2023-11-16 20:11:35
An irrepressible craving for chocolate, cakes or sweets? Many women feel the urge to snack on sugary foods around the time of their period… Is this normal? How is this explained? Can we avoid these cravings?
Why do I snack when I have my period?
It is completely normal to feel hungry before your period. This is linked to fluctuating hormones1. In fact, every woman has two types of sex hormones (estrogens and the progesterone) to which we owe these untimely little hunger pangs, in summary:
- After ovulation, the body releases progesterone to prepare the body for pregnancy. The level of this hormone is at its highest just before the start of your period, this is when you feel an increase in appetite.
- Estrogen rises and then falls just before menstruation arrives. And this fall will slow down the natural secretion of serotonin – aka the happiness hormone – which also finds itself in deficit at this same period. To compensate for mood swings, we will be tempted to comfort ourselves with our favorite foods…
Is hunger a symptom of PMS?
Before menstruation, appetite increases ; This is one of the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)2. Moreover, the list of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome is almost infinite and includes both physical and psychological symptoms which will affect certain women during 2 7 days before your period. Among the symptoms? Extreme sensitivity, tiredness, tension, swelling, pain in the back, stomach, breasts… and even feeling of hunger!
Result ? During the premenstrual phase, women are more vulnerable, both to cravings and sadness and will be attracted to foods rich in carbohydrates and fat such as chocolate, candy, ice cream or even cakes… Foods which, when ingested, promote the release of serotonin in the body. Snacking then becomes, in a way, a self-medication mechanism to soothe the symptoms of PMS!
Before menstruation, to combat this increase in appetite linked in particular to a drop in serotonin, we will seek to increase our serotonin level. Logic. There are several methods to achieve improvement and feel better:
Sport has a positive impact on morale. It causes the secretion of chemical messengers such as serotonin in the brain. The latter is involved in the anti-depressant effects of physical exercise. We choose to do the sport that we enjoy the most.
- Favor physical contact.
The secretion of serotonin is favored by certain physical contacts. You can have a massage or apply cream in the morning and evening. Another option? Head to the swimming pool (or the sea) because swimming, promoting“caressing effect all over the body”, is a good way to boost serotonin secretion, advises Odile Bagot, gynecologist-obstetician interviewed by Doctissimo. In addition, swimming promotes drainage, perfect for combating water retention to which we are prone before or during periods.
- Favor foods that boost serotonin levels.
As a dietary supplement, there are food supplements that provide tryptophan (animated acid which is used to produce serotonin). They provide a feeling of calm, relaxation and emotional well-being.
Finally, the most brutal but perhaps the most effective method is to put aside everything sweet. We empty the cupboards to avoid being tempted!
1. Menstrual cycle and appetite control: implications for weight regulation,
2. Modest changes in dietary intake across the menstrual cycle: implications for dietary intake research, National Library of Medicine.
Read also
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True/False: 9 myths regarding periods
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How to avoid having your period while on the pill?
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