Why Do Pregnant Women Crave Pickles
Food craving is one of the most common pregnancy symptoms, however their reasons are still not medically known. Some believe that cravings indicate the deficiency of a nutrient in the pregnant woman’s diet, and cravings for pickles may be indicative of low sodium level in her blood. In this OneHowTo.com article, we are trying to find out why do pregnant women crave pickles.
Contents
Reasons of food cravings during pregnancy
Before you know why pregnant women crave for pickles, first of all you should know why cravings happen at all during pregnancy. Some main reasons for food cravings during pregnancy are:
- Temporary nutritional deficiencies: A pregnant woman usually craves for a certain food that has something that her body is deficient in. For instance, a craving for pickle may indicate low blood sodium levels.
- Hormonal changes: Changes in a pregnant woman’s hormones can significantly alter her sense of smell and taste, due to which she can crave for something that she never enjoyed before.
- Emotional needs: A pregnant woman has a flood of emotions going through her mind, and emotions are often linked with food intake. She may crave for certain foods, either consciously or subconsciously, as her response to these emotional needs.
What’s so good about pickles?
Pregnant women who crave for pickles may have a low content of sodium in their blood. But this is not necessarily true for all. Some women crave for pickles for the crunch they have, some like the vinegar in them, while others crave for them for their refreshing taste. Whatever your reasons for your pickle craving are, there is nothing to be too worried about. You can satisfy your craving for pickle whenever you want it, because they are low on calorie count, inexpensive, and easy to get too.
How do pickles satisfy the craving?
Electrolyte deficiency and mild dehydration is commonly developed among pregnant woman. Due to this, the woman craves for salty foods to retain water and get the needed electrolytes. Nothing can be saltier than pickles, that is why many women relate their craving for salt for a craving for pickles. The fermenting solution in the pickles also has something that helps in preparing the woman’s birth canal for child birth, and a woman’s body knows this already.
What to do with your pickle craving
According to experts, one should pay attention to their pregnancy cravings, and indulge in healthy ones only. Most cravings during pregnancy are interesting but not serious. You can get indulged in them, but in moderation. You should be aware there are also foods that are not good for both the pregnant woman and the child, which is why you should know What Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy.
Satisfying your craving will help in meeting your emotional as well as nutritional needs, along with your preferences. A pregnant woman is suggested to humor her cravings instead of worrying about them. Craving pickles is the result of a drop in your blood sodium levels, so take small frequent servings and curb your desire to indulge in pickles. You may also curb your cravings by eating breakfast everyday, doing exercise in the morning, and having lots of emotional support from friends or relatives.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to Why Do Pregnant Women Crave Pickles, we recommend you visit our Family health category.
