Pregnancy Cravings: What Makes You Want Certain Foods?

Pregnancy causes various changes in the body. These are the hormonal changes that occur due to the baby's growth. Hormonal changes result in multiple cravings in pregnancy. Craving food during pregnancy is normal, temporary, and harmless as long as it is associated with everyday foods. Research shows that cravings during pregnancy can be altered to provide proper nutrients to the growing baby. Scientists have done a lot of research to know why some individuals crave food during pregnancy. The present blog dwells on the various food cravings during pregnancy and why they occur.  

What are pregnancy cravings:  

Pregnancy cravings are common and intense urges of craving food during pregnancy that are specific for certain types. They are more than mere hunger cues and are challenging to resist. Most women develop at least one craving during pregnancy during their lifetime. Though the exact cause of these early pregnancy cravings is still not thoroughly researched, several factors play a role in the development of these cravings. Hormonal changes in the body, altered sense of smell and taste, and nutritional deficiencies play a crucial role in the development of cravings in pregnancy. Craving food items is normal in pregnancy; however, craving non-food items is abnormal and may indicate some underlying health condition. 

Why do pregnancy cravings occur:  

Many factors contribute to the occurrence of cravings during pregnancy. Hormonal alterations, the necessity of specific nutrients, social and cultural factors, and psychological factors are some of the factors that lead to cravings in pregnancy. Three hypotheses were proposed for the development of cravings during pregnancy. They are:

• Hormonal changes: Altered hormonal levels in the body during pregnancy might be one of the reasons for the development of cravings during pregnancy. Though a direct relation is not established, research shows that hormonal changes alter the sense of smell and taste. There is an increased sensation that may result in food cravings during pregnancy.  
• Nutrient issues: Another hypothesis is that pregnancy increases the body's nutrient needs. The need for extra nutrients increases cravings to match the baby's growing needs.  
• Specific ingredients: Specific ingredients present in food can also trigger cravings.  
• Cultural and psychosocial factors: The type of specific food craving depends on the individual's cultural and psychosocial factors. Some may crave rice, while others may develop a craving for chocolates.  
• Stress and emotional factors should also be considered when craving food during pregnancy. As pregnancy is a phase of immense body changes leading to stress buildup, one can develop a craving for food during pregnancy as compensation for stress.  

What are the various pregnancy cravings:  

Food cravings during pregnancy widely range from sweet and high-calorie foods to savory and protein-rich items. Craving food during pregnancy does not always mean eating unhealthy or junk food. It could also be for healthy foods. Some of the commonly craved foods include the following:

