Pre-Menstrual and I want Chocolate.....

[CandieLeeMarie]

I never have PMS. But I'm on day 17 and I know the date of my period's arrival is coming and I'm craving chocolate so terribly bad. Any tips for satisfying this craving? 

 

Thanks! 

 

 

[SugarcubeOD]

First, eat up!  Your body is craving chocolate because it knows from history that it's a quick energy source.  Most of the time women coming up on their period and during their period need to eat significantly more... dont' forget, your body having a period is because it's prepping for pregnancy... it's wanting extra energy... so if you've been hungrier than normal, that's why and you should honor that and eat... there are people on this board that eat 4-6 full meals during this joyous (sarcasm) female time...

 

Do not feed this craving with dried fruit, or nut butter, nuts, fruit, chia 'pudding' lara bars or anything else 'technically' compliant.  Eat fat and protein and try upping your starchy carb (sweet potato, potato, root veg)... if you're eating it once a day, try with every meal and see if that helps.

 

It's not hocus pocus or media lore that when we menstruate we want sugar and to eat all the things.  It's based on a real physical thing that is happening... but you can manage it better than ice cream and chocolate.... just know it's not in your head...

[LadyM]

There's also evidence that women crave chocolate before their periods because it's high in magnesium and THAT's what our bodies actually need. I rarely crave chocolate now that I take a magnesium supplement. And I generally need to increase my dose significantly the week before my period.

[CandieLeeMarie]

Thank you both! 

[Tess21]

I am on Day 22 and started my period yesterday. On day 19, I smooshed 100% cacao into a banana. I KNEW this was menstrual related and not a standard craving, so I ate it and didn't look back. I take fist fulls of magnesium daily - magnesium glyconate (600mg) and taurate (125mg). Any recommendations on how much I should up the dose to combat the chocolate attacks? I'm seriously cranky and grumpy and want to eat all the things right now.

[Karen]

Eat more carbs. Compliant ones. Your body needs them during pms. Don't be shy about upping the number of meals you eat, either. You can't out-will or ignore your body's needs during pms!

[bjyoung116]

I feel so much better reading this! I'm suppose to start sometime this week and have been nervous when cravings hit! I will definitely be upping my meals and good carbs! 

[karo1500]

From my experience as type 1 diabetic sugar cravings related to PMS are connected to increased insulin resistance due to hormonal changes in the body before period. AS we all probably know when you are insulin resistant you can be hungry all day long and no matter what you eat you will still be hungry unless you stuff yourself so that your stomach gives you physical signal that you ate enough. Once you get your period, insulin resistance nearly in a magical way disappears (again due to hormonal change). As a diabetic I literally see it in my sugar readings - An hour or two after I get my period, I will most likely suddenly have low sugar - which comes from the insulin that I had to inject before when I was still insulin resistant. There isn't really much we woman can do about it (we can't change how hormones are affecting us). When you give in to your craving you will cause high insulin response and then the drop in blood sugar again which will cause you to crave carbohydrates.. so what is best I think is to look after your insulin sensitivity - probably rather go for a walk than to sit down with a bar of chocolate... 

[miabrasil]

It´s being different with me. You said you "never" have PMS. I ALWAYS HAVE THE MOST TERRIBLE PMS. I´m on day 22 and one symptom has completely disappeared: the cravings. But the other is still here: the very bad mood. Do you girls have any suggestions, do you think it will disappear if i make more Whole30 rounds?