How to deal with food aversion during pregnancy

Causes, Common Aversions, and Coping

Food Aversion in Pregnancy: Causes, Common Aversions, and Coping

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Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — By Lisa C. Baker on December 18, 2018

What is a food aversion?

Sending your partner out on a midnight ice cream run? Grabbing a jar of pickles for breakfast? Food cravings are so expected during pregnancy, they’re a familiar cliché.

But what about food aversions? If you were expecting to want to eat everything in sight while pregnant, then your sudden hatred of what used to be your favorite snack might take you by surprise.

Here’s why you can’t eat some things you used to love and how you can cope with food aversions during pregnancy.

What causes food aversions during pregnancy?

Food aversions, like cravings, are possibly caused by the hormonal changes of pregnancy. The amount of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the hormone that triggered your positive pregnancy test, doubles every few days during your first trimester.

HCG levels peak and level off at around week 11 of pregnancy. Up to that point, the rapidly rising levels may be behind symptoms such as nausea, cravings, and food aversions. However, your hormones will continue to affect your appetite throughout pregnancy.

Your food aversions could also be associated with your morning sickness. This could be because both are caused by hCG. However, it could also be because you associate morning sickness with the foods you’re eating at the time.

According to the Mayo Clinic, nausea and food aversions can both be early symptoms of pregnancy, which continue into the first trimester. These early symptoms sometimes even last throughout pregnancy.

What the research says

A literature review published in Frontiers in Psychology suggests that nausea and food aversions may be related when they occur during pregnancy. The study’s authors emphasized that this conclusion is largely based on dated studies, and more research is needed.

A review of literature in the Journal of Food and Nutrition Research asserted a relationship between food aversions and both nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

The researchers suggested that this relationship may be caused by a bodily mechanism that protects against potentially harmful elements in certain foods. The relationship may also be the result of complex cultural and psychological reasons.

When are food aversions most likely to occur?

You’re most likely to experience food aversions during the first trimester. However, you can experience food aversions at any point during pregnancy. New aversions can also develop at any time during your pregnancy.

Most of the time, food aversions will disappear after your baby arrives. It’s also possible for aversions to continue indefinitely.

What are common food aversions during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, you can experience an aversion or a craving for any food. It’s even possible to have an aversion toward a specific food at one point during your pregnancy and to crave the same food later. However, the most common aversions are toward foods with strong smells.

Common pregnancy aversions include:

meat
eggs
milk
onions
garlic
tea and coffee
spicy foods

Some pregnant women also crave the foods listed above. Which foods you hate — or crave — during pregnancy aren’t necessarily related to your pre-pregnancy diet.

As pregnancy is wreaking havoc on your hormones, it’s common to want to eat something you used to dislike and to hate foods you used to love.

How can you cope with food aversions during pregnancy?

In most cases, it’s healthy to listen to your body during pregnancy. This means that it’s fine to avoid your aversions and eat the foods you crave — in moderation. Try not to overdo it.

A study in the journal Appetite found that giving in to cravings in a big way during pregnancy is associated with excessive weight gain.

If your aversions include foods that are important during pregnancy, make sure you’re getting those nutrients in other ways. For example, if you have an aversion to meat, eat plenty of other high-protein foods such as nuts and beans.

You can also get around aversions by “hiding” the food that you don’t want in other foods. For example, if salads make you feel sick, try putting your leafy greens in a fruit smoothie. There you won’t notice the taste or texture.

What is the takeaway?

Both food aversions and cravings are normal during pregnancy, so you usually don’t need to be concerned. However, if you’re unable to eat most foods, it could affect your baby’s growth. If this is the case, discuss weight gain with your doctor.

During pregnancy, food aversions are sometimes accompanied by cravings for ice or other nonfoods.

It’s possible for pregnant women to crave harmful things that aren’t food, such as dirt or chalk. This condition, called pica, can be a sign of an underlying medical problem. If you experience this, call your doctor.

Q&A: Nausea and morning sickness

Q:

What are some remedies for nausea and morning sickness during pregnancy?

Anonymous patient

A:

Morning sickness is common during pregnancy but it usually resolves after the first trimester. There is no cure for morning sickness but there are recommendations that could make morning sickness tolerable. Try to set your alarm a little early in the morning so that you can give yourself plenty of time to wake up and move slowly getting out of bed. Place some saltine crackers on your nightstand so that you can eat them upon sitting up in bed. During the day eat small meals and avoid any spicy or greasy food. There are some products you can buy to help, for example Preggie Pop Drops, which are drug free; Sea-Bands, which use acupressure pulse points to help you fight nausea; and candy drops that contain ginger and lemon to sooth the stomach.

