Are period cravings REAL ? Yes ! Period cravings and hunger are real and there are reasons - legitimate , scientifically proven reasons - why you and a lot of other period-having folks want to eat all the things during or before your period !

Who is to blame for this ? Well , almost as usual - it's your Hormones ! Changes in levels of hormones estrogen and progesterone cause cravings for high-carb and sweet foods before or during your period . Fulfilling cravings brings a certain kind of comfort and feeling of joy . Your body releases serotonin when you eat starchy foods and sweets . Serotonin is a chemical that boosts feelings of happiness . A boost in good feelings is always nice but even more so when you're whacked-out hormones have you feeling all PMS-y ! That being said , it's critical that we don't give into all that our body and mind demands , especially when we're aware of the fact that it's not always healthy ! They might make you feel flowery for the first few minutes but you're just going to feel miserable sometime later .

Here are the top 3 ways to control period cravings ;

1 You're probably craving carb heavy foods like chips , bread or pasta cause your body is in need of those extra calories . At this point , ensure you're consuming complex carbs like beans, oats or noodles .

2 If your sweet tooth is demanding satisfaction , try reaching out for a bowl of fruit and yogurt , smoothies or trail mix instead of the sugar laden chocolate chip cookie !

3 And if you're craving a piece of chocolate , ditch the milk one and grab a dark chocolate that's also known to calm your nerves .