Craving Pickles During Pregnancy – Health Benefits and Risks

It is common to crave certain foods during pregnancy. Sometimes, women crave sweets such as chocolate or apples, and sometimes they are for a combination of foods. Pregnancy cravings differ from woman to woman. The changing pregnancy hormones can also make women crave pickles, which is a classic pregnancy craving. While in some cases, craving for pickles may satisfy their urge for spicy food, others find eating pickles while pregnant useful in preventing one of the most typical gestation symptoms, i.e., morning sickness.

The vital thing to remember here is not to give in to the craving in excess. Eating the tangy pickles on a day-to-day basis is not recommended. Eating in moderation is a wiser approach when dealing with cravings, to avoid any issues later on.

Why Do Pregnant Women Crave Pickles?

Craving pickles during pregnancy is a quintessential pregnancy stereotype, isn’t it? Some people go on to predict the gender of the baby based on the cravings of a woman during pregnancy, but there is no scientific evidence to prove the same. Women may be craving pickles during pregnancy for the following reasons:

1. Hormonal Effect

Pregnancy hormones like oestrogen or other changing hormones affect the senses of smell and taste. Therefore, foods taste different to a woman during her pregnancy than they did before. Certain foods like pickles can satiate their heightened senses of taste or smell, which is why pregnant women may crave pickles.

2. Emotional Stress

At times, emotional stress during pregnancy too can make a woman crave for comfort food like pickles.

3. Cultural Expectations

Yes, sometimes a pregnant woman craves a particular food just because of cultural expectations that, generally, women crave foods like pickles during this time. This leads them to crave and indulge in that particular food.

4. Trust Buds

Women often find food tastes quite different when they are expecting. This may be the reason why women crave foods like pickle, which has a very strong flavour.

Nutritional Facts of Pickles

The nutritional value of pickles is essentially not much. Pickles have very less cholesterol and are also very low in protein and fat. Pickles can be a good source of iron and sodium. They may also provide some calcium, dietary fibre, and vitamin C.  Every pickle may contain a different quantity of sodium, fat, and calories. So, it is important to check the product labelling detailing the nutritional facts. Although pickles by themselves don’t possess much minerals and vitamins, having pickles along with a meal can enhance the probiotic content of that meal.

Is Consuming Pickles in Pregnancy Safe?

Can you eat pickles while pregnant? Is this question troubling you? Here is the answer for you.

Consuming pickles in a limited amount during pregnancy may not be harmful. But it is not advisable to make pickles a part of your daily diet during pregnancy. Overindulgence in pickles during pregnancy can lead to certain health issues. Hence, moderating should be the key whenever you are tempted to reach for that jar of pickles!

Moreover, during pregnancy, it is crucial to pay special attention to your dietary intake for your health as well as your baby’s health. Pickles don’t have much nutritional value. So, their consumption is best kept to the minimum. Further, you may also like to avoid consuming very spicy pickles. In case of any lingering doubt, it is always advisable to consult your doctor first.

Benefits of Eating Pickles During Pregnancy

It is not a stretch of the imagination for pregnant women to crave for pickles throughout their pregnancy. Eating pickles in moderation during pregnancy may prove beneficial in the following ways:

1. May Help Balance the Electrolyte Levels in the Body

Minerals like sodium and potassium are important electrolytes in our body. During pregnancy, your body may need more amounts of electrolytes to fulfil the demands of the developing foetus. Consuming pickles in small quantities can cater to this need as pickles contain a considerable amount of sodium and potassium in them.

2. May Boost Digestion

Pickles are thought to improve digestion and even the immune function to some extent. Pickles may contain healthy bacteria which prevents it from getting spoiled. So eating pickles can aid in multiplying the good bacteria in your digestive system, which can help in combating a lot of digestive issues.

3. May Help Fight Free Radicals

Pickles are believed to have antioxidant properties in them. The pickled fruits or vegetables are usually not cooked, which preserves their antioxidants. These antioxidants can thus help in defending your body against free radicals.

4. May Strengthen Your Immune System

Having fresh pickles of various vegetables and fruits such as amla may provide your body with essential vitamins like vitamin A, C, and K, and minerals like calcium, iron, and potassium. These vitamins and minerals can strengthen your immune system and lower your risk of falling prey to diseases during pregnancy.

