eli5: Why are some pregnancy cravings so strange?

Question

eli5: Why are some pregnancy cravings so strange?

In: Biology

Answer 1

The parasite growing in the body (aka the “baby human” as some people refer to it) takes up a LOT of additional nutrients and vitamins.
On a subconscious level, your body correlates those missing vitamins and minerals to specific foods (pickles is common), but sometimes to very specific foods or food combos that you normally would not crave, like sardines and peanut butter.