• Sweets: Craving for sweets during pregnancy is common, and foods like chocolate are one of the most common cravings. The craving can be due to cultural influence in certain areas where chocolate is highly associated with cravings, particularly among women. It could also be due to Psychosocial Factors where Pregnancy is seen as a socially acceptable time to indulge in restricted foods, reducing the guilt typically associated with consuming sweets.
• Chocolate could also be consumed as a self-rewarding food, potentially alleviating stress and mood fluctuations. Craving for sweets during pregnancy, especially chocolate, may also indicate an immense craving for sugar by the body. Chocolate sources like dark chocolate have good antioxidants and nutrients. Hence, indulging in dark chocolate during pregnancy may be helpful for the body.  
• Cravings for calorie-dense, savory carbohydrates are common during pregnancy. Foods that are dense in calories are preferred during pregnancies due to increased energy Demand. This could also be due to the cultural normalization of caloric-dense foods in pregnancy or increased body volume. Increased body volume increases the need for sodium, thus increasing food cravings. Alternatively, fatigue during pregnancy may also increase the appetite for starchy foods due to the energy demand during pregnancy.  
• Cravings for animal proteins such as chicken and steak may occur due to health conditions such as iron deficiency. The body may crave iron-rich foods like red meat to prevent anemia due to iron deficiency. Growing babies increase the demand for protein, which may increase the craving for protein-rich foods like meat.  
• Fruit craving is common in some women due to its intense vitamin and water content. Its natural sweetness also provides sensory appeal. These early pregnancy cravings may also fulfill sugar cravings more healthily. Increased cravings for citrus-rich foods occur due to vitamin C deficiency and the demand for folate during pregnancy. Citrus fruits such as oranges are rich sources of vitamin C and folate. Lemon may also be craved due to its ability to alleviate morning sickness in pregnancy.  
• Cravings for dairy, such as cheese, sour cream, ice cream, and milkshakes, are due to calcium deficiency. Calcium is needed for bone development, which may increase cravings for calcium-rich foods. These foods are also often linked to comfort and indulgence in stress.  
• Craving Other Carbohydrates, such as cereals, is due to Morning Sickness. Bland carbohydrates, such as cereals, alleviate nausea and vomiting. Carbohydrate craving is also seen due to the immediate energy requirements needed in pregnancy. As they provide immediate energy, they prevent blood sugar drops.
• Specific cravings for peanut butter may be due to hormonal changes during pregnancy. Peanut butter is a healthy snack and a good source of protein during pregnancy.  
• Craving fast food could be due to its convenience and its ability to provide satiety to multiple cravings simultaneously. Intense food flavors can cause altered taste perception and sensory stimulation. Cravings for fast food could also occur due to increased demand for sodium during pregnancy. Salt is an essential nutrient that performs various physiological functions in pregnancy; as fast foods such as potato chips are coated with salt, cravings during pregnancy are typical for such foods.  
• Craving cold foods such as ice cream is due to the cooling Effect. Pregnancy raises body temperature, which may be the reason for immense cravings for cold foods. Altered texture and taste preference for cold foods could also alleviate nausea. Craving specifically for ice may indicate an abnormal craving for non-food items in a health condition called Pica. It could also indicate early stages of anemia due to iron deficiency in the body. Craving for ice cream may be due to its immense calcium and iodine sources.  
• Pickle craving during early pregnancy are due to the craving for sodium, which is needed to maintain the body's balance of vitamins and nutrients. Pregnancy increases the body's volume and dilutes the red blood cells required to distribute oxygen, vitamins, and minerals properly. Sodium levels in the body maintain the body fluids during pregnancy, which justifies the increased cravings for pickles due to their immense sodium sources.  
• Craving food during pregnancy, especially spicy foods, may be due to altered immunity and hormonal balance. Altered hormonal balance may also alter the sense of taste and smell, increasing the craving for spicy foods.  
• Early pregnancy cravings for vegetables may occur due to their folate and iron content, as leafy greens and other vegetables support fetal development. The High fiber content in vegetables also helps in digestion, mitigating pregnancy-related constipation. Vegetable cravings in pregnancy could also be due to vitamin or mineral deficiency in the body. They could also satisfy the taste buds, providing immense nutrients to the body.  

When do cravings occur in pregnancy:

Craving food during pregnancy is seen in the first trimester, peaking in the second and decreasing towards the third. Ignoring food cravings during pregnancy or later is not harmful if an individual meets their body's demands by consuming a healthy, balanced diet.

Pica in pregnancy:

Early pregnancy cravings for non-food items like toothpaste or dirt may lead to a condition like Pica. During pregnancy, cravings for non-food items such as dirt, clay, sand, chalk, toothpaste, soap, and coffee grounds increase. Specific nutrient deficiency may cause such abnormal cravings during pregnancy. This needs immediate attention as it may lead to food poisoning and toxin accumulation in the body.  

Uncontrollable pregnancy cravings:

If your early pregnancy cravings are uncontrollable, it is better to meet with your healthcare professional and get a health checkup to identify the cause of the deficiency of a particular food during pregnancy. They may supplement with medical sources for abnormal cravings.  

Conclusion

Craving during early pregnancy is a common finding and a well-documented phenomenon. Physiological, cultural, and psychosocial factors influence craving during early pregnancy. While nutritional demands drive some early pregnancy cravings, others occur due to cultural expectations and emotional associations. Understanding that craving food during pregnancy is normal and identifying abnormal cravings can help pregnant women help to meet their nutritional demands. Making informed dietary choices for early pregnancy cravings in a balanced manner helps avoid abnormal weight gain during pregnancy.