Cravings- Nature's Way of Getting it Done!

The following is a sponsored post from NIGHTFOOD Ice Cream, the Official Ice Cream of the American Pregnancy Association.

Until you’ve experienced pregnancy cravings, it’s almost impossible to imagine what they’re really like.  Many women just expect them to be like regular food cravings, only stronger.   There’s much more to it than that.

Pregnancy cravings are driven by hormones making the compulsion for that particular food seem almost irresistible.  Normal hunger is driven by a hormone called Ghrelin, which tells us it’s time to eat, and then is turned off by a hormone called Leptin, which tells us we have eaten enough and are full.  But Neuropeptide Y is the hormone that takes it up a notch – that is the hormone that screams “OMG I’m starving!!!” and demands ice cream or pickles (or both) right away. Pregnant women produce more Neuropeptide Y, which may explain the frequency and intensity of this phenomenon.

There’s a myth that the foods a woman craves indicate the gender of the baby.  While this is fun folklore, it’s not science.  The actual food you crave is generally an indication of nutrients your body may be lacking.  That’s why it’s not uncommon for women to crave foods during pregnancy that they would have never considered eating just a few months earlier.

Red meat cravings may indicate a need for vitamin B6 in order to meet the need to make more red blood cells for the baby.  A famous craving – pickles – may indicate a simple need for salt which is found in almost unhealthy abundance to preserve pickles in jars for their long shelf life.  The most well-known craving of all – ice cream – likely exists because dairy solves a calcium problem. Milk and cheese aren’t as appealing, making ice cream the perfect solution. Pregnant women need much more calcium to build the bones of the baby and many other functions.

About half my patients indicate ice cream is their single most frequent craving, and one that brings up concerns about health and weight gain.  After years of recommending women switch to a low-fat frozen yogurt, I was recently introduced to a new ice cream brand that has a much better nutritional profile for pregnant women than either regular ice cream or frozen yogurt.

Nightfood ice cream was formulated by sleep and nutrition experts to be a healthier ice cream for anybody snacking at night.  Nightfood differs from regular ice cream in that it has more fiber, more protein, more calcium, more magnesium, and more zinc.  Plus, it’s lower in sugar, has fewer calories, is lower glycemic and contains no artificial sweeteners.

In addition, the ice cream has amino acids that help with digestion and reducing heartburn, which is another major challenge for many of my patients.

Only after pregnant women started posting on social media how much they loved their Nightfood did the company identify a very interesting fact:  the nutritional decisions they made for better sleep also made Nightfood a better and healthier ice cream choice for expectant mothers.  

When I first learned about Nightfood, they had already received the endorsement as the Official Ice Cream of the American Pregnancy Association. I received some products to try, which was delicious and creamy. I then spoke to one of the doctors on the Nightfood team to learn more so I could be confident and comfortable recommending Nightfood to my patients.

Pregnancy cravings are part of nature’s solution to the complex problems of creating a new human being. 

When you crave ice cream, or pickles, or any food, don’t think of it as an indulgence.  Rather, it’s your body giving you clear signals that certain nutrients are needed.  Making healthier choices while giving your body what it craves can benefit both you and your baby.

To learn more about NIGHTFOOD Ice Cream, the Official Ice Cream of the American Pregnancy Association, click here.

Dr. Jill Hechtman, Medical Director of Tampa Obstetrics, is a board certified OB/GYN with a fun and relatable approach to sensitive topics.  She is the past Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Brandon Regional Hospital, St Joseph’s  Women’s Hospital and served on the Board of Trustees at Brandon Regional  hospital for 2 years. She is a frequent face in local media as “Dr. Jill”.