What Your Pregnancy Cravings Are Really Trying To Tell You

Pickles have come to be known as the quintessential pregnancy snack, but this iconic food craving is more than just a cliché. A survey conducted in the U.S. showed that pregnant adolescents in their third trimester frequently reported cravings for pickles (via Journal of the American Dietetic Association), while a study of pregnant women in Northern Ireland showed that 5.1% expressed a strong desire for picked foods (via Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics).

Besides their crunchy texture, pickles are favored for their salty and sour flavor. According to Parents Magazine, research carried out by Valerie Duffy, an associate professor at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, suggested that cravings for pickles might stem from a need for more sodium due to an increased blood volume. But some researchers point out that many expectant mothers often report cravings for low-nutrient foods like "sweets, desserts, and chocolate," yet seldom crave other sodium-rich "vegetables" that are packed full of the nutrients that are needed for fetal development during pregnancy (via The Quarterly Review of Biology). This may call into question the hypothesis that the yearning for pickles is tied to a nutritional deficiency or a need for more calories. Instead, some research puts forward the theory that this supposedly strange craving is such a pervasive stereotype that pregnant women might be culturally primed to think they want to gorge on pickles when they're expecting (via Frontiers in Psychology).

It's estimated that around 3.3% of pregnant women report cravings for spicy foods like curry and chili (via Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics). Some researchers speculate that this may be due to pregnant women feeling especially hot and overheated, which is common due to the increased flow of blood that causes their blood vessels to dilate and their bodies to feel warmer than usual (via Healthline). The idea of seeking out hot food to help you cool down may sound contradictory, but research has shown that capsaicin — a chemical compound found in different types of hot peppers that gives them their spicy kick — has unique properties that affect your body's thermoregulatory system (via Temperature). In particular, capsaicin excites certain neurons that create a sensation of warmth, which may give rise to perspiration and panting that "counteract overheating of the body."

Based on a study of traditional superstitions from the Podlaskie province in Poland, a prevalent belief among residents is that craving spicy food during pregnancy signals that a woman will be having a boy — though, there's no actual scientific footing for this (via Progress in Health Sciences). Other researchers continue to explore the idea that pregnant women tend to crave foods that are culturally familiar: A study of women from four different ethnic groups in the U.S found that many Cambodian and Hispanic participants were more likely to cite a predilection for spicy foods throughout their pregnancies (via Ecology of Food and Nutrition).

You rarely hear about someone hankering for a plate of steaming broccoli ... unless they're pregnant, of course. Approximately 12.2% of women list "vegetables" as their number one food craving, say researchers, and some specifically mention broccoli as the frequent object of their desire (via Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics). After all, broccoli is an excellent source of folate, which is particularly important for fetal development (via Healthline), as it promotes normal tissue growth and cell function and prevents brain and spinal cord abnormalities in your baby (via Mayo Clinic).

This particular cruciferous vegetable is a melting pot of powerful nutrients that your pregnant body may be demanding, such as a large amount of protein (in comparison to other vegetables), which is vital for your fetus's growth, per Mayo Clinic. Broccoli, like other leafy greens, also has an abundance of vitamin K (via Healthline). This fat-soluble vitamin enables your liver to make proteins that help your blood to clot (via Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Heath), which is particularly important when your body is recovering after giving birth (via Scientific Reports). More rarely, vitamin K deficiency in babies or their mothers can cause "hemorrhagic disease" — a potentially life-threatening condition that increases your newborn's risk of excessive bleeding.