Debra Sullivan, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, COIAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Last medically reviewed on December 19, 2018

Parenthood
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Health

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2016). Your pregnancy and childbirth: Month to month. Washington, D.C.: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). First trimester pregnancy: what to expect.
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20047208
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Symptoms of pregnancy: What happens first.
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/symptoms-of-pregnancy/art-20043853
Orloff NC, et al. (2014). Pickles and ice cream! Food cravings in pregnancy: Hypotheses, preliminary evidence, and directions for future research. DOI:
10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01076
Orloff NC, et al. (2016). Food cravings in pregnancy: Preliminary evidence for a role in excess gestational weight gain. DOI:
10.1016/j.appet.2016.04.040
Pregnancy: Nutrition. (2018).
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12593-pregnancy
Schactman, TR, et al. (2016). Psychological factors in food aversions, nausea, and vomiting during pregnancy. DOI:
10.12691/jfnr-4-10-8

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

Dec 19, 2018

Written By

Lisa C. Baker

Edited By

Kara Williams

Medically Reviewed By

Debra Sullivan, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, COI

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — By Lisa C. Baker on December 18, 2018

Causes, Common Aversions, and Coping

Food Aversion in Pregnancy: Causes, Common Aversions, and Coping

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- Wellness Topics
  - Nutrition
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- Find Care
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Connect
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  - Migraine
  - Multiple Sclerosis
  - Psoriasis

Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — By Lisa C. Baker on December 18, 2018

What is a food aversion?

Sending your partner out on a midnight ice cream run? Grabbing a jar of pickles for breakfast? Food cravings are so expected during pregnancy, they’re a familiar cliché.

But what about food aversions? If you were expecting to want to eat everything in sight while pregnant, then your sudden hatred of what used to be your favorite snack might take you by surprise.

Here’s why you can’t eat some things you used to love and how you can cope with food aversions during pregnancy.

What causes food aversions during pregnancy?

What the research says

A review of literature in the Journal of Food and Nutrition Research asserted a relationship between food aversions and both nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

When are food aversions most likely to occur?

Most of the time, food aversions will disappear after your baby arrives. It’s also possible for aversions to continue indefinitely.

What are common food aversions during pregnancy?

Common pregnancy aversions include:

meat
eggs
milk
onions
garlic
tea and coffee
spicy foods

Some pregnant women also crave the foods listed above. Which foods you hate — or crave — during pregnancy aren’t necessarily related to your pre-pregnancy diet.

As pregnancy is wreaking havoc on your hormones, it’s common to want to eat something you used to dislike and to hate foods you used to love.

How can you cope with food aversions during pregnancy?

In most cases, it’s healthy to listen to your body during pregnancy. This means that it’s fine to avoid your aversions and eat the foods you crave — in moderation. Try not to overdo it.

A study in the journal Appetite found that giving in to cravings in a big way during pregnancy is associated with excessive weight gain.

What is the takeaway?

During pregnancy, food aversions are sometimes accompanied by cravings for ice or other nonfoods.

Q&A: Nausea and morning sickness

Q:

What are some remedies for nausea and morning sickness during pregnancy?

Anonymous patient

A:

Debra Sullivan, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, COIAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Last medically reviewed on December 19, 2018

Parenthood
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Health

How we reviewed this article:

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2016). Your pregnancy and childbirth: Month to month. Washington, D.C.: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). First trimester pregnancy: what to expect.
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20047208
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Symptoms of pregnancy: What happens first.
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/symptoms-of-pregnancy/art-20043853
Orloff NC, et al. (2014). Pickles and ice cream! Food cravings in pregnancy: Hypotheses, preliminary evidence, and directions for future research. DOI:
10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01076
Orloff NC, et al. (2016). Food cravings in pregnancy: Preliminary evidence for a role in excess gestational weight gain. DOI:
10.1016/j.appet.2016.04.040
Pregnancy: Nutrition. (2018).
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12593-pregnancy
Schactman, TR, et al. (2016). Psychological factors in food aversions, nausea, and vomiting during pregnancy. DOI:
10.12691/jfnr-4-10-8

