Constant Craving

To crave = to have an intense desire for some particular thing

Pretty much pregnancy and cravings go hand in hand and although nothing is 100% sure it is thought of in some cases that it is your body telling you it needs some form of nutrient that is currently lacking in your body/diet. There are also different forms of cravings, those that are of the food variety and those known a PICA which is items such a chalk, coal, rubber, ash, dust etc. Now the thought of eating a bit of dust or coal does not in the least seem appealing to me but show or even mention to me a packet of Ready Salted crisps and I'm drooling and would probably even commit murder to have them.

So what do certain cravings mean, if anything? Well the ever useful Internet is ever ready to help me so here is what I've found out.

Salt: It is thought that craving this is linked to morning sickness and needing to replenish the sodium you loose through being sick.

Melon: They contain potassium and vitamin A and Cantaloupes in particular are also high in vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, biotin, and inositol, yeah I'm not sure exactly what those last things are but it's not a bad thing to get inside your body apparently.

Cheese: Calcium is the main nutrient here but this can also be found in green vegetables like broccoli.

Sweet/Sugary Foods: It is thought that these are what are craved the most in pregnancy especially early on and is put down to morning sickness, low energy, mood swings and your body wanting a quick fix of a simple carbohydrate.

Chalk: A bizarre craving that some think means you need more iron in your diet. Even though in itself it isn't harmful to you or your unborn child as it isn't poisonous it is considered best to try and avoid it as residue could possibly get into your lungs and then cause respiratory problems.

Ice: Strangely enough this is a craving and to me even more strangely it can mean you've got an iron deficiency.

Spicy Foods: When you eat spicy food the feel good endorphins are released into your body.

Now I know there are lots more foods that are craved but if I listed all of them I'd be here all day and night, needless to say the good old Internet is full of answers. So what did you crave when you were pregnant? And here's a question: Did your child end up when they were old enough to eat food take a liking or dislike to any of those foods?