Pregnant women are drawn to salty, which is most pronounced in the first trimester. If an ordinary person needs 6 g of salt per day to satisfy the natural needs of the body, then a pregnant woman wants to replenish sodium reserves by any means. Often this ends not even with pickles, but with salted fish and canned food.
The opinions of doctors are divided: some do not see this as a problem, others express concern. Need to get away from individual characteristics each pregnant and "healthy" norm of salt for them. Consider why pregnant women are drawn to salty foods and why listen to your body.
In this matter, all branches of medicine are unanimous. To understand the cause, one should restore the natural chain of events.
During fertilization, excessive production of progesterone, the hormone of pregnancy, begins. It makes the blood vessels relax, which makes you want to sleep, faint and eagerly swallow the air. Blood flows slowly through the relaxed vessels, so the pressure decreases. The job of sodium (salt) is to raise blood pressure.
The body understands what it needs and gives signals. The abundant use of salt will make the woman drink more, and the liquid will replenish the blood supply. Thus, the blood flow will increase, the pressure will return to normal despite the activity.
That is why the old stereotype about salty during pregnancy is not a myth at all, but a scientifically confirmed fact. And it's not all about taste. Progesterone abounds in the first trimester, which is why women crave salty foods during this period. By the second trimester, progesterone will create a placenta around the baby, its level will normalize, the pressure will settle and the “salty” phenomenon will pass. Then the body of the pregnant woman will adapt to the changes, all tissues and organs will begin to adapt to the lack of nutrients.
Interestingly, an addiction to salt helps to identify deviations. If a woman continues to consume a lot of salt in the second and third trimesters, then there is inflammation or a pathology in the development of the fetus. Naturally, these are not all the reasons, because the love of salty can be due to a weak immune system and a lack of protein in the diet.
Pulls on salt before menstruation and not only
If before menstruation you want salty, this does not mean that the girl is pregnant. Again, it's all about progesterone. As the egg matures, the hormone levels rise and thicken the epithelium in the uterus. A fertilized egg will attach to it. If fertilization does not occur, progesterone levels drop and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome appear. Therefore, the passion for salty usually manifests itself during ovulation, in the middle of the menstrual cycle.
Why does she crave salty food if she is not pregnant:
- thyroid disease;
- accelerated metabolism;
- lack of calcium, sodium, iodine;
- infectious diseases of the genitourinary system;
- chronic stress.
Thirst for salt is common among those whose workplace is in the conditions elevated temperature. With rapid sweating, the body also quickly loses salt. The same applies to holidays in hot countries. Cravings can be caused by physical activity.
Both in ordinary people and in pregnant women, a lack of salt is fraught with the following consequences:
- decrease in mental abilities (slowing of nerve impulses);
- memory impairment;
- inappropriate behavior;
- Bad mood;
- drowsiness and fatigue;
- muscle weakness;
- lack of coordination;
- thickening of the blood due to dehydration;
- disorders of the cardiovascular system.
Norms and myths about salt during pregnancy
For those who have not gotten rid of addiction after the first trimester, doctors recommend the following daily allowances:
- 12 g in 1 trimester;
- 9 g in the 2nd trimester;
- 3 g in the 3rd trimester.
In case of deviation, the water-salt balance can be disturbed and harm the mother and child.
Common misconceptions
- Salt promotes puffiness. For a long time it was believed that it was salt that retains fluid in the body and causes swelling (not only in pregnant women). Because of this, women avoided salt and followed special diets during the period of bearing a child. This approach is fundamentally wrong. The expectant mother needs salt, and puffiness occurs due to diseases of the liver and kidneys, changes in the balance of estrogens.
- Salt retains fluid. This myth still exists, but a pregnant woman needs salty foods and fluids in moderation. Since the amniotic fluid is updated literally 6-7 times a day, the fluid helps to avoid dehydration. Fluid increases blood supply, which helps control blood pressure.
