Pregnancy cravings are a phenomenon felt by many expecting mothers, and it is important for expecting mothers to understand the impact that ignoring these cravings can have on their physical and mental health. When you are pregnant, your body is changing rapidly and your hormones are fluctuating. This can lead to cravings for certain foods, which can help to provide your body with the nutrients it needs. Ignoring these cravings can be detrimental to both your physical and emotional well-being, so it is important to understand how neglecting your cravings can affect you and your baby. In this blog post, we will discuss what happens if you ignore pregnancy cravings and how to address them in a healthy way.
Is it Bad to Ignore Pregnancy Cravings?
Overall, it is not bad to ignore pregnancy cravings. However, as long as you do so in a moderation and safe manner, it is not necessarily bad to indulge in them.
Researchers have struggled to pinpoint exactly why pregnancy cravings may occur and have found mixed results. One hypothesis is that pregnant women crave certain foods because of nutrient deficiencies (source: Frontiers in Psychology).
Even though this is very likely the case, it does not explain why many pregnant women crave foods that are high in sugar, saturated fat, and salt.
Additionally, researchers believe that pregnancy cravings could be a result of the hormonal imbalances that inevitably occur during pregnancy (source: Frontiers in Psychology).
Pregnancy can contribute to sensory changes, including taste and smell. Consequently, it might result in food cravings and aversions.
Whatever the reason, your cravings during pregnancy are probably completely normal and nothing to be concerned about. It’s also not harmful for you and your child to ignore them.
Think about the type of food being craved before deciding whether or not to ignore it. For instance, you can confidently indulge in fruit because it is a part of a balanced and healthy diet and is abundant in healthy vitamins and minerals.
On the other hand, it might be best to ignore food cravings for junk food. Nevertheless, it’s acceptable to give in to cravings for cookies or a piece of chocolate in moderation.
Which Cravings Are Bad to Ignore When Pregnant?
During pregnancy, cravings for certain healthy nutrients shouldn’t be disregarded. For instance, it would be wise to give in to your craving for oranges because they are high in vitamin C and other nutrients.
You can eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and lean meats in a way that makes you happy by paying attention to your cravings for these foods.
Additionally, some cravings can be signs of serious medical conditions and demand attention.
For instance, having an iron deficiency anemia may cause you to crave ice or ice chips (source: Mayo Clinic).
Although the exact causes are unknown, scientists speculate that the goal of this craving may be to improve alertness in those who are iron deficient. If you are severely craving ice, speak with your physician.
Additionally, diabetes may be present if you experience excessive thirst, increased hunger, or low energy. Speak with your physician if you experience these symptoms.
How much weight you gain during pregnancy can affect you and your baby’s long-term health?
If you gain excessive weight during pregnancy, your baby can also grow too large, leading to complications during labor. It can also increase your baby’s chances of being overweight in childhood.
You might find it challenging to return to your pre-pregnancy weight if you put on too much weight.
Because being overweight or obese is associated with various health problems, it’s best to avoid getting to that state in the first place.
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