Can You Eat Salsa While Pregnant? Here's What You Should Know

You experience many changes when your body goes through pregnancy. Every decision you make has the potential to impact your unborn child. There is often a direct correlation between your diet and how your pregnancy progresses. That said, experiencing intense cravings for junk food is one of the calling cards of pregnancy.

Many women have been known to crave food combinations ranging from pickles and ice cream to peanut butter and anchovies. You aren’t alone If you have a hankering for guilty pleasures like salsa.

Are you wondering if you can eat salsa during your pregnancy?

Here are some reasons why you may be craving salsa, how it can affect you and your baby, and if it’s a good idea to keep enjoying the tasty snack.

Why You May Be Craving Salsa
How Does Your Diet Affect the Baby?
Possible Risks of Eating Salsa
How is Your Salsa Prepared?
Myths surrounding Certain Food Cravings
Asking your Doctor
Conclusion

Why You May Be Craving Salsa

Pregnancy can make you have an insatiable hunger for strange items. Although salsa isn’t thought of as an uncanny food choice, your raging hormones could be the cause behind your cravings. As your body changes, your hormones can make you want to reach for items repeatedly.

Sometimes your hormones can make you crave food that you would typically find repulsing at any other time.

Another reason you may have unusual tastes could be your body’s nutritional needs changes. During pregnancy, your body may crave additional nutrients to help your growing little one continue developing. Some nutrients your body may want more of can include

Calcium
Iron
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Folic Acid

Also, your cravings may be the culmination of sensory changes in your body. Your changing senses, such as a heightened sense of smell, could make you crave salsa. Many people enjoy salsa because it provides a fresh-tasting boost to any meal. Combining herbs, spices, and vegetables can make anyone want to grab a jar quickly. Some pregnant women crave salsa because it can give off a fresh scent and taste they may be desperately looking for.

How Does Your Diet Affect the Baby?

Pregnant women must often make difficult choices regarding the baby’s health and themselves. One of the first areas that pregnant women must take precautions in is their diet. Whatever the mother eats, good or bad, is passed from the mother to the fetus in the womb through the umbilical cord.

Engorging yourself on junk food items during pregnancy can lead to a heightened risk of becoming obese. If this happens, it can put you and your baby in the crosshairs of dangerous conditions such as

Preeclampsia
Miscarriage
Gestational diabetes
Childhood obesity
Impaired cognitive function

A healthy diet is essential for your baby’s healthy pregnancy and delivery.

Another thing to note is if you’ve started to crave non-food items, such as dirt or clay. The act of craving inedible items is known as pica and can harm you and your baby if you give in and consume non-food items. If you’ve begun to crave abnormal items, reach your doctor immediately to get advice on meeting your nutritional needs.

Possible Risks of Eating Salsa

You may be craving the closest jar of salsa you can find, but you may want to hold off before breaking out a bag of chips to go with it. While salsa may be the perfect snack for you and your friends on a Friday night, it may be best to understand the potential side effects salsa may cause during your pregnancy.

Many pregnant women experience discomfort in their stomach as part of typical pregnancy symptoms. But, eating salsa too often during pregnancy may worsen symptoms of bloating and gas. Also, the acidic nature of salsa can contribute to heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux.

Although these symptoms are mild and pose no imminent threat to you and your baby, you may want to consider the possible side effects of salsa before your next bite.

How is Your Salsa Prepared?

It’s understandable That your salsa cravings are driving you nuts, and you must reach for it. But, it may be worth making your salsa at home instead of getting store-bought and restaurant options. Making your salsa at home can give you added peace of mind from knowing that you chose every ingredient in the mixture and it is free of artificial flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives like high-fructose corn syrup linked to low birth weight, heart disease, and diabetes.

Myths surrounding Certain Food Cravings

There are many myths regarding pregnancy and craving particular foods. One of the more well-known myths is that craving spicy foods (as some variations of salsa can be) is that it can harm the baby. While you may experience uncomfortable side effects from having spicy food, it is perfectly safe for your baby.

Another myth about pregnant women and spicy food is that spicy food can help induce labor. Many people throughout the generations have sworn by this idea, but the fact remains that there is no scientific evidence to support these claims.

Also, if you’ve been craving spicy foods, you may have been told that it means you’re having a boy. While it may be nice to think that your diet can hint at what you’re expecting, it’s best to wait until you can confirm on the ultrasound before reaching for a jar of the spiciest salsa you can find.

Asking your Doctor

If you’re still unsure whether or not you should eat salsa during pregnancy, consulting your doctor can help get you pointed in the right direction. Your doctor can help you find the foods that work best for you and your baby’s needs and prescribe any supplements you might need to close gaps in nutrition.

Conclusion

Having salsa during your pregnancy isn’t dangerous. It’s a snack that many pregnant women crave, but urban myths and misinformation have caused some to miss out on one of their favorite snacks. Like anything, salsa is best in moderation, and you must work hard to maintain a healthy diet as you prepare for your little one.

Be sure to consult your doctor and keep them informed regarding your cravings and how to get you and your baby all the nutrients you need. But for now, feel free to grab some salsa!