Food Aversions & Food Cravings
Aversions
If you are battling morning sickness or hyperemesis you will encounter a great
deal of challenges that are pretty hard for outsiders looking in to comprehend.
Food aversions and food cravings are top of the 'strange' list.
Food aversions probobly need to be experienced to comprehend. Especially when all of a sudden a food that you might have cherished for years makes you gag just thinking about it. My partner was very shocked to see me gag while trying to explain why baked potatoes bothered me. Especially, when just four weeks earlier he thought I would turn into a potato as I ate so many.
As strange as it might seem to the outsider researchers Shernan and Flaxman (2000) believe food aversions make perfect sense. They reviewed hundres of studies covering thousands of pregnancies and found that the most common food aversion are; meats, fish, poultry and eggs.
Before modernisation of food processing these foods were more likely to carry harmful microorganisms and parasites and therefore posed significant risk to you and your baby, especially in the early weeks. Strong-tasting vegetables, as well as alcoholic and caffeinated beverages, are also very common food aversions and equally carry toxic substances.
Food averions are best respected, unless you cannot tolerate the thought
of any food. If your food aversions are severe to the point you are losing
weight you need to talk to your health care provider.
The next time you feel like vomiting at the thought
of your favourite food take heed that it is a good sign your body is
protecting your unborn baby. You will soon be enjoying your favourite
foods again. My experience is that my aversion became less pronounced
as my pregnancy progressed but i definately didn't feel 'excited' about
eating those foods until a few weeks after the birth.
I personally used an EFT technique described in step by step detail in the ebook End Morning Sickness. It really helped me and I can highly recommend it.
Food Cravings
Food cravings are common in pregnancy and can be very
compelling. Frequently craved foods include fruits, followed by pickled
foods, then strong flavoured and salty foods . Sweet foods are also
on the most wanted list. Some academics believe you are craving foods
that contain essential nutrients that your body requires. As long as
you do not go overboard it is okay to indulge your desires unless they
are for non food items.
Pica
Pica is the medical term for cravings to consume non
food items while pregnant. For this condition the craving could be
for anything, stones, earth, rubber even glass.
If you experience these desires discuss them with your health care provider because they can be extremely dangerous for both you and your baby. Please do not be embarrassed about it, it is a disorder associated with being pregnant.
Hyperolfaction
An additional challenge with is called hyperolfaction,
which is often associated with hormones. At this time,
your sense of smell greatly advances, which allows pregnant women
to possess the capacity of smelling things that others
do not. This is often exasperating and stressful. In
addition to the increased sense of smell, food starts
to taste different. The varying textures and tastes of food can cause
aversion. This reaction is out of your control. It is important to
pinpoint the odors that trigger nausea and vomiting – learning
how to steer clear of them. In the end, you may have
to lessen your trips to the kitchen, avoid taking the
subway, or even changing diapers. Sadly, there is no
cure or treatment for this condition. Some women face these reactions
in the middle of their pregnancy, but can continue until delivery.
There are many products that claim to help relieve and / or cure morning sickness you can read more about it on our product review page . Also check our our morning sickness book review page
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