It’s normal to crave chocolate and savory foods during your period. There’s actually scientific reasons why our body is searching for that type of food. Our bodies go through intense fluctuations and nutritional gaps throughout each cycle phase, so how do you optimize your lifestyle to make the experience better?
Let’s explore this inexplicable chocolate craving during your period. We'll explain why this craving occurs and how to gracefully navigate them throughout our menstrual cycles.
Understanding the Science Behind Period Cravings
In our intricate menstrual cycles, estrogen and progesterone take the lead, creating various changes in our bodies. These hormonal shifts not only influence physical symptoms, but also play a role in our food craving habits. It's not unusual to find ourselves yearning for chocolate, especially during periods of hormonal imbalance. Hormone balance supplements can help manage these cravings, but let’s dive deeper into reasons our bodies want chocolate.
Connection Between Mood Swings and Chocolate Cravings
The increase and decrease of estrogen and progesterone, key players in our hormone levels that can lead to mood swings, create a yearning for typical comfort foods like chocolate. This sweet treat provides a momentary escape from period-related discomfort.
Period symptoms also include a rollercoaster of emotions, making chocolate a go-to choice for emotional comfort. The association between chocolate and mood enhancement is rooted in psychological responses to hormonal fluctuations. Although, there are some better ways on how to balance hormones naturally through our diet that provides adequate nutrition to curb chocolate cravings.
Chocolate and the Brain: A Delicious Relationship
The allure of chocolate goes beyond its taste; it's deeply intertwined with our brain chemistry. Consuming chocolate can trigger the release of endorphins, those delightful mood boosters that offer a welcome relief during your period.
Chocolate, with its intricate blend of compounds, possesses the remarkable ability to positively influence your serotonin levels—a key neurotransmitter intricately linked to mood and appetite regulation. This unique interaction sheds light on why the instinctual reach for chocolate feels like an innate response to the mood swings often experienced during menstruation. [1]
Nutritional Gaps Throughout Our Cycles
Our bodies are dynamic as nutritional needs fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle. The desire for specific nutrients, such as magnesium—abundant in chocolate—peaks during menstruation. Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, happens to be a good source of magnesium. The body's increased demand for this essential mineral during menstruation might explain why craving chocolate may happen more often than usual. [2]
Our bodies send thousands of messages, and chocolate cravings may be a signal of nutritional gaps. Knowing what to eat on your period to support all four phases can help you manage intense period cravings.
Cycle Syncing and Managing Cravings
Navigating your period requires more long-term, holistic solutions than just satisfying immediate desires. It's about understanding our bodies and adopting practices that support your needs all cycle long.
For instance, during the luteal phase when many experience increased cravings for sweets or carbs, focusing on nutrient-dense foods high in fiber, healthy fats, and protein can help stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce the intensity of these cravings. Similarly, during the follicular phase, leveraging increased energy levels for more intense workouts can help in appetite regulation.
By listening to your body's natural rhythms and providing it with what it needs at each phase, cycle syncing can be a powerful tool in managing cravings and achieving a harmonious balance with your body's natural processes.
Normalizing Periods – Symptoms, Cravings, and More
The mystery behind why we crave chocolate during our periods involves an interplay of hormones, brain chemistry, and nutritional needs. Embracing these insights allows us to approach our cravings with understanding and make choices that honor our bodies. As your trustworthy guide in holistic period care, we encourage you to savor that piece of chocolate mindfully, knowing that it's not just a treat, but a sweet acknowledgment of your body's unique journey.
At Rael, our dedication to holistic period care goes beyond a superficial understanding. Each period and skin care product explores the nuances of your menstrual journey. Whether it's crafting hormone balance supplements or curating essential period care products, our focus remains steadfast on prioritizing clean and effective ingredients.
Sources:
- Nehlig A. The neuroprotective effects of cocoa flavanol and its influence on cognitive performance. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2013;75(3):716-727. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04378.x
- Nuha K, Rusmil K, Ganiem AR, Permadi W, Diah Herawati DM. Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial: Comparative Efficacy of Dark Chocolate, Coconut Water, and Ibuprofen in Managing Primary Dysmenorrhea. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023;20(16):6619. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20166619