Why do I crave chocolate on my period?

Why am I so hungry before my period?

A lot of us will probably agree that our appetite can vary, and you may have even noticed a pattern that seems to be linked to where you are in your cycle. Have you ever asked yourself why am I feeling more hungry when my period is due? Well, let’s unpack the science behind this food phenomenon. 

It’s been suggested that our two main sex hormones, estrogen, and progesterone, play a role when it comes to appetite changes during the menstrual cycle. In the first part of the cycle (the follicular phase), estrogen levels are higher as the body is preparing for ovulation. Estrogen is thought to decrease appetite, so when estrogen levels are up, we might not feel as hungry.

On the other hand, higher levels of progesterone (which rise in the luteal phase after ovulation) can increase appetite. At the end of the cycle when we tend to experience symptoms of PMS, progesterone levels are high and estrogen levels are lower, and this could help explain why we might feel hungrier at this time in our cycle.

While it’s not a physiological link, another thing to consider is that our cycle can affect our mood, and this can have a knock-on effect on our appetite and cravings too.

Why do I crave sugar on my period?

Aside from more general changes to your appetite, it’s very common to crave specific foods before or during your period. There are even studies showing that food cravings – especially for sweet and salty foods – tend to increase towards the end of the cycle when many of us experience PMS symptoms. 

What causes period cravings and PMS cravings is less clear, but there are also some theories related to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle. When our period starts, serotonin levels tend to drop while the levels of cortisol are higher. In simple terms, this means that there are lower levels of a hormone that promotes calm (serotonin) and more stress hormones (cortisol) in our bodies at this time of the cycle. 

These hormonal changes may lead to us craving comfort foods such as candy or fast food. These types of foods are tasty (so eating them is a pleasurable activity) and they’re usually higher in sugar and fat content giving us a boost of dopamine – another hormone that makes us feel good.

Why do women crave chocolate on their period?

While food cravings are a very individual thing, chocolate cravings in particular are very closely linked with periods – we often see it mentioned in movies and TV shows and some food stores even keep chocolate close to the period products. 

Several studies have been carried out to investigate the relationship between the desire to eat chocolate and our cycles, and the fact that there is a link between the two is well-established – but we don't really know why this is.

Similar to what’s been found for food cravings during the cycle in general, one possible explanation for why we crave chocolate on our period is that our hormones are (again) responsible. However, the evidence for this theory is limited. 

Instead, there’s a growing body of research supporting that chocolate cravings before or during menstruation could actually be culturally conditioned – meaning it’s something that we learn from our environment and the behavior of others around us. 

One such study divided the women in their research in two groups. The first were women born in the US, with English as one of their native languages, and a second group of women from other countries who’d subsequently moved to the US and learnt English later on. The results showed that the women born in the US were much more likely to report chocolate cravings before or on their period. On the other hand, those who’d moved to the US mostly craved chocolate at times not related to their cycle, like after eating or while studying. 

The results of this study, and others like it, suggest that craving chocolate on our period might be something that we learn as we grow up, at least to some degree.

In any case, whether the reason for wanting to eat chocolate is physiological or psychological, it’s clear that chocolate is popular because it tastes great, and so it’s no wonder we feel like eating chocolate now and then!

Does chocolate help with cramps?

You might also have heard that chocolate can help with cramps, and this is sometimes presented as a reason why we crave chocolate on our period. But is there any truth to this claim?

As it turns out – maybe! There are some studies that show that consuming chocolate can help relieve period cramps. Dark chocolate contains minerals like copper, calcium, and magnesium, and it’s possible that one (or several) of these play a role in period pain management. Nutrients like copper and calcium are used by our bodies to produce endorphins and serotonin – some of our feel-good hormones – and they work as natural pain relief. Magnesium on the other hand can help reduce muscle cramps. 

However, it seems like it’s only dark chocolate that can have an effect on period pain and not milk chocolate. Milk chocolate contains more sugar, and while it can be a comfort, it may also give you negative symptoms, such as a sugar slump or leave you feeling more bloated. So if you find yourself reaching for some chocolate with period cramps in mind, it’s a good idea to go with the kind with higher cocoa content!

Understanding your menstrual cycle

While the role of hormones and craving chocolate (and other foods) might not be fully understood, at Natural Cycles we’re passionate about forwarding the field of female health and carrying out our own research to help demystify topics like these. 

The world’s only birth control app, Natural Cycles is 100% hormone-free. The app’s algorithm analyzes your unique cycle and can not only identify your fertile and non-fertile days, but it will also let you know when your period is predicted to start and when you’re most likely to experience PMS symptoms. This means you can prepare accordingly depending on your needs (and yes, that may include eating chocolate). Why not see if Natural Cycles is right for you today?