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The Meaning Behind Pregnancy Food Cravings: A Holistic Perspective

hormone health pregnancy Aug 25, 2022

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Food cravings (especially when pregnant but also ANY time) can have powerful insights for us about our bodies.

 Because your body isn’t probably just craving ice cream or chocolate or citrus. It’s seeking a valuable nutrient! ❤️

And even if a food seems “unhealthy” like chocolate, pizza, ice cream, etc - there’s probably a reason your body is craving it so deeply! In this blog we'll go through what your cravings could mean and considerations to help alleviate those intense cravings that may be ruling your life!

 

Pregnancy & Cravings

Pregnancy is a time of enormous nutritional needs. Not only are we growing another human being, but we're also giving baby all of the nutrients it needs to grow strong and healthy. As the baby takes from our mineral and nutrient stores, we may find we develop cravings to help replenish what baby is taking.

It's estimated 50-90% of pregnant women have pregnancy cravings, with some of the most common cravings being ice, potato chips, chocolate, ice cream, red meat, lemons and cheese. While these may seem random at first glance, we'll go through what these really mean later on and it'll probably make a LOT of sense why so many women desperately crave these specific foods. 

 

What can a food craving mean? It can mean we're deficient in something essential. We may need...

  • more calories in general so it’s making you grab foods high in sugar and calories for quick energy
  • more fat or protein so cheese, meat and buttery foods may sound extra good
  • a specific nutrient! like vitamin a in dairy or vitamin c in citrus 

 


 

Our bodies are SO INCREDIBLY WISE ❤️ And especially when we understand WHY our body is craving a certain food we can honor it and also see where we can add in more of whatever is missing. I believe that food cravings shouldn't be ignored or cast as "naughty" or "bad" and instead deserve to be investigated. Clearly your body is seeking a nutrient!

 

 


 

A lot of women feel guilty for craving foods - especially ones that could be considered "unhealthy"

But as I mentioned earlier, your body is simply trying to get a specific nutrient it needs. It's less concerned with the HOW as much as the WHY.

Below is a list of common items that we may crave and what they may mean about our bodies, blood sugar and nutrient needs.

What your cravings could mean:

  • Sugary things - it could mean you haven’t been eating consistently enough and body needs glucose NOW, body needs more carbs or immediate energy, nutrient we need is in the food we crave
  • Animal protein - body wants NUTRIENTS! Body is in need of copper, iron, b vitamins, vitamin a or other nutrients
  • Fruits - body wants specific nutrients like vitamin c, folate or potassium
  • Dairy - body wants calcium, vitamin k2, vitamin a or additional protein 

 

When we have the understanding that our body is likely craving something for a specific nutrient it wants, it’s also easier to pick nourishing options!

 

Let's come back to the most common pregnancy cravings I mentioned above. What do these often indicate we're needing nutritionally?

Ice: often indicates iron deficiency

Potato chips: often indicates sodium deficiency

Chocolate: may indicate magnesium deficiency or need for sugar / calories

Ice cream: often indicates a need for Vitamin A, quality fats and calcium

Red meat: may indicate need for iron, B Vitamins and a variety of minerals

Lemons: may indicate need for Vitamin C

Cheese: may indicate need for Vitamin A or calcium

 

 

My cravings in pregnancy

My cravings thus far in my pregnancy have been raw milk, dairy, butter, dried mango, watermelon and oysters. 😂😍 I have found that once I honor the specific craving too, it lifts and no longer feels *so* obsessive!

What could my cravings be telling me? 

Raw dairy likely means my body wants bioavailable vitamin a (aka retinol)

Oysters likely means my body wants zinc

Fresh fruit like watermelon or dried fruit like mango likely means my body is seeking vitamins or simple carbs for good energy and overall caloric needs

And like I mentioned, once I honor the craving and eat whatever I'm feeling drawn to, the craving lifts and I no longer feel like I *need* that food constantly. I think this shows how wise the body really is!

 

What have you been craving while pregnant? Is it as "bad" and "naughty" as you have thought or is it really your body saying "HEY! We need a nutrient!!!!"

 

I'd love to hear what you have been specifically craving. You can message me on Instagram @menstruationqueen!

  


Learn how to work with me here

You don't have to feel in the dark about your symptoms anymore and if your doctor is saying "NO" when you request hormone testing, please know there are options! If you're ready to get to the root of what's going on, check out my Work With Me page to learn how to begin this journey of support, nourishment and hormone balance. 

 

If your hormones feel off, they probably are! So don't brush it off and assume everything is "normal" when you feel anything but. xx

 

Dr. Cassandra


 

Was this information helpful? Let us know! And for my full explanation on food cravings during pregnancy and how to manage symptoms, check out my episode on the CYCLICAL Podcast! 

 

Want to hear more?? Be sure to tune into the CYCLICAL podcast!

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