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

Dec 19, 2018

Written By

Lisa C. Baker

Edited By

Kara Williams

Medically Reviewed By

Debra Sullivan, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, COI

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — By Lisa C. Baker on December 18, 2018

We fight against toxicosis - articles from the specialists of the clinic "Mother and Child"

Alexandrova Anna Evgenievna

Embryologist

Clinic "Mother and Child" South-West

rest more

Very often in the first trimester, the expectant mother feels weak, drowsy, she wants to lie down to rest, and sometimes she simply does not even have the strength to move. This, of course, is not toxicosis, but if such sensations arise, then they must be indulged so as not to inadvertently provoke another attack of nausea. Get plenty of rest and do not make any sudden movements, because even if you just fail to get up from a chair, you can provoke an attack of nausea. nine0003

Sleep with the windows open: the air in the bedroom should be fresh and cool. Go to bed on time, do not sit at midnight in front of the TV or at the computer, eliminate all irritating factors: an uncomfortable mattress, blanket, pillow, hard bedding - lack of sleep can respond with morning sickness.

eat right

Eat small meals, 5-6 times a day, or even more often. When you wake up, don't get out of bed right away. One of the most effective methods against toxicosis is breakfast in bed. In the evening, put crackers, yogurt, or any product that you can tolerate well next to your bed. Eat it before you get up, and then lie down for a while. Most likely, morning sickness will either not appear at all, or will be very weak. nine0003

Usually, in case of toxicosis, it is not recommended to eat fatty, smoked, salty, pickled, drink soda (the usual set of food hazards). But it is likely that some not very healthy product will now be well tolerated, and something from healthy food, on the contrary, will cause nausea. "Pregnant whims" - a cake with herring or pineapples at night - these are the requests of the body that it needs one or another component in food. For example, the desire to chew chalk is a sign of calcium deficiency. So eat what you like and what you want, within reason, of course. And if you don’t feel like something, even if this product is extremely useful and necessary, don’t eat it. If you feel sick from some dish, it means that the body signals you: I don’t need this now! nine0003

drink more often

Toxicosis may not be limited to nausea, some may also vomit. This means fluid is lost. Therefore, between meals, drink more often: a sip or two of mineral water or tea with lemon will help to cope with nausea and replenish lost fluids. But drink in small sips. Also, you should not drink food and you should give up soups for a while - a large amount of food drunk and eaten, on the contrary, only provokes nausea and vomiting.

breathe fresh air

Outdoor walks are good for everyone, but especially for toxicosis. Firstly, when walking, the blood of the expectant mother and baby is saturated with oxygen, which is very important for health, and secondly, walking calms the nervous system. Together, this helps to reduce the unpleasant symptoms of toxicosis. You need to walk at least two hours a day - but not just along the street, but in the place where the air is really fresh: in the forest, park, square, and best of all outside the city. Before you go out, think over the route: go away from gas-polluted highways, street cafes, food stalls and other "fragrant" places. nine0003

eliminate fragrances

Taste and smell preferences change during the first trimester. Now even your favorite perfumes can cause nausea, headaches and allergic reactions. Therefore, put away all fragrant cosmetics that irritate you: perfumes, deodorants, creams, and so on. You will have to stop using your favorite perfume for both your husband and loved ones. Explain to others that this is not a whim, but a temporary measure, very soon everything will return to normal. nine0003

And do not worry that now you will be left without your usual beauty products. Both the cosmetic store and the pharmacy are full of different creams, tonics, shampoos without fragrance or with a minimal smell.

work with yourself

Psychologists believe that the cause of toxicosis is not only in hormonal changes, but also in the psychological state of a woman. The more a woman experiences, the more anxieties and fears she has, the more pronounced toxicosis can be. Ideally, it is better to limit yourself during pregnancy from any stress. Of course, it’s not always possible to eliminate nervous work or crowding in public transport, but watch less TV, don’t read negative news and various pregnant “horror stories” on the Internet, and don’t react to minor or even major everyday troubles everyone can do. Therefore, if you are worried about toxicosis, create your own comfortable world during pregnancy. If you can’t cope on your own, contact a specialist (psychologist). Toxicosis is really well treated with psychotherapy. The main thing is that the expectant mother should want to get rid of her own anxiety. nine0003

No matter how unpleasant toxicosis is, it does not last forever. It is necessary to suffer until the beginning or (less often) the middle of the II trimester. And very soon all the unpleasant symptoms of toxicosis will remain in the past!