- A pregnant woman should follow a salt-free diet. The diet of the expectant mother usually changes dramatically. She is shown safe and wholesome food, vitamins and trace elements. But the basic needs of the body do not change, but even increase, so salt is needed along with food enriched with protein and calcium.
- You need to strictly dose the salt. All standards that can be found are purely advisory. Doctors have not come to the same conclusions, so the best option is to use salt to taste. If you want to salt porridge, you need to salt it. Of course, you can’t have breakfast, lunch and dinner only with cucumbers, but you shouldn’t resist strong desires either.
- A salt-free diet will prevent puffiness. Such a diet will only harm the body of a pregnant woman, because salt deficiency is fraught with pressure surges and associated discomfort.
- Norms are calculated for any time of the year. In hot weather, accompanied by intense sweating in pregnant women, salt leaves the body faster. In summer, the dose can be increased.
- Salt promotes weight gain. It is true that salt improves appetite. But its insufficient amount will lead to indifference to food, exhaustion of the pregnant woman and starvation of the fetus. No wonder almost all weight loss diets exclude salt. A pregnant woman needs a moderate amount of salt to maintain a healthy appetite and not get better.
- Consuming iodized salt can lead to iodine poisoning. To cause an overdose, you need to consume 50 g of salt daily. Even an ordinary person cannot eat such food. Sea and iodized are considered the most useful for a pregnant woman. They contain a large number of those compounds that are essential but not found in common table salt.
salty foods
Not all salty foods are equally healthy and safe for the pressure of the expectant mother. The source of sodium should be carefully chosen to avoid problems.
Love for salty should not cross the border. Even small pickled cucumbers fall under the restriction: two cucumbers a day in the first trimester, one cucumber in the second trimester. It's all about the vinegar, which is added to the marinade. Teeth suffer from it, which are already weakened during pregnancy. Pickled cucumbers also increase appetite, which contributes to excess weight.
Salted pickled tomatoes are the most dangerous. Several fruits, harmless to the body of an ordinary person, contribute to edema in a pregnant woman. Tomatoes are also fraught with pressure drops. If possible, it is better to exclude this product.
Oddly enough, fish is the most the best source salt for pregnant women With red fish, a woman receives the substances necessary for the health of both. In this case, you do not need to look for a specific variety - any lightly salted one will do. One piece of red fish a day is enough to normalize the sodium balance.
During pregnancy, you can replace regular salt with iodized salt. This will help enrich the body not only with sodium, but also with other useful substances. The advantage of iodized salt is undeniable, because it contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, iodine and many other compounds that are indispensable for the body of a pregnant woman. Sea salt helps to strengthen the thyroid gland.
What to replace salty foods
Mineral salt in composition is a combination of sodium and hydrochloric acid. There are salts in which sodium is replaced by other metals. They are necessary for the body of a pregnant woman to transmit nerve impulses and transport substances, but they are not always salty foods.
What will be useful:
- Sodium and chlorine are found in ordinary salt. Sodium works in the vessels and is responsible for pressure.
- Vegetables with green foliage, dried fruits are enriched with potassium. Potassium is collected in the cells and helps in the work of the heart. A pregnant woman needs only 2 g per day.
- Phosphorus can be found in fish. It plays an important role in the development of the fetus (especially bones), gives the expectant mother energy. A woman needs 1.5 g of phosphorus. For example: 100 g of fish, meat or cottage cheese contain 0.2 g of phosphorus, 100 g of cheese - 0.55 g.
- Magnesium enters the body along with cereals, dark green vegetables. A good example is watermelon. A pregnant woman needs 0.3 g of the substance. The daily menu should include 150 g of watermelon, 0.5 kg of persimmon, 300 g of dried apricots, 600 g of rye bread, 350 g of parsley. You can choose one.