Mamas-to-be may be turning to this magenta-tinted vegetable for a number of reasons. A beetroot craving certainly makes sense on a nutritional level, since a woman's nutritional needs change substantially throughout pregnancy (via Nutrients), with folate, in particular, playing a critical role in preventing neural tube defects and other fetal abnormalities (via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Beetroots happen to be a plentiful source of folate (via NutritionData). It can be difficult for women to get a sufficient amount of this B vitamin from food alone (namely 400 micrograms a day), which is why taking supplementation — known as folic acid — in addition to consuming folate-heavy foods is strongly recommended during pregnancy (via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

Research investigating the specific benefits of beetroots throughout pregnancy has shown that consumption of the vibrant vegetable may help prevent fetal growth restriction (FGR), which is when a baby's growth is stunted due to a lack of adequate blood flow in the placenta (via Tommy's). Specifically, beets are rich in dietary nitrates, which your body converts to nitric oxide — a powerful compound that causes your blood vessels to relax and dilate, increasing blood flow throughout the body and across the placenta. So, if your appetite hasn't already been screaming for a beautiful bowl of beets, it may be time to step up your beetroot game.

Chomping or chewing on ice (called "pagophagia") is a quirky craving among pregnant women (via StatPearls). This is considered to be a form of pica — a condition where people experience an urge to consume non-food substances with no nutritional value, like ice or paper. While it's not exclusively a pregnant-lady habit, up to 3% of women report pagophagia at some point throughout their pregnancy, which is often attributed to nutritional deficiencies, according to the authors of a study in Frontiers in Psychology.

Researchers have discovered that pagophagia is another possible symptom of anemia. A study from the journal Medical Hypotheses found that 56% of people with anemia have a craving to chew or eat ice. It was hypothesized that the crunching motion, in particular, can provoke vascular changes that give rise to increased mental alertness in anemic people. A low iron level is one of the most common forms of anemia among pregnant women, as reported by the American Pregnancy Association, affecting around 15% to 25% of moms-to-be. It can have a negative impact on a woman's health, mood, concentration, energy levels, and overall wellbeing — which is the last thing you want when you're already grappling with the physical and emotional challenges of pregnancy.

If you frequently have the urge to satisfy your taste buds with a spoonful of peanut butter during pregnancy, you're not alone. A 2015 study from the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics revealed that 13% of pregnant women mentioned a "salty food" craving during their first trimester, with peanut butter being one of the specific foods cited within that category.

Peanut butter may be on your radar for a number of different reasons, say researchers, including a specific nutritional need that your body is calling out for (via Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics). This plant-based protein helps support both you and your baby's health in myriad ways. In particular, peanut butter is a good choice for helping the body maintain blood glucose homeostasis due to its low glycemic index (via British Journal of Nutrition). It might play a beneficial role in managing gestational diabetes, defined as abnormal blood glucose levels during pregnancy, which occurs in roughly 2-10% of women each year in the U.S., per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers have proposed that "cravings for salty food during pregnancy may be protective against later risk for abnormal glucose tolerance" (via Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics). What's more, peanuts are a powerful source of fiber, niacin, folate, and magnesium, as noted by the study from the British Journal of Nutrition — which are high on the list of daily nutritional requirements for expectant mothers (via perinatology.com).

Unsurprisingly, the craving for starchy and calorically dense carbohydrates like bread are commonly reported during pregnancy (via Frontiers in Psychology). "The most publicized cravings are the strange ones, but the reality is that most pregnant women crave carbohydrates and are less attracted to red meat," OBGYN Felice Gersh told SheKnows. High-carbohydrate foods can serve up feelings of comfort and consolation throughout the different stages of pregnancy as the body undergoes a medley of hormonal changes (via Verywell Family).

Pregnant women may also find themselves hungering for a hunk of bread to curb their nausea, notes Amanda Capriglione, a registered and certified dietitian nutritionist, explaining that: "Carbohydrates are the go-to for morning sickness," (via Romper). A rapidly changing mood might also be to blame: Carb cravings could be your body's way of trying to regulate and upkeep your emotional wellbeing, suggest researchers (via Eating Behaviors). Various carb-heavy foods — including bread — contain the amino acid tryptophan, which helps churn out serotonin, namely your brain and body's "feel-good" chemical. Further research may help dig deeper into the specific nutritional implications of craving bread while pregnant.