Why do pregnant women tend to have a preference for sweet foods?

Pregnant women like to eat sweet foods, which may be closely related to changes in hormones in the body. Eating some sweet foods in moderation is fine, but attention should also be paid to not overeating them. On one hand, sweet foods have high calories; on the other hand, they contain a lot of sugar. Excessive consumption can not only lead to weight gain but also may induce gestational diabetes in pregnant women.

1. Reasons for Pregnant Women's Preference for Sweet Foods

The main reason for pregnant women's changing taste preferences is related to the increased levels of progesterone, chorionic gonadotropin, and other hormones after pregnancy. Eating sweet foods occasionally and in moderation during pregnancy will not have significant adverse effects on the health of pregnant women and fetuses. However, sweet foods tend to have high calories. If pregnant women frequently or excessively consume sweet foods, excessive calorie intake can easily lead to excessive weight gain, rapid fetal weight gain, the birth of macrosomic babies, and increased burden on the pancreas, which can increase the risk of gestational diabetes. Therefore, pregnant women should control their intake of sweet foods appropriately.

2. Principles of Diet for Pregnant Women

Pregnant women's diet should be rich, small in quantity, and diverse. Generally, they should eat in small portions and multiple meals, controlling the amount of food intake, especially high-protein and high-fat foods. If there are no restrictions on these foods, excessive consumption can lead to excessive fetal growth, making delivery more difficult.