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Pregnancy cravings are impulsive, almost uncontrollable urges to eat a food with a specific flavor or texture, or to combine foods that are not usually eaten together, manifesting more frequently from the second trimester and decreasing during the third trimester of pregnancy .
These desires are manifested in most pregnant women and are believed to be caused by hormonal changes or nutritional deficiencies, especially if the desire is for a food very different from what the woman usually eats.
In general, the wishes of the pregnant woman are not whims and must be met, as long as they are safe and do not harm the pregnancy or the baby. In case of doubt, the ideal is to consult the obstetrician and talk about the situation.
Possible causes
The causes of cravings in pregnancy are not yet known, but there are several studies that indicate that they may arise as an indirect consequence of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, which in turn cause changes in mood, taste, smell and preference of food, increasing appetite and the desire to consume or avoid some foods.
Another theory that may be related is the fact that the pregnant woman may have nutritional deficiencies. Thus, a pregnant woman suffering from anemia, for example, may begin to desire to eat more meat or chocolate during pregnancy, being a way for the body to replace iron deficiency.
The fact that some foods contain compounds that can help relieve certain symptoms present in 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, it is possible that the culture, culinary traditions of each country and some psychological implications are also related to the desires that women have during pregnancy.
What are the most common wishes
The desires during pregnancy are different from one woman to another, however, the most common ones are to eat sweets, such as ice cream and chocolate, fruits and vegetables in general, fast food, sushi or Chinese food, cereals like rice, pasta and potatoes.
It is important to emphasize that pregnant women should not give in to desires that may involve the consumption of non-edible substances, as they can cause health problems.
What does the urge to eat inedible things mean?
When the woman begins to feel the desire to eat foreign objects such as brick, ash or wall, it is a sign of a syndrome of pica, which is characterized by more severe nutritional deficiency and, therefore, it is very important that the woman is accompanied by the doctor and by a nutritionist.
For example, when a woman feels the desire to eat brick, it may be a sign of a lack of iron in the diet, while a desire to eat ash or a wall may be a sign of a lack of zinc and calcium. Thus, according to the pregnant woman's unusual desire, the doctor may have an initial idea of the nutritional deficiency, which must be confirmed through exams.
Learn more about the picmalacia.