Cravings consist of an irrepressible desire to eat or drink something, and although they can occur at any time and at any age, pregnancy is the stage par excellence. Not surprisingly, 25% of pregnant women claim to have had cravings at some point during pregnancy.
Much has been written and speculated about cravings; Since not satisfying them can cause spots on the newborn’s skin, until they correspond to a physiological need of the mother that must be satisfied. But what is true in all this? Why do cravings occur in pregnancy? We explain it to you.
What are cravings in pregnancy due to?
Cravings for a certain food are one of the most typical symptoms of pregnancy, and also one of the aspects of the pregnant woman most portrayed in film or television.
There is a belief that behind cravings lies a nutrient deficiency that must be satisfied. Thus, for example, if a woman has a craving for dark chocolate, it could indicate that she is low in magnesium, a mineral essential for our health.
However, various studies (such as this one carried out by Flinders University, in Australia), do not consider that such an association exists , because if so, the logical thing is that the craving will revolve around other foods with a much higher content in magnesium than chocolate, such as almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts or chickpeas.
This does not mean that behind an irrational craving there is no food deficiency, but they are exceptional and very rare cases, as with pica, an eating disorder in which the person feels the irrepressible need to eat things that are not food , such as dirt, stones, ice or paper.
Most experts consider that the desire to eat a certain food could be due to hormonal and physical changes that occur during pregnancy, and that have an impact on the senses of taste and smell. This association would also explain why during ovulation and pre-menstrual phase (period of significant hormonal fluctuations), many women also experience cravings.
On the other hand, there are experts who consider that having cravings during pregnancy is simply due to a wake-up call from the pregnant woman , who wants to receive pampering and attention at this sensitive and delicate stage.
Should I satisfy my cravings if I am pregnant?
To the question of whether or not the pregnant woman should satisfy her cravings, the answer is ‘it depends’.
If you sporadically crave unhealthy foods (for example, sweets), there would be no problem in satisfying them and indulging yourself, as long as the pregnant woman regularly eats a healthy and balanced diet, practices physical exercise and there are no medical contraindications that prohibit the consumption of that specific food (either because the food itself is contraindicated during pregnancy or because the mother has a condition or disease that advises against its consumption).
But if the desire to consume unhealthy food or beverages is very frequent , satisfying the palate could end up leading to health problems for the mother -such as cavities, excess weight, hypertension, diabetes …-, and for the baby, even affecting to your future health.
On the other hand, if the obsession with a certain food ends in an impulsive binge that causes guilt or shame, or if the fact of not satisfying a craving generates anxiety in the pregnant woman, it is advisable to consult a specialist, as there could be a component behind emotional that needs to be dealt with.
How do mother’s cravings affect the baby?
There is a popular belief that angiomas or hemangiomas on the baby’s skin (which some people call “cravings”) are due precisely to the mother’s unfulfilled cravings during pregnancy. It goes without saying that this widespread myth lacks any scientific foundation.
But recent studies have determined that the mother’s cravings can influence the taste preferences that the baby develops during childhood, as long as we talk about a habitual consumption. This does not mean that there is a direct link between the maternal diet during pregnancy and the food preferences of her children throughout life, but it has been observed that frequent exposure to certain flavors within the mother’s womb could influence the time of develop particular tastes for a certain food.
In summary…
Thus, having cravings during pregnancy is normal and frequent, although there is no scientific explanation to justify them, nor do they influence the baby.
If your cravings are healthy (for example nuts, fruits or vegetables) there is no problem in satisfying them, but if your preferences include unhealthy foods, it is advisable to avoid them or make a very sporadic consumption. Consult with your doctor or midwife any questions you have in this regard .
Fotos | iStock, Pexels (Marta Tyuzova)
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