According to a survey conducted by gurgle.com in 2008 of the 2,231 women studied 75% experienced pregnancy cravings and this was found to be much higher than the 30% of women who had cravings during pregnancy 50 years ago.
Valerie Duffy, a professor at the University of Connecticut, conducted an independent survey of expectant moms and found that the three major tastes that these women craved were bitter, sour and salty, and surprisingly not sweet.
Research revealed that during the first trimester, women usually have an intensified perception of the bitter taste though they may not crave it. This was probably a natural body reaction to warn the women against consuming any food product or plant that was poisonous or toxic.
In the second and third trimesters, the craving for the sour taste was the greatest and most common. Women were found to relish sour green mangoes, pickles, and other sour fruits during pregnancy much more than in the past when they were not carrying a child.
The salty taste was also found to be highly tempting by pregnant women and the experts associated this need with the body’s need for more sodium to support their increasing blood volume.
Despite the common tastes however, women could have a craving for diverse things during pregnancy and the surveyors warned that if this included harmful things like cigarettes, paints, and other unusual substances, it was important to consult the doctor for the safety of the mother and child.
For all other cravings, cakes, pastries or ice creams, chips or fries, it was okay to satisfy the pang as long as the women also took care of the right nutrients for themselves and the child and also ate within health limits. – Atula, Staff Writer
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