What Does It Mean When You Crave Eggs While Pregnant?

Food cravings, which are sudden urges to consume a particular type of food, are among the many well-known signs of pregnancy, per a study published in Frontiers in Psychology. "Cravings tend to differ for each woman," says consultant obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Ellis Downes (via GoodtoKnow). The most frequent cravings include baked sweets, crunchy treats, spicy food, chocolate, and caffeine. However, some people crave bizarre substances that they might have never eaten before like mud and chalk, which is a sign of pica and should be monitored closely.

Food cravings can appear anywhere from one to twelve weeks into pregnancy and intensify in your second trimester, before grinding to a halt in your third trimester. Cravings can be brought on by a number of things, such as hormonal changes, variations in one's sense of taste and smell, an increased need for certain nutrients, or stress. Generally speaking, what you crave during pregnancy might result from your restrictive consumption of that particular food. So, what does it mean when you crave eggs while pregnant?

Eggs are an excellent source of protein, according to medicine specialist Kurt Hong to Keck Medicine. Your body converts the protein you consume into amino acids, which are crucial for regulating digestion, maintaining healthy sleep-wake cycles, and boosting the immune system. Packed with healthy unsaturated fats and over a dozen vitamins and minerals such as selenium, folate, calcium, and choline, eggs bring massive benefits to your health as well as the developing baby's development. Therefore, eggs can count as a common and perfectly safe food craving. If you crave eggs, a decent source of protein and vitamin B12, it might be your body telling you that you need more of those substances, per FamilyEducation.

If you enjoy eating eggs, you might want to try omega-3-enriched eggs. Produced by chickens given a flaxseed-rich diet, omega-3 eggs are said to offer 12 times more omega-3 fatty acids as well as less cholesterol than regular eggs. Consumption of omega-3 eggs can potentially minimize the risks of heart disease and stroke and promote the formation of healthy brain cells.

Since your immune system gets weaker temporarily during pregnancy, you might be more prone to foodborne diseases like salmonella. You can eat fried, boiled, or scrambled eggs, but take care to eat only thoroughly cooked yolk and white to minimize the risk of food poisoning. According to the Government of New South Wales, pregnant women should only consume eggs that have been properly cooked to at least 71 degrees Celsius. During pregnancy, preggers should avoid consuming poached eggs and soft-boiled eggs. Foods like mousse, homemade ice cream, and eggnog that are made with raw or runny eggs should also be avoided. Additionally, steer clear of eggs with cracked or mucky shells, store them in the fridge or a private carton, consume leftover eggs within 24 hours of cooking, and eat hard-boiled eggs within three days of boiling, Australian Eggs advises.

Overeating eggs can cause bloating, gas, or abdominal pain, apart from causing your cholesterol to soar and putting your heart at risk. Depending on your cholesterol level, the recommended intake of eggs is two to three eggs per day. The Heart Foundation advises restricting your weekly egg consumption to seven eggs if you have high blood sugar or high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. While it's safe to eat eggs every day, they should be part of a balanced diet that also includes lean meat, legumes, salmon, and leafy greens.