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Clinic "Mother and Child" South-West

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Pregnancy food aversion: Causes, frequent aversions, and struggles with diet

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content

Are you sending your partner for midnight ice cream? Do I take a jar of pickles for breakfast? Thus, food cravings are expected during pregnancy, a familiar cliché. nine0003

But what about food aversion? If you expected to want to eat everything in sight during pregnancy, the sudden hatred of your once-favorite snack may surprise you.

Here's why you can't eat some of the things you once loved and how you can deal with food aversions during pregnancy.

Aversion to food, like desire, is probably caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy. The amount of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the hormone that caused a positive pregnancy test, doubles every few days during the first trimester. nine0003

HCG levels also rise around the 11th week of pregnancy. By this time, symptoms such as nausea, cravings, and food aversion may be hiding a rapidly rising level. However, your hormones will continue to affect your appetite during pregnancy.

Your aversion to food may also be due to morning sickness. This may be because both are caused by hCG. But it could also be because you associate morning sickness with the food you eat at that time. nine0003

Prema Mayo Clinic, nausea and food aversion may be early symptoms of pregnancy that continue into the first trimester. These early symptoms sometimes persist during pregnancy.

What the research says

A review of the literature published in Frontiers in Psychology suggests that nausea and food aversion may be related if they occur during pregnancy. The authors of the study emphasized that this conclusion is largely based on the dates of the study, and more research is needed. nine0003

A review of the literature in the Journal of Nutrition and Nutrition Research argued for an association between food aversion and nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Researchers speculate that this association may be due to a bodily defense mechanism against potentially harmful elements in a given food. Relationships can also be the result of complex cultural and psychological causes.

You will most likely develop an aversion to food during the first trimester. However, you may experience an aversion to food at any stage of your pregnancy. A new aversion can also develop at any point in the pregnancy. nine0003

In most cases, the aversion to food will disappear after the baby is born. It is also possible that the disgust will continue indefinitely.

During pregnancy, you may feel disgust or craving for any food. During one pregnancy, it is even possible to have an aversion to a certain food at some point in the pregnancy and crave that same food later. However, the most common aversion is foods with strong odors.

General aversions to pregnancy include:

meso
Jaja
milk
Onion
garlic
tea and coffee
spicy food

Some pregnant women also crave the above foods. What you hate or aspire to during pregnancy doesn't necessarily have to do with your pre-pregnancy diet.

Because pregnancy causes a loss of hormones, cravings for things you don't like and hatred for foods you love often result. nine0003

In most cases, it is good to listen to your body during pregnancy. This means avoiding disgust and eating the food you crave, but in moderation. Try not to overdo it.

Study in the journal Appetite They found that high food cravings during pregnancy were associated with excessive weight gain.

If your aversion includes foods that are important during pregnancy, make sure you are getting those nutrients in other ways. For example, if you have an aversion to meat, eat plenty of other high protein foods like nuts and beans. nine0003

You can also get disgusted by "hiding" foods you don't like in other foods. For example, if you're sick of salads, try adding leafy greens to a fruit smoothie. You will not feel any taste or texture there.

Both food aversion and food cravings are normal during pregnancy, so there is usually nothing to worry about. However, if you cannot eat most of the foods, your child's growth may be affected. If so, discuss weight gain with your doctor. nine0003

During pregnancy, aversion to food is sometimes accompanied by cravings for ice or other malnutrition.

Pregnant women may crave not only food, but harmful things such as dirt or chalk. This condition, called pizza, can be a sign of a medical problem. If you feel this, call your doctor.

Q:

What are the cures for nausea and morning sickness during pregnancy?

Patient Anonymous

A:

Morning sickness is common during pregnancy but usually occurs after the first trimester. Morning sickness does not exist, but there are guidelines that can make morning sickness bearable. Try setting your alarm a little earlier so you have enough time to wake up and get out of bed slowly. Put some saltine crackers on your nightstand so you can eat them in bed. Eat small meals throughout the day and avoid spicy or fatty foods. To buy, you can buy some products like Preggie Pop Drops which are drug free; Marine dressings that use acupressure pulse points to help fight nausea; and lozenges containing ginger and lemon to soothe the stomach.