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Pregnancy Cravings
What is it about pregnancy that can turn a meat-eater against beef or make a vegetarian crave steak? How can it make one woman gaga for guacamole and another barf at the sight of broccoli? Some of it is hormone-related, says Janet Pope, PhD, an associate professor of nutrition and dietetics at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston. Just as women have cravings at various stages of their menstrual cycle due to hormones, the same thing happens during pregnancy.
Some theories hold that there is also a wisdom of the body. A craving for milk might mean you need calcium; a craving for fruit may signal a need for vitamin C. In fact, fruit, milk, and milk products (as well as chocolate and salty snacks) are the most common pregnancy cravings, says Dr. Pope.
One thing we do know is that a woman's taste preferences change throughout pregnancy and these changes may affect what she chooses to eat. For example, moms-to-be tend to have a greater affinity for sweet foods (hello, chocolate!). Scientists think this could be caused by an increased need for calories during pregnancy.
Research conducted by Valerie Duffy, PhD, an associate professor in the School of Allied Health at the University of Connecticut in Storrs showed that women:
- Liked sour tastes more in the second and third trimesters than in the first trimester or before pregnancy. Like a preference for sweet tastes, a sour preference helps women get a more varied diet later in pregnancy so they can get enough calories, says Dr. Duffy. A yen for sour foods also seems to explain the classic pickle craving. And since fruit is typically a combination of sweet and sour tastes, it also explains why fruit is the most common pregnancy craving.
- Showed an increased preference for salty tastes -- which would include foods like potato chips and pickles (again!) -- as their pregnancy went along. During pregnancy, a woman's blood volume increases, so this taste change may be tied to her greater need for sodium.
- Had an intensified perception of bitterness during the first trimester. Scientists suspect that being able to isolate bitter tastes during pregnancy is an evolutionary protection, because many toxic plants and fruits taste bitter. This taste change helps warn pregnant women against consuming poisons, such as alcohol, during critical phases of fetal development, agrees Dr. Duffy. Interestingly, the aversion to bitter tastes typically lessens by the third trimester, when the crucial phases of fetal development have ended.
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With my son I could not stand the smell or taste of Chocolate, Peanut butter, Nuts, Pickles, or Seafood. I loved olives, pepperochines, pasta, milk and meat. With this pregnancy currently 19wks I can stand the taste or smell of meat, yogurt, milk, eggs, or green beans. Craving Cereal and soy milk
2/3/2012 11:48:30 AM Report AbuseIam 16 weeks now but i have been craving HOT SAUCE exspecially Tapeteo or franks hot i love it on everything and everyone tells me thats because im having a boy but i dont know what im having yet and i crave chocolate milk... but mainly hot sauce anyone else feel the same?
1/27/2012 11:18:25 PM Report AbuseI am almost eight weeks now and I have had cravings for green olives and mustard. I craved mustard with my first pregnancy too. I had to have it on everything.
1/6/2012 12:26:47 PM Report AbuseI'm 14 weeks and craving salty foods and cheese like mad. Oh and the thought of pasta- any kind- makes my mouth water! The smell of any kind of pork- no matter what kind or how its prepared makes me leave the room- instantly starts the gag reflex.
11/3/2011 01:31:45 PM Report AbuseI'm 17 weeks and I really have a craving for either pickles or endless amounts of chocolate. I've went through two jars of pickles in three days!
10/7/2011 06:38:17 PM Report AbuseI am 19 weeks pregnant with twins and I ALWAYS have a craving for dairy products. Milk, yogurt, ice cream, cheese or cereal. All of it. We go through about 7 gallons of milk a month.
9/17/2011 11:36:22 PM Report AbuseI crave salt A LOT. It's in my asian culture too but Dried Salted/Sour Plums are my life saver if I start to get nauseous! It's one of those old secrets. If you are always nauseous, definitely try this out! Stop by your asian store! =) Happy pregnancy!
9/9/2011 03:10:38 PM Report AbuseI am 19 weeks and I have been craving something sour! I have been adding lemon to my water and eating alot of fruits. I have had some diversion to eating meats. I can usually get a couple bites down before my gag reflexes decide no more meat. I have also craved roasted vegetables.
6/18/2011 10:15:45 AM Report AbuseI am 19 weeks and I have had a very easy pregnancy. No morning sickness at all! The one thing I am craving is sushi rolls! I know I have to be careful about the mercury content of them so I steer clear of anything that is real sushi. I eat California rolls which is imitation crab and shrimp and avacado rolls. Both of those should be ok. I am trying to limit myself to twice a week as I know that too much fish can be dangerous during pregnancy.
6/11/2011 08:50:21 AM Report AbuseI am 7 weeks pregnant, and so far I have cravings about once a week for sausage patties that will not go away until it is satisfied. My first pregnancy I could not stand the smell of most food or the sight of meat except for chicken nuggets. In fact the only food I could stand the sight of and eat was baby carrots, hash browns, and chicken nuggets for my entire first trimester.
4/27/2011 01:47:26 PM Report AbuseI'm 21 weeks and I guess you'd consider me lucky or normal for the most part. I've had zero morning sickness and I don't really crave anything weird. My friends/husband are always like, "What does the baby want today?" My answer? Nothing! She doesn't tell me she wants anything except pickles and candy lol, but I have no trouble eating anything put in front of me. I cannot, however, STAND the smell of eggs cooking. Bleh!
