You may think food cravings during pregnancy are just a fad but many people believe that pregnant women have them for a reason.
Food cravings and aversions are a normal part of life, but seem to intensify during pregnancy. Nutritionists believe that the craving is not for the food itself, but for what it contains and the effect it has on your body. A dietary imbalance can also create cravings. A high grain diet often produces wild cravings for fats and sweets. Those high in protein can bring on cravings for sugar, and high sugar consumption can make some individuals crave salt which is certainly not the best idea when you're pregnant!
At the end of the day a craving is not a bad thing; it's just like a message from your body. If you are in tune with your body, you will be able to respond to it in the right way. Although if a craving is allowed to turn into a regular binge, it could affect your health and the health of your baby.
During pregnancy you need all the right nutrients in the right proportion to stay healthy and help your baby to grow. It may be helpful to try and understand where cravings come from and the best ways to deal with them.
Common Cravings
 Eggs Full of protein but also sulphur, amino acids, selenium and, in the yoke, fat. The white contains useful fat-dissolving choline. Often it's not the eggs, but the accompaniments (bacon, sausages etc) which are unhealthy. Vary your protein sources to include oily fish like salmon and mackerel and dried beans to ease the craving.
Milk Calcium is the obvious choice. But milk also contains useful amino acids such as tryptophan, leucine and lysine. As long as you're not allergic, allow yourself an extra glass.
Apples Calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium. This is a pretty healthy craving. If you have a high-fat diet, your body may be craving the pectin for its ability to lower cholesterol.
Melon Potassium and vitamin A are its main nutrients. Canteloupes are also high in vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, biotin, and inositol - so go ahead, give into it.
Cheese Calcium, phosphorous and aluminium. Eat more broccoli and other green vegetables as a lower fat alternative.
Olives, pickles Sodium - your pregnant body needs more of it. Your body may also crave salt to balance excessive sugar intake.
Peanut butter/nuts B-vitamins, protein and fat. You need more of each when you are pregnant. A diet rich in oily fish will help diminish the craving and be lower in calories.
April 2007
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