Why do some people dislike eating meat after becoming pregnant?
Apr 25, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Luo Xin
Introduction
Many expectant mothers experience early pregnancy symptoms such as loss of appetite, food aversion, and intolerance to greasy foods—often including a strong dislike of meat. This is generally not a major concern. For mothers with mild symptoms who do not wish to eat meat, alternative sources of protein and other essential nutrients—such as legumes and dairy products—can be consumed instead.
What and how to eat during pregnancy is a major concern for expectant mothers. Many believe that, once pregnant, they must consume sufficient energy and protein—making meat a particularly emphasized food group.
However, I’d like to point out that during early pregnancy, elevated levels of hormones—including human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and progesterone—can slow gastrointestinal motility, thereby affecting normal digestion and appetite.
Indeed, many women experience early-pregnancy symptoms such as loss of appetite, food aversion, and intolerance to greasy foods; consequently, numerous expectant mothers find themselves unwilling or unable to eat meat. In such cases, there’s generally no cause for concern. If symptoms are mild and you simply don’t feel like eating meat, you can still meet your protein and other nutritional needs through alternative sources—such as legumes and dairy products. During early pregnancy, the embryo’s growth and development do not require substantial additional caloric intake, as maternal nutrient stores are already sufficient to support early embryonic development.
