Cravings

                A craving is an insistent desire that you just can’t ignore. Sometimes cravings could happen in response to;

n      Stress

n      Hormonal changes

n      Excessive hunger

                Pregnant women will develop food cravings, usually for pickles and other salty foods. This is said to happen due to a physical need. During pregnancy, blood volume doubles, as a result women will need extra sodium to maintain fluid balance. Sometimes pregnant women will have cravings for ice, this is said to be a sign of iron deficiency. When this happens it is advised to check with your doctor to see if you need some extra iron.

               In general however we really tend to crave foods that are not really nutritious, psychological factors are probably more influential here, than the physical needs.

               Some people may try and deny a craving. Some may succeed, but more often these people will find that they want the food they crave for even more. Experts actually say that it is better to satisfy cravings, but offcourse in moderation.

                Usually women will crave sweet things during her premenstrual time, you can actually lessen these cravings by consuming starchy foods, as these will raise blood sugar levels. Eating more fruit may also help, fruit is high in natural sugars.

                Avoid becoming over hungry. Hunger is the body’s way of letting us know its running low on fuel. Eating small amounts frequently is how to prevent hunger, this will also help reduce cravings that would lead to over eating.

                 My parents were born in South America, in the rural parts they still practice an old cultural tradition, where the folk healers insist pregnant women eat clay, this is because they think it helps with labour, and soil for providing iron. These old customs are dangerous and they could cause harm to the mother and her foetus.

                Some people, especially children, develop cravings for non-food items, some eg;

n      Paint chips

n      Soil

n      Clay or laundry starch

                 This is known as Pica (Latin for magpie-a bird that will eat almost everything). Pica can be dangerous, it can cause;

n      Lead poisoning

n      Intestinal obstruction

n      Worm infestation

n      Death

                 I hope this helps………..