Pregnancy may lead you to develop an affinity for certain foods. You may not have the stereotypical craving for pickles and ice cream, but any sudden desire to chow down on something falls into the “craving” category. If you find that you suddenly crave sugary foods, such as toffee, you’re not alone. According to a BabyCenter poll, 40 percent of women crave sweets during pregnancy.
Theories
No one is 100 percent positive about what leads to cravings during pregnancy. However, pregnancy cravings – such as your new sweet tooth for toffee – can generally be linked to hormonal changes of pregnancy, according to MayoClinic.com. You are more likely to get cravings during your first trimester because hormonal changes are so extreme at this time. Such hormonal changes likely lead to cravings by influencing your sense of taste and smell. Because of this, you are also more likely to have aversions for food you used to like if you are already prone to cravings.
Myths
Food cravings and aversions may be caused, in part, by your body’s changing needs. For example, a sudden repulsion of beer or coffee when you’re pregnant may be your body’s way of protecting itself – and your baby – from the negative effects of caffeine and alcohol, according to the health website What to Expect. You may also start to crave oranges if your body needs extra vitamin C. However, a toffee craving doesn’t mean your body is toffee-deficient and a sudden aversion to oatmeal or spinach doesn’t mean spinach or oatmeal will harm your body. Slightly “off” cravings and aversions may indicate that the human body is no longer fine-tuned to interpret its internal signals, notes What to Expect.
Tips
Unless your doctor says you shouldn’t have any toffee, feel free to indulge your sweet tooth within reason. For example, have a tiny sliver of toffee rather than gorging on the whole bar. If you have already met your daily toffee quota and you get another sudden urge to enjoy toffee’s crunchy sweet and salty taste, find a way to distract yourself. For example, take a walk, eat a piece of fruit or call a good friend.
Warning
Call your doctor as soon as possible if you start to crave strange non-food substances, such as dirt, chalk, cigarette ashes, toothpaste or coffee grounds. These cravings are called pica. This may indicate that you have a deficiency of a nutrient, such as iron, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Your doctor may need to assess your intake of vitamins and minerals and check your body’s iron levels. He may also give you tips to curb these cravings, such as chewing a piece of sugar free gum when they hit. Whatever you do, don’t cave in to these cravings or you may seriously endanger yourself and your baby.
References
- BabyCenter.com: Food Cravings and What They Mean
- American Baby: What’s Behind Those Cravings?
- What to Expect: Food Cravings During Pregnancy and Pregnancy Food Aversions
- MayoClinic.com: Symptoms of Pregnancy: What Happens Right Away
- American Pregnancy Association: Pregnancy and Pica – Non-Food Cravings
