Pregnancy cravings affect 90% of mums-to-be. Some are normal and some are a bit more unusual!

Women usually crave these odd tastes and smells because they're lacking, or trying to build up, vitamins in their blood in order to keep the baby safe in the womb. We've taken a look at the reasons why you might scoff jars of gherkins when you're pregnant!

The top 8 pregnancy cravings and why you're getting them...

The craving: Red meat and steak fat
The problem: Blood cell growth
A lot of women have cravings for red meat while they're pregnant. Red meat has high levels of the vitamin B6, which is important in the red blood cell formation of the baby. Homeopaths suggest eating three to four 2x2cm sized cubes of steak or pork every morning to speed up the level of blood cells being made. A great excuse for a bacon buttie!

The craving: Pickles
The problem: Low salt levels
A craving for pickles is very normal in pregnant women so don't worry if you're reaching for the gherkins at 3 o'clock in the morning! This craving is usually because of low salt levels in the blood of the pregnant woman. Salt holds water in the body and is really important in keeping the fluids running from mother to the baby. Green Spanish olives are a particularly good way to satisfy your need for salt.

The craving: Dairy (ice cream and yogurt)
The problem: Low levels of calcium
One of the most common pregnancy cravings is ice cream - in fact 50% of women say this is their main craving! When the baby is growing inside you it needs high levels of calcium to stay healthy and a lot of women can't stomach milk and cheese during pregnancy. As a result, ice cream becomes a great way of getting calcium into the body.

Some women find foods containing calcium so hard to eat during pregnancy that they end up taking Vitamin D or calcium tablets.

The craving: Coal, mud, matches, Guinness and dust!
The problem: Lack of iron
Most of you will have heard of craving coal and possibly the smell of matches, but it might surprise you that some women actually eat dust during pregnancy. This is because dust is full of iron-rich minerals.

During pregnancy, high iron levels in your blood often drop. Guinness, mud, matches and even chalk are all high in iron. A strong craving for them is the body's way of trying to get more iron into its system - don't be afraid to give in!

The craving: Broccoli, peaches and pears
The problem: Low folic acid levels
During pregnancy, the desire for vegetables, particularly broccoli, and sugary fruit is often because of low folic acid levels. Folic acid can reduce the risk of having a baby with a serious birth defect of the brain and spinal cord, so the pregnant body needs to keep very well loaded up - lots of pregnant mums take a folic acid tablet every day. Many women claim to have intense cravings for broccoli, which makes sense, as it is packed with folic acid goodness!

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