In fact, as many as half the pregnant women will crave some type of cuisine or unusual food product during pregnancy. The most popular cravings include sweet and salty foods, while other women report craving spicy or fatty foods. Why all these cravings? Many women have cravings for certain foods or feel changes to certain food taste and smell during their pregnancy. These are very normal and last for a short period. These may be due to the hormonal changes of pregnancy.
Try these simple tips for food cravings:
Eat natural spices
The craving for spices is not unnatural for pregnant women; however, you may add natural spices to your meals to prevent gastric trouble.
Drink green tea
Green tea can help reduce food cravings. Green tea is made from unfermented leaves and is said to have the highest concentration of powerful antioxidants. These are known as polyphenols.
Take B-vitamin complex or B vitamins
To curb food cravings during pregnancy and maintain your stamina, you should consider taking vitamins, more specifically B-vitamin complex (B vitamins). These are essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates into the simple sugar glucose. The B-complex vitamins can be found in organ meats, nuts, leafy green vegetables, rice, milk, eggs, meats, fish and whole-grain cereals fruits.
Drink soy milk during pregnancy
Soy milk is a great supplement to your oatmeal or breakfast and the extra calcium will also help with healthy teeth, nail and bones. Calcium will help reduce common dairy cravings like ice cream cravings.
Avoid artificial sweeteners
These can exacerbate an array of cravings and many diet foods are filled with them. Look for natural or organic processed foods if you must have them.
Cut back on energy boosters
Caffeine is known for "restoring" energy and zest in our bodies and it can be necessary at times. The flip side of caffeine is that it can cause some serious food cravings especially if your blood sugar levels are out of balance. Instead you may drink herbal teas like green tea and also make it a habit to drink lot of fluids like water, coconut water, lassi etc.
Cook real food! Avoid processed food
Avoid processed food that provide little nutrition. Eating healthy often involves preparing fresh food at home.
These are just a few of many natural ways to curb food cravings during pregnancy. Remember that your food cravings during pregnancy are not a serious problem if they don't cause some kind of imbalance in your diet. Ensure that the food cravings do not cause you to replace good food with junk food. Try not to miss breakfast as going without it may heighten your food cravings.
Be patient as the food cravings will get better as your pregnancy progresses. If they don't go away; don't fret, just watch what you indulge in, eat healthy.
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