If you are pregnant, you have probably started to notice a strange phenomenon occurring. This is the phenomenon of sudden and potentially hard-to-explain cravings. You might find yourself craving foods that normally would not appeal to you. The reality is that this is a common occurrence and you are not alone.

Pregnancy cravings are a real phenomenon, and most women experience them. With this in mind, these are some of the key things that you should know about why these pregnancy cravings occur.

Cravings Can Be Tied to Nutritional Deficiencies

One of the first things that you need to understand about your pregnancy cravings is that they are often the result of nutritional deficiencies that your body is experiencing. You will often find yourself craving food items that can provide the nutrients that your body is currently lacking. This is why you will often have sudden cravings for specific types of food even if it is something that you do not generally enjoy.

Hormonal Imbalances Can Cause Cravings

Hormonal imbalances caused by pregnancy are also often at the heart of the cravings that you experience. If you are feeling low, your body might tell you that you need to eat food like chocolate that can help give you a boost of serotonin to uplift your mood. This is just one example of the kind of food cravings that might be linked to hormonal changes that your pregnancy is causing.

Missing a Meal Can Cause the Cravings to Increase

If you are trying to avoid the onset of sudden cravings, one of the biggest favors that you can do for yourself is to make sure to get all of your meals in. Missing a meal is often linked to the onset of sudden cravings as it can cause you to be deficient in vital nutrients. This can then lead to the triggering of sudden cravings.

Pregnancy cravings are a normal thing that most women experience at some point, but making sure to eat a healthy diet and three meals a day can help mitigate them.

Do you have more questions about maternity care in Salem Oregon? Talk to our staff at WFMC Health or become a new patient today!

This post was originally published on wfmchealth.org.