sign we are lacking a certain nutrient, or both? At this stage in modern medicine,
no one has proof as to why exactly pregnant women have specific cravings during
pregnancy. Some believe it’s the high level of hormones that affect both an
increase in our sensory perception of taste and smell. Our heightened olfactory
response (ability to smell) and gustatory ability (taste) has the benefit of protecting
the pregnant woman and her growing child against harmful chemicals, poisons and
particular foods.
It’s likely that a pregnant woman and her growing child’s nutritional needs
perpetuate these cravings that are so intense there is no possible way of ignoring them. Craving
meat often indicates a need for iron or more protein. Whereas a craving for peaches
leads us to believe the growing baby needs for vitamin E, K, or niacin. If a
pregnant woman craves ice, clay or dirt this is cause for alarm and must be immediately
addressed with her Acupuncturist, Midwife or OBGYN. It’s a sign she has pica
with an iron deficiency. This further proves the theory that pregnant women
intuitively know what their bodies and babies need because once supplemented
with proper nutrition and iron supplements, most woman can curb or ignore their
cravings for these unusual non-food items.
From a Chinese Medical Perspective we know exactly why a woman craves a
certain food. This is evidenced in medical texts that date back 2,000 years and are
still applicable today. When a woman craves a certain food we can immediately
assess which organ is weaker internally and attempting to heal itself. Sweet
cravings (cake, ice cream, any sweet baked goods) point to a spleen deficiency and
will help heal fatigue, puffiness, edema, and poor digestion including bloating,.
Spicy foods (chili, jalapenos, garlic, hot sauce, anything spicy and hot) strengthen
her Lungs, helping fight infection and boosts her immunity. Salty cravings (potato
chips, salting food, french fries) indicates weakened Kidney and helps lack of
energy, urinating at night and low back, leg or heel pain. Sour cravings (pickles,
mustard, sour kraut or plain yogurt) belongs to the Liver and soothe mood swings,
incontinence, prolapse and hemorrhoids. Bitter foods goes to the heart reducing
anxiety and excessive sweating, excess heat and insomnia can be quelled through
eating bitter greens and mustard greens.
According to
Traditional Chinese Medical wisdom and proven theories from thousands of years
and billions of women, pregnant women crave spicy foods when their immune
system is weakened. Western science recently has proven that indeed, pregnant women's immune systems are compromised just by being pregnant.
This intuitive, natural desire for spicy foods first and
foremost nourishes the lungs which is the first defense against pathogens including
viruses, bacteria, and parasites that could infect the pregnant woman and
potentially harm her baby.
We encourage intuition during pregnancy and to follow cravings, especially of non-processed foods, to enhance your natural ability to have a healthy pregnancy. This is not a time to suppress your natural urges to heal yourself. If however, you are craving foods for which we all know are not good for you, try to limit the amount you eat and try substituting healthier options. For example: if you are craving potato chips, try making homemade baked potato crisps with avocado oil.
When women are craving spicy foods we suggest adding less offensive spicy foods to attempt to ameliorate your desire for intensively spicy foods like jalapenos or hot sauce which may
exacerbate heartburn, hemorrhoids, and upset stomach. Instead, include more garlic,
onions, cinnamon, ginger, dill, cloves, fennel and radishes into your cooking and
snacking.
There are no known harmful spicy foods, just some possible unpleasant side-effects especially
towards the end of pregnancy when heartburn is more likely due to the lack of
room in the mother’s abdominal cavity.
The theory that babies can shape their tastes in the womb is a theory that is popular
however, there are not studies to prove this theory. In my personal experience I
craved and consumed an extraordinary amount of blueberry juice with my first
child and peaches with my second. Subsequently, these foods are each of my
child’s favorite fruits and fascinatingly, my mother-in- law also craved peaches
while pregnant with my husband. It’s an anecdotal story that shows some proof of
cravings are coming from the child, influence their preference for foods and could
quite possibly inherited.
With spicy foods the number one side-effects is heartburn. This is an uncomfortable sensation that often does not respond well to treatment during pregnancy. Suggested treatments include
a tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar as often as needed, tums (over the counter
antacid) that is consider safe during pregnancy but doesn’t come without it’s own
side-effects or potential risks and sitting up while sleeping.
If a woman consumes too much salt she may find she is overly thirsty and puffy all
over. Whereas cravings for sweet foods often simply result in more rapid weight
gain which for some pregnant women is advisable and others, they struggle to gain
what is considered healthy and normal.
The bottom line: eat what you crave and enjoy sharing the stories when your baby is old enough to relish the stories about when you were pregnant.
For a list of foods to avoid when pregnant read this from the American Pregnancy Association.
Kristen Burris, L.Ac. M.S.T.O.M. is Licensed Acupuncturist and Master Herbalist who has been an expert in women's natural medicine for 17 years. She is the owner and founder of American Acupuncture Center and Eagle Acupuncture Center. Her expertise is anything woman: pregnancy, infertility, menstrual challenges and menopause.
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