Conclusion
From all of the above, it turns out that cravings for salt are good for a pregnant woman. Thus, the body wants to receive all the substances for normal functioning. Those doctors who advise expectant mothers to listen to themselves are right, but those who ask them to limit their desires are also right.
A funny sign appeared among the people about the addictions of expectant mothers. If a pregnant woman is drawn to salty, one can understand who will be born. So, if a woman wants cucumbers - be a boy, and if a chocolate bar - a girl.
During the gestation period, many women change their taste preferences. Not all foods are useful during this period, especially salty ones. Experts are divided on this issue. Why pregnant women want salty and sour, how to replace harmful products can be found in this article.
The reasons
Many people have different eating habits starting from the first weeks of pregnancy. Studies have shown the reasons why pregnant women eat salty. Sodium is indispensable for the functioning of the heart, kidneys, bladder and other human organs. And in expectant mothers, the fetus takes away all the reserves of trace elements and vitamins.
Is it possible for pregnant women to eat salty? Salt should be present in any food for a girl in position. It is forbidden to adhere to a salt-free diet, unless there is a reason for it. Its use in moderation will benefit both mother and baby.
Why pregnant women want salty:
- pressure drop;
- pathology;
- protein deficiency;
- inflammatory processes.
After fertilization in the body of a woman, the hormone progesterone begins to be produced. Due to it, all vessels relax, which leads to fainting, weakness, drowsiness and dizziness. Blood circulation slows down and blood pressure drops. Salt will help normalize his condition.
Salty foods during pregnancy can make you thirsty, and drinking a lot of fluids can speed up blood flow, which also increases low blood pressure. With severe edema, excess drinking has a negative effect.
If you want salty for these reasons, you can’t call it taste preferences. The body needs to restore the physiological process. But the main thing to know is that such desires arise in the first trimester. From the fourth month of pregnancy, progesterone normalizes and creates a placenta around itself, pressure normalizes.
Acceptable salty foods
Not everything salty for pregnant women is useful. The diet should be carefully selected in order to avoid problems.
What foods and how much should be consumed:
- pickles It is not recommended to eat more than 2 per day. They contain vinegar, which adversely affects a pregnant woman. Pickled cucumbers can be consumed 3-4 pieces per day. Of course, there are other foods with salt to consider as well;
- tomatoes. It is advisable to eat this species pickles prepared at home. Store-bought canned tomatoes may contain harmful substances;
- caviar. Not every person allows himself this quality product. Black and red caviar is very useful during pregnancy. But it is allowed to eat it no more than 2 times a week;
- red slightly salted fish. Eating fish while carrying a baby will provide the body with many vitamins and minerals. Despite its nutritional value, it is allowed to consume 50 grams in 3 days. The main thing is that the composition does not contain dyes and harmful substances during processing;
- herring. Also, it is nutritious, contains calcium, phosphorus and protein. For a week, you can eat 4-5 pieces of salted fish;
- sauerkraut. The daily norm is 130-160 gr. It is considered a very healthy food because it contains folic acid. This is the main and the right vitamin in the first trimester. Sauerkraut helps with early toxicosis and constipation.
It is advisable not to use purchased products, such as crackers, chips, dried fish and various smoked meats. During this period, it is better to prefer homemade pickles.
Sour food during pregnancy
Not always a girl in an interesting position stops only on salty foods. After all, her desires to eat something tasty can be different, and it is difficult to refuse her. Often pregnant women want salty and sour at the same time. Doctors believe that acidic foods are healthier.
Why pregnant women want sour:
- for the absorption of iron and calcium;
- during toxicity.
Acidic foods trigger the production gastric juice It is essential for the absorption of calcium and iron. Indeed, from the first weeks of pregnancy, these two enzymes are very important for the formation of the baby's skeleton.
On the early dates many suffer from toxicosis. It occurs due to slow production of gastric juice. Sour food activates gastric secretion and speeds up digestion. The gestosis stops.
