Dr. Kamara Daniel, a nutritionist at Bwindi Community Hospital, has emphasized the importance of pregnant women paying close attention to their food cravings, as these can indicate specific nutrient deficiencies.
According to Dr. Kamara, cravings during pregnancy are significant and should not be ignored, as they may highlight a need for certain nutrients that the body lacks.
“Since the baby in the womb utilizes the mother’s nutrient stores, insufficient intake can lead to low birth weight,” he explained.
He further elaborated that cravings for meat and eggs may suggest a protein deficiency, while a craving for soil or clay could be a sign of iron deficiency.
Cravings for dairy products indicate a need for calcium, while citrus fruits suggest a vitamin C deficiency. Cravings for gluten products, such as wheat, may be associated with elevated estrogen levels.
“Food cravings do not predict the sex of the baby, as there is no scientific evidence to support this. The focus should be on preventing maternal malnutrition,” Dr. Kamara clarified.
Speaking during a webinar on “Optimal Nutrition for Pregnant Mothers” organized by the Busoga Health Forum on Friday, Dr. Kamara recommended that women should take folic acid supplements before conception to prevent neural tube defects in newborns.
The World Health Organization defines optimal nutrition as the ideal intake of nutrients needed to achieve overall health, and the benefits include better educational outcomes, productivity, and long-term health.
Dr. Kamara also encouraged all women of reproductive age to seek nutritional counseling. Recommendations include using iodized salt for adequate iodine intake, consuming iron-fortified foods, and incorporating a variety of whole fruits while limiting fruit juices and dried fruits.
For proper fetal development, fiber-rich carbohydrates and starchy vegetables should be prioritized, and pregnant women should drink plenty of water and avoid coffee.
The Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) 2022 revealed significant concerns regarding child nutrition, with 26% of children under five stunted, 3.2% wasted, 3.4% overweight, and 9.4% underweight.
The same survey found that 9% of women aged 15-49 (who were neither pregnant nor lactating) were undernourished. Additionally, 49% of women of reproductive age, 64% of pregnant women, and 53% of lactating women were anemic.
In the 2023 Pre-conception Nutrition Study conducted in western Uganda, nutritionists highlighted the importance of breaking the cycle of malnutrition, noting that inadequate dietary intake is often repetitive and competitive.
