for years to come.
|