If a pregnant woman has an iron deficiency, hemoglobin decreases, the baby experiences oxygen deficiency. Future mom feels weak and lethargic, and the child may develop anemia.
Vitamin C is a good helper for improving immunity, for colds, and also for the formation of the cardiovascular system.
What foods contain ascorbic acid?
- oranges;
- Strawberry;
- currant;
- apples;
- lemon;
- cherry.
When a pregnant woman wants sour, it is better not to deny yourself and eat all the fruits in moderation.
It is worth limiting the use of vitamin C if a woman has hyperacidity gastric juice, ulcer, exacerbation of gastritis or chronic diseases gastrointestinal tract. Before use, it is better to consult a doctor.
If you follow the recommendations and follow the norm of salty foods, it will only benefit. Do not deny yourself some products. After all, the mood of a pregnant woman affects the course of the period. The health of the child depends on food, diet and the psychological state of the mother.
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Many future mothers are familiar with the situation: literally in the middle of the night, they suddenly wanted ice cream, pickles, cake, roach, chips, pizza, or something unusual - for example, clay. Such desires appear suddenly and are difficult to control. What do these irresistible attacks mean, and how to get rid of them?
Australian specialist in proper nutrition- Dietitian Melanie McGries - revealed to visitors to the website of The Daily Mail newspaper the three main reasons underlying the strange eating habits of pregnant women.
1. Pulls on salty - you do not have enough liquid
Surprisingly, if you dream about chips, tomato juice, pizza, etc., this may mean that you are dehydrated.
During pregnancy, maternal fluid requirements increase by about 150%. Including because of this, at the end of the third trimester, pregnant women begin legs and arms. The fact is that the body needs to produce more blood in order to provide nutrition to the fetus, it is necessary to produce amniotic fluid. Most women gain at least two kilograms of weight in the first trimester through fluid alone.
Salt helps retain fluid in the body, which is why athletes drink during long physical activity salted drinks. If you're not consuming enough water, your body will likely crave salty foods to make you drink more and thus retain more fluid.
So what to do if you really want chips or pizza? It may seem counter-intuitive, but the best thing to do is just drink some water.
If you still decide to follow your desires, then it’s better to have something salty, but healthy, for example, salted nuts, fish or watered soy sauce vegetables.
2. You want something strange - you do not have enough iron
The need for iron increases dramatically during the time, especially in the second and third trimester. A lack of iron leads to the fact that you constantly feel incredibly tired.
One of the signs iron deficiency anemia there may be an irresistible desire to eat something inedible - dirt, soil, clay, coal, chalk, etc. You may also crave tastier, iron-rich foods like red meat, fish, and spinach. In this case, it is worth taking tests for the level of iron in the blood. If it is too low, you will be prescribed iron supplements.
3. Cravings for sweets - you eat irregularly
It's no secret that appetite increases during pregnancy. If you eat often and little by little, you will always be full and bouts of gluttony will most likely not threaten you. If you do not change your eating habits - you will eat from time to time, eat up in the evenings, as you have been snacking all day on the go, then you will urgently crave fast, that is, carbohydrates that almost instantly provide the body with energy: ice cream, pastries, cookies, cake. If so, then make sure you eat a nutritious meal every three to five hours.
In addition to the fact that sugar cravings lead to weight gain and other negative health effects, such foods do not contain anything useful. Therefore, if you still really want carbohydrates, it is better to eat fruit yogurt, for example, pour it over whole grain cereal.
The taste preferences of expectant mothers have long been a topic for jokes. However, when a pregnant woman wants something to tears, it is difficult to refuse her. Often mommy is drawn to sour. Why do women like sour during pregnancy and what does this addiction mean?
Want sour during pregnancy? This is the body's need!
The body of a woman expecting a baby itself tells what exactly he needs. Most often, you want sour during pregnancy in the first trimester, when most women suffer from toxicosis.
