Anyone who has gone through the experience of pregnancy – or lived closely with someone pregnant – probably has some curious story about eating desires. There are reports of unusual wills such as eating ketchup foods, chewing ice or even drinking canned cucumber water. Although they seem strange, these desires are more common than you might think and often appear on social networks. However, there are explanations behind these peculiar wills.

“Nesse período, existem flutuações hormonais significativas, como o aumento dos níveis de leptina e grelina, que influenciam diretamente o apetite e as preferências alimentares. Essas mudanças, associadas à maior sensibilidade emocional (aumento das oscilações de humor, irritabilidade e sensibilidade emocional), tornam a gravidez um momento de mudança de comportamentos da alimentação para alimentos de conforto, ou seja, aumenta o desejo por alimentos reconfortantes”, explica o ginecologista e Obstetrician Dr. Nélio Veiga Junior.

According to the doctor, the transformations of pregnancy can have emotional impacts on women. “In addition, changes in eating behavior and weight gain related to pregnancy They can sometimes lead to self -criticism and guilt, further exacerbating stress. Physiological changes during pregnancy also affect sensory perception, which can contribute to changes in eating preferences and eating behaviors ”, points out the master and doctor of Tocogynecology from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the State University of Campinas (FCM/UNICAMP).

Sensory changes affect food preferences

During pregnancy, it is common for food preferences to change – and not just for taste. Dr. Nélio Veiga Junior points out that the texture of foods can also directly influence the choices of pregnant women. “It is common to reduce the desire for ‘soft’, ‘creamy’ foods, ‘melting’ and ‘thick’ in favor of ‘crunchy’ texture during pregnancy. ‘Crunchy’ is a term frequently used to describe desired foods during the first quarter,” he explains.

He also points out that these changes may be related to changes sensory caused by pregnancy. “Changes in food texture preference may reflect greater importance of texture in food choice due to changes in smell and taste during pregnancy. There are studies that show significant increases in the perception of odor intensity during pregnancy, especially between the environment and the end of pregnancy, although there have been no significant differences in the taste,” he says.

Influence of hormonal and emotional factors

In addition to sensory changes, food desires in pregnancy may also be linked to physiological and emotional factors. Dr. Nélio Veiga Junior points out that research already shows a relationship between pregnancy and increased will by energy -rich foods such as sweets and carbohydrates.

“Several factors contribute to increased energy consumption during pregnancy, including increased energy demand and hormonal changes, particularly changes in leptin and ghiline, which contribute to appetite regulation. As well as emotional changes during pregnancy and increased stress can also contribute to increased consumption of energy -rich foods as a form of emotional regulation,” says the doctor.

He also points out that understanding these changes is essential for proper care with food during pregnancy. “Although high stress, especially in the first quarter, may lead to increased consumption of highly palatable foods, this Relationship between stress and diet It can be mediated by strategies of emotional regulation, that is, the evolution of nutritional needs during pregnancy, shows the importance of understanding these differences for personalized support for maternal health, ”explains the gynecologist.

Attention to unusual food desires

According to the doctor, it is important to report the desires to the doctor, especially if they are out of the usual and in excessive quantities. “This kind of change in food behavior during pregnancy may have implications for maternal health, as it may be associated with an increased risk of excessive weight gain and some adverse results associated for birth, maternal health and child development,” concludes Dr. Nélio Veiga Junior.

By Maria Claudia Amoroso