4/9/2011 09:17:39 AM Report AbuseI am 20 weeks and I was craving alot of sweet stuff and sour stuff. Thankfully I have only put on 10 pounds but my doctor told me I need to cut back Dangit!!! At least the cravings aren't so bad anymore. No morning sickness here though!
3/27/2011 07:16:00 AM Report AbuseI am about 8 weeks or so and I used to LOVE to share my 10 month old's baby foods, We buy the organic stuff in the pouchs, I CAN'T STAND The smell, I gag everytime I get a whif of it, I also LOVED red peppers before I got pregnant, Now the smell of them makes me almost puke.
3/15/2011 12:55:41 PM Report AbuseI can't stand chicken, the smell the look... ew and that use to be really the only meat we ever bought because its in expensive, and pork icky :P Right now pineapple watermelon lemons all sound amazing and Indian and Mexican food but my hubby hates it. I made a pork stew last night in my crock-pot and just the smell of it made me retreat to our bedroom.
3/4/2011 11:56:52 AM Report AbuseI'm about two months pregnant and so far the two things I can't eat or think about eating without gagging are oranges with seeds and dark meat chicken. I made chicken soup with dark meat chicken the other day and had to pick all of the chicken out. I just couldn't stomach it. Right now the only things I'm craving are Raw Onions, Lettuce, and water. My husband thinks I'm the most entertaining thing in the world since I got pregnant lol.
2/18/2011 01:42:35 PM Report AbuseIm 19 weeks pregnant. I have been craving lemonade lately! Regular, pink lemonade, strawberry lemonade.. lemonade period! It really goes great anything!
2/12/2011 08:59:03 AM Report AbuseI'm 20 weeks pregnant with my first child, and green tea, crackers and colby jack cheese, red peppers, and chocolate chip anything always taste amazing!! And pickles - dill pickles are the best ever :)
12/26/2010 08:14:29 PM Report AbuseI am just about 18 wks along and with this pregnancy I have a horrible craving for cranberries and sourkraut. I have never liked sourkraut until just before I got pregnant. But now its all I think about! My mouth waters just thinking about it! I dont know how i suddenly fell in love with it!
12/4/2010 03:42:28 PM Report AbuseI'm 20 weeks pregnant with my first child. About 2 months into my pregnancy I was craving anything cold. Ice and popsicles. I was also craving A1 sauce for steaks. Now I'm not really craving anything but I get heartburn like crazy and some smells and just looking at some food makes me sick to my stomach.
10/24/2010 03:11:40 PM Report AbuseMust. Have. Burritos!!! My fiance is in texas right now (thousands of miles away), and apparently they have 7 pound burritos there. I was webcamming with him the other night and he was eating one and omgwtfbbq it's all I can think about now. I have to have one!
10/22/2010 02:45:55 PM Report AbuseI am 8 weeks and can't keep anything down except Stake!! I even loose crackers and toast lol, but a 7oz stake will settle my upset stomach every time :)
9/2/2010 10:22:32 AM Report Abusei am only about 2 months pregnant and i have been wanting mexican
8/15/2010 10:21:24 PM Report AbuseThis is a weird one!!! Im 20 weeks pregnant and i crave sunflower seeds!! the ranch flavor is the best. All day every day im poppin away. i am a customer consultant and im on the phone all day. Can u belive that i got poppin seeds so u cant here anything over the phone down to a science? hahahahahahahahah!!!!!
8/9/2010 07:35:52 AM Report Abusei am 26 weeks pregnant and the other day i was baking cookies and i had a sudden urge to just eat the flour and since then i cant get rid of it. i have tasted flour before and know its got a bad taste normally. but lol, what would cause me to want to eat flour. does anyone know.
7/24/2010 11:56:36 PM Report AbuseHmmm... if you're craving alcohol, I would suggest a virgin margarita. I'm 20 weeks, and have hyperemisis (24/7 severe morning sick). It's the worst when I get dehydrated, which happens pretty easily with my constant puking... but forcing down fluids, and eating bland/absorbant things (break, crackers, goldfish, etc) helps A LOT!
7/18/2010 12:24:25 PM Report Abuseim 19 weeks and for the last week i havent been able to eat anything but toast with eaither butter or nutela i dont know whats going on but everytime i get near any other food i throw everything up ineed some advice my husbend is getting tired of going to walmart at 3am to buy more bread
6/12/2010 06:02:01 PM Report Abuseim also 20 weeks and the only meat i can eat is chicken breats and pork chops. Some foods all i have to do is look at them in the package and im running to the restroom. i have not craved the alcohol. and i have heartburn for heck. anything i look at i get heartburn. i have dont know what to tell you about the craving. i wish you luck with it.
6/6/2010 12:03:51 AM Report AbuseI am 20 weeks and craving alcohol and mixed drinks. I have never been anything more than a social drinker from time to time and I would not dare to give in to these cravings. Actually had a margarita flavored sno-cone the other day! lol Would like to know what would cause that craving. With my previous pregnancies I didn't crave alcohol. Any suggestions?
5/15/2010 08:41:51 AM Report Abuse