With toxicosis, nausea is a common occurrence. It occurs due to the fact that the production of gastric juice slows down, digestive enzymes are produced less actively. And sour food provokes the release of gastric secretion and starts the work of digestive enzymes. At the same time, nausea weakens, vomiting stops.
Calcium and iron: proper absorption
The first trimester of pregnancy is the time when the skeleton of the crumbs is formed and its teeth are laid. In the mother's stomach, the presence of acid is necessary so that calcium and its compounds are normally absorbed by the body. Yes, and vitamin C, which is found in acidic foods, is a good partner for calcium, which helps the trace element to be absorbed. However, some types of acids (oxalic, inositol-phosphoric), on the contrary, do not allow calcium to be absorbed.
Iron is an important trace element in the body of any person, and how expectant mothers suffer from its lack! Without iron, the level of hemoglobin drops, which means that the blood of two organisms at once (maternal and fetus) lacks oxygen. This threatens the baby with anemia, and the mother feels constant weakness, dizziness and may faint. Vitamin C helps with iron absorption.
Vitamin C - the body's little guardian of defense
Acidic food is a source of vitamin C. And it is very important for maintaining the mother's immunity and the formation of connective tissue cells, skin and the baby's cardiovascular system.
Where is a lot of vitamin C?
In products such as:
Rose hip;
Currant;
Lemons and other citrus fruits;
Apples, etc.
In addition, vitamin C has been shown to protect pregnant women from nervous stress and depression, relieves constipation, improves digestion and reduces the tone of the uterus.
When you crave sweets during pregnancy, who will? Perhaps a boy! Or maybe a girl. Does the sign work to determine the sex and what to do with the unbearable desire to once again eat sweets, we will consider in the article.
Why do you crave sweets during pregnancy?
It is during the period of bearing a child that most women become sweet-toothed, even if before pregnancy they were absolutely indifferent to sweets.
The body tends to tell when there is a lack of vitamins and minerals in the body. Therefore, you can see that when there is a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood of a pregnant woman, she wants to eat spicy foods. Cravings for sweets are most likely due to physical or mental overexertion.
The reasons
Consider the most common reasons related to why there is a craving for sweets?
- The desire to eat something tasty in women in position quite often appears on a subconscious level. If in ordinary life, most of the fair sex tries to limit themselves as much as possible from desserts, fearing the appearance of extra centimeters at the waist, then during pregnancy, eating sweets can be easily justified.
- Wrong diet. Strongly drawn to sweets during pregnancy, when the body lacks important vitamins and minerals. Especially the desire to eat candy occurs with a deficiency of magnesium, calcium and chromium.
- Chronic fatigue. During gestation, a good rest is important for every woman. If the forces are not replenished, then the body requires energy from food. And the easiest way to get it is from a high-calorie product with a sugar content.
- Lack of positive emotions Girls in position tend to experience emotional surges and sudden mood swings. And in this situation, the brain is able to signal the desire to eat something sweet.
Harm sweet
With regards to the question of when you are drawn to sweets during pregnancy, who will be - a boy or a girl ?! Then, most likely, the moment of justifying yourself for your desire to eat something harmful works. After all, the sign exists, and why not use it. But that's all an excuse.
Cakes and sweet pastries belong to the category of foods that are high in calories and high in carbohydrates. Moreover, the calories contained in such products do not saturate the body, and also do not bring benefits. During the use of sweets, an increase in the fat layer occurs, which leads not only to an increase in the body weight of the expectant mother, but also the fetus. And the large weight of the child seriously complicates the birth process. In addition, there may be cases of the development of allergies in the baby after birth. If you really want to eat sweets, then try to do it in the morning. And also make sure that the product fits into the total calorie content of the daily diet.
Is there any benefit?
With the question of why you are drawn to sweets during pregnancy, we figured it out. It is clear that it is not always easy to tame the desire to eat candy. But we need to look for possible alternative products that not only contain a sweet taste, but also have beneficial features.