Types of Pickles to Eat And Avoid in Pregnancy

Craving something salty-sour while you are pregnant and can’t resist picking a piece of a pickle! Here we are with some information on pickles you can and cannot eat during pregnancy.

1) Pickles to Consume

• Consume sour, less salty, and spicy pickles to satisfy the cravings.
• Go for homemade pickles, as they are relatively safe to eat during pregnancy than their commercial variety.
• Pick only freshly made pickles during pregnancy.

2) Pickles Not to Consume

• Avoid unpasteurised pickles and pickles that come without proper labelling.
• Avoid pickles that contain preservatives and come in cans.
• Avoid eating mango pickles as it has an increased risk of having listeria bacteria that are potentially dangerous during pregnancy.

Who Are Not Allowed to Eat Pickles During Pregnancy?

Eating pickles during pregnancy is considered safe when consumed in moderation. But there is no scientifically proven evidence to support this. So, a pregnant woman can consume pickle.

Risk of Consuming Pickles When Pregnant 

Nearly all pickles are high in salt content. Salt is added to pickles because it enhances the taste and functions as an anti-microbial agent, aiding in the preservation of pickles by keeping off undesirable fungi, yeast, and bacteria. However, excess intake of salt through pickles during pregnancy can lead to gestational hypertension, which can result in heart attacks and strokes.

Furthermore, most Indian pickles contain oil in excess, which can increase cholesterol levels and fat content in the body during pregnancy. Eating very spicy pickles or pickles with chemical preservatives can even cause bloating or gas when pregnant.

Precautions to Take While Eating Pickles

Pickles and pregnancy may not be completely conducive. Some of the precautions that you may like to observe if craving pickles while pregnant are:

• Eating excessive pickles can lead to dehydration. Thus, make sure you drink lots of water and healthy fluids to remain suitably hydrated. Additionally, drinking water can also help to balance the sodium levels in your body.
• If you are prone to gastritis while pregnant, it is better to avoid eating pickles during this time.
• Refrain from eating very spicy pickles as it can trigger dysentery and digestive problems like heartburn and acidity.
• Having pickles that are high in sodium can prompt gestational hypertension, which can adversely affect the growth of the foetus.
• Consuming pickles treated with excess chemical preservatives can cause unnecessary complications during pregnancy.
• Eating mango pickle during pregnancy, which is homemade may have traces of listeria bacteria that can be potentially dangerous for the pregnancy, so avoid eating mango pickles during pregnancy.
• Choose an unsweetened range of pickles over sweet pickles to avoid any probable weight gain.

FAQs

1. Does Pickle Help With Pregnancy Nausea?

Yes. Pickles can help with pregnancy nausea. When a pregnant woman consumes pickles, it reduces the effect of nausea and helps in managing morning sickness.

2. Is It Safe to Eat Canned Pickles During Pregnancy?

It is best to avoid canned pickles as they contain preservatives which are not good for the baby.

3. Is It Safe to Eat Pickles During Breastfeeding?

Yes. You can eat homemade pickles during breastfeeding but in moderation. This is because the pickle may contain traces of bacteria if not prepared properly.

4. Does a Pickle Cause Indigestion in Pregnancy?

Limited consumption of pickles does not cause indigestion during pregnancy.

If you do want to eat pickles during pregnancy, remember moderation is the key. Giving in to cravings once in a while is not harmful but don’t overdo it. Pickles, if consumed in small quantities, may offer some benefit but if consumed in excess may lead to health complications. Furthermore, if you are buying pickles from the market, choose the organic variety devoid of chemical preservatives. And do consult your doctor before including any pickle in your diet.

References/Resources:

1. Pregnancy Cravings: What Do They Mean and What Should You Do?; Houston Methodist Leading Medicine; https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2020/feb/pregnancy-cravings-what-do-they-mean-and-what-should-you-do/

2. Pickles and hot sauce: Your pregnancy cravings explained; medibank, https://www.medibank.com.au/livebetter/families/pregnancy/pickles-and-hot-sauce-your-pregnancy-cravings-explained/,

3. Orloff NC, Hormes JM; Pickles and ice cream! Food cravings in pregnancy: hypotheses, preliminary evidence, and directions for future research; NIH; September 2014

4. Pica Cravings During Pregnancy; American Pregnancy Association; https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/is-it-safe/unusual-cravings-pica/

Also Read: Eating Mango during Pregnancy