Pregnancy cravings - Do's and Don'ts

Food craving during pregnancy is a common experience that almost all women go through. The taste choices, likes and dislikes for a particular food and other food routines may undergo a great change when you are pregnant. Can you believe that your once favourite beef will make you irritated even with its smell while you are pregnant? There are many expert explanations available on the basis of various researches that are conducted on this topic.

The main causes that are supposed to be the root of pregnancy cravings are the hormonal changes and need of extra nutrients. While some women crave for healthy food, some others may crave any unhealthy food that doesn’t have anything good to do for health. Some pregnant women even have strange and unusual food cravings. This makes it important for every woman to know the pregnancy cravings dos and don’ts.

Cravings when pregnant is normal, but unhealthy food cravings may do harm to you and your unborn baby. Here, we may discuss some pregnancy cravings dos and don’t’s that may help you to cope up with your cravings when pregnant.  

Cravings when pregnant: Dos:

Make healthy choices: It is an important point to remember while considering pregnancy cravings dos and don’ts. If you crave for sugar, opt for fruits instead of ice-cream. If you crave salt make sure that you are not exceeding the limit.

Talk with your doctor: If you feel that you are getting addicted to your food cravings, it is better to talk with your doctor. It is common that food cravings lead to an increase in blood sugar and blood pressure, which are not at all safe for a pregnant woman.

Take small breaks: Don’t take too much of unhealthy food. It is a good idea to take purposeful breaks from taking your favourite foods regularly. This is an important point to keep in mind while considering pregnancy cravings dos and don’ts.

Satisfy your cravings: If you have food cravings when pregnant, it is better to satisfy your cravings. This will keep you emotionally healthy and will reduce stress and anxiety associated with it. If you crave unhealthy food, remember to limit the amount of intake to a minimum.

Skip from unhealthy cravings: You can divert your concentration to something else to escape from unhealthy cravings. When the thought of your favourite unhealthy food strikes you, take a walk, watch a movie, drink some water or make a phone call.

Cravings when pregnant: Don’ts:

Don’t make it a habit: It is an important point in the list of pregnancy cravings dos and don’ts. Don’t make taking your favourite food a part of routine, especially if it is an unhealthy food choice.

No junk foods: It is common that pregnant women start to hate homemade food while they are pregnant. If you are cooking yourself, the chances are more for this. This will direct you to junk foods. But, it is very important to avoid junk food or other processed food during pregnancy.

Don’t skip into unusual cravings: There is a condition known as pica, when you crave non-food items, such as paint chips, laundry starch, or dirt. This may be due to any nutritional deficiency. Don’t go before these potentially toxic materials that will do harm to you and your baby. 

Don’t go crazy: Whatever food you crave, remember not to go crazy for it. Limit it to once in a day. Usually, cravings when pregnant will subside once you get back to your normal life after the delivery.