In the first trimester, nutritionists are allowed to replace sweets with dark chocolate, as it contains useful elements. In addition, this product helps to lift the mood.
But, starting from the 2nd trimester, you will have to completely replace sweets with fruits. Since even a small piece of chocolate causes a jump in blood sugar, and this is not necessary for a pregnant woman. Therefore, sweetness must be sought in alternative foods that provide benefits.
Delicious and healthy options for sweets for pregnant women
Most girls trust omens, trying to determine if who will? It is generally accepted that when a future mother is waiting for a girl, she will certainly want to have a snack with a sweet product. But in order not to harm your health and your baby, you need to look for healthy alternatives. Consider best options products that will replace cakes and sweet pastries.
- Bananas. In addition to satisfying needs, you can replenish your body useful vitamins and micronutrients. Bananas can be made into smoothies or eaten as a snack.
- Tea with honey. But only in the absence of allergies to honey. You can add some sugar to tea, but it is very important not to get carried away.
- Dried fruits. With the help of these products, you can prepare a healthy dessert in the form of sweets. Use dates, figs and dried apricots.
- Marshmallow, marmalade and marshmallow. Give preference to a quality product with a natural composition. The main composition includes: fruit or berry puree, agar-agar, egg white, sugar and other similar ingredients. A pregnant woman does not need flavors and flavor enhancers, so try not to buy products with a similar composition.
- Black chocolate. It can be no more than 10 grams, and then in the absence of contraindications. Since, in addition to being an allergen, eating chocolate can increase blood pressure.
Signs
During pregnancy, you are drawn to sweets, who will be born ?! This is one of the most common questions that arise among pregnant women who have an irresistible craving for sweets.
Indeed, there is a belief that when carrying a boy, there is a desire to eat salty or spicy foods. And mothers who are carrying a girl quite often want to treat themselves to sweets.
In addition to this sign, there are many others. Some focus on the shape of the abdomen, heart rate, skin condition and other factors. Some things can really match, and some things don't.
Does the omen work?
Most expectant mothers ask the question: if you are craving sweets during pregnancy, who will? And most often "experienced" acquaintances explain to them that, most likely, a girl will be born. But in practice, things are a little different!
According to the reviews of mothers who really wanted sweets, the omen does not work. In this situation, both boys and girls are born. Therefore, it is better to trust the results of an ultrasound scan, which with a high probability will correctly determine the sex of your child.
Can the abuse of sweets during childbearing provoke diabetes?
When you crave sweets during pregnancy, the expectant mother must control this process. The fact is that in the blood of a pregnant woman, the sugar level should be normal. The pancreas must produce more insulin, since some of the hormones secreted by the placenta have the ability to block its action.
Thus, when a conflict arises, there is a formation of insulin deficiency in the blood. Subsequently, this condition can lead to gestational diabetes.
And remember that the consumption of sweets during the period of bearing a child creates an additional burden on the pancreas, which already faces many important tasks.
Of course, gestational diabetes is temporary. It usually disappears after childbirth. But its presence during pregnancy increases the likelihood of type 2 diabetes in the future.
In addition, the placenta has the ability to absorb glucose entering the female body. In the future, its accumulation can affect the organs and tissues of the fetus. In turn, this is fraught with the occurrence of intrauterine pathologies. In addition, there is a high risk of developing diabetes the child in the future.
These are the serious consequences that can arise if you do not limit yourself, but follow your desires.
The answer to the question: if you are drawn to sweets during pregnancy, who will, initially does not exist. Therefore, remember that it is better to refuse sweets once again during pregnancy than to correct the consequences later. Of course, the rejection of the desired product has a significant shock on the emotional state of the expectant mother. And in the future, it can lead to a serious breakdown. Therefore, if it is impossible to cope with cravings, allow yourself quite a bit, and best of all, give preference to healthy sweets.
Take care of yourself and your child!