Many women crave sweet foods like chocolate and candies during their menstrual period. What is the reason for this?

 

It is due to hormonal changes. From ovulation to just before menstruation, the level of progesterone, a type of female hormone, gradually increases while estrogen secretion decreases. During this time, progesterone acts to lower blood sugar levels, and the significant fluctuations in female hormone secretion lead to a decrease in serotonin secretion, which is responsible for feelings of happiness.

 

Therefore, you may crave carbohydrate-rich foods such as sweets or bread to raise blood sugar levels. Another reason is that consuming these foods increases the ratio of tryptophan, a precursor to serotonin, in the body. In fact, a domestic study found that 68.8% of 400 female college students increased their food intake just before menstruation, and the most craved foods were sweets such as chocolates, candies, cookies, and cakes (74.1%).

Many women also experience a sudden increase in weight just before their period, followed by a decrease after their period.

 

This is because the body retains water due to increased progesterone levels before menstruation. As progesterone levels decrease and menstruation begins, the body's water is released, leading to a decrease in weight.

 

However, it is more likely that body fat has increased. Progesterone inhibits the action of fat breakdown enzymes, making the body more prone to fat accumulation. Even when eating the same amount of food, decreased insulin sensitivity leads to the secretion of more insulin, which easily promotes fat storage.

 

Therefore, during menstruation, you should be careful not to eat high-calorie sweets or carbohydrate-rich foods recklessly, as it can lead to weight gain. When it's time for your period, drinking herbal teas or similar beverages frequently to reduce cravings or consciously avoiding high-calorie foods can be helpful.

If you want to prevent weight gain, it is better to consume bananas rather than high-carbohydrate foods like chocolate or cake just before menstruation. This is because bananas contain a large amount of tryptophan, an amino acid that plays a crucial role in serotonin synthesis.

 

 

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Drink herbal tea,

Hunger is a banana.

It would be helpful to bring snacks.