Salty cravings during pregnancy

Cravings during pregnancy are extremely common. This has been subjected to scientific study and the conclusions are that cravings are linked to our cultural patters. Hence, in Mexico, the most common ones are sweet, spicy and salty. But we are all aware how the excessive consumptions of any of them are harmful, so why does our body keep asking form them?

Specifically for salty cravings, various theories have been developed. Excluding the Latin-American myth that cravings depend on whether it’s a boy or a girl, there complex physiological processes involved. Salt is usually only chlorine and sodium; sodium is associated with liquid retention and stabilize the amount of water in our blood.¹ While pregnant, the mother will gain weight and the baby’s body is over 80% water, so she will need to stay hydrated as well as high amounts of sodium to retain all the liquids.²

Another theory explains how salty cravings are linked to hormonal changes. Even if these variations are expected, depending on the hormonal change mothers tend to responds similarly. For example, those with a higher production of prolactin, the hormone responsible for stimulation milk production and thirst, tend to crave salty foods more than any other flavor.¹