Pregnancy cravings are impulsive, almost uncontrollable cravings for eating a food with a specific taste or texture, or combining foods that are generally not consumed together, manifesting most often from the second trimester and decreasing during the third trimester of pregnancy.
These desires manifest themselves in most pregnant women and are believed to be caused by hormonal changes or nutritional deficiencies, especially if the desire is for a very different food from that usually eaten by a woman.
- In general.
- The wishes of the pregnant woman are not whimsical and should be satisfied.
- As long as they are safe and do not harm the pregnancy or the baby.
- If in doubt.
- It is ideal to consult the obstetrician and talk about the situation.
The causes of cravings during pregnancy are not yet known, but several studies indicate that they can occur as an indirect consequence of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, which in turn cause changes in mood, taste, smell and preference for food, increased appetite and desire. eat or avoid certain foods.
Another theory that may be related is the fact that the pregnantness may have nutritional deficiencies. For example, a pregnant woman with anemia may begin to want to eat more meat or chocolate during pregnancy, as a way for the body to replace iron deficiency.
The fact that some foods contain compounds that may help relieve certain symptoms present during pregnancy may also be related to cravings. For example, chocolate contains methylxanthines, which are compounds that help improve fatigue, and there are also foods that contain substances that help women relieve nausea and vomiting.
In addition, the culture, culinary traditions of each country and certain psychological implications may also be related to the desires women have during pregnancy.
Cravings during pregnancy are different from woman to woman, however, the most common are to eat sweets, such as ice cream and chocolate, fruits and vegetables in general, fast food, sushi or Chinese cuisine, cereals such as rice, pasta and potatoes.
It is important to emphasize that pregnant women should not give in to desires that may involve the use of inedible substances, as they can lead to health problems.
When a woman begins to feel the desire to eat foreign objects such as brick, ash or wall, it is a sign of itch syndrome, which is characterized by a more severe nutritional deficiency and, therefore, it is very important that the woman is accompanied. by the doctor and a nutritionist.
For example, when a woman feels the desire to eat bricks, this can be a sign of lack of iron in the diet, while the desire to eat ash or a wall can be a sign of lack of zinc and calcium. Therefore, depending on the unusual desire of the pregnant woman, the doctor may have a first idea of nutritional deficiency, which should be confirmed by examinations.
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