This is apparently the most common pregnancy craving, according to science.
You might have already guessed it but if not, the thing pregnant women crave most is salty food.
Popcorn, pretzels, and chips all rate high among food pregnant women say they have to have, and it seems that researchers have discovered why - after studying flies!
“To best understand the brain and nutrients you need to look at an organism that has a variety of technology,” says Dr Carlos Ribeiro from Portugal, who headed up the study.
“In that respect, the fruit fly is unbeatable.”
This is apparently the most common pregnancy craving
Through the research, Ribeiro found that fruit flies not only crave the same amount of salt as humans, but also that higher salt levels mean your body produces better babies.
Apparently, the female brain knows that the body needs to produce more salt in order to produce more eggs. So it changes what it thinks about salt and decides it wants more.
Another reason science say many women crave salty foods when pregnant is that during pregnancy, the body requires more sodium to help maintain the proper balance of fluids and electrolytes.
And this increased need for sodium can lead to cravings for salty foods.
Increased need comfort
Another reason, according to Allo Health,is that the body’s natural thirst and hunger mechanisms can become confused during pregnancy, leading to cravings that aren’t necessarily nutritionally driven but rather driven by the body’s need for something familiar or comforting.
However, experts do warn we need to careful not too indulge our salt cravings too much.
“Excessive sodium intake can contribute to swelling and bloating, which are already common symptoms during pregnancy. Additionally, consuming too much sodium can lead to more frequent trips to the bathroom, which can contribute to dehydration if you’re not taking in enough fluids to compensate.”
