Is it that time of the month? And do you have an unstoppable appetite for unhealthy, fatty comfort food? Why is that anyway?
"Come here with a bag of chips and a bar of chocolate!" It seems as if your body is screaming for unhealthy food products when you have your period. How come?
Read also: 'Why you fart more often before and during your period'
It's all about your hormones. For example, it has been scientifically shown that estrogen inhibits appetite and that progesterone makes you more hungry. Just before and during your period, your estrogen drops and progesterone rises.
And why do you have an appetite for unhealthy food products? This in turn is due to the hormone cortisol, or the stress hormone. This hormone rises slightly during your period, making you more sensitive to insulin. You crave sugars to get your sugar level up to par.
Furthermore, your serotonin decreases, better known as the happiness hormone, which makes you more hungry for carbohydrates.
But yes, to indulge in all those goodies… It is better to boost your body and your mood with other comfort foods, such as:
bananas are packed with vitamin B6 and potassium. These substances influence your glucose level and thus give your mood a boost. In addition, the potassium in bananas helps regulate your gut and prevent abdominal cramps and diarrhea, which many women experience during their periods. Bananas also contain melatonin, which ensures that you sleep well. And with a good night's sleep, your hormone balance can recover and you are less likely to have a short fuse. Go to bed on time then!
Do you have chocolate cravings just before and during your period? Perfectly logical:research by the National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology shows that chocolate contains magnesium, which you want to compensate for the shortage of serotonin during this period. Chocolate not only dispels your dip, it also has a beneficial effect on stomach cramps. Choose raw chocolate:processed as little as possible, not heated and with the fewest additions. Or at least a variant that is as pure as possible.
In addition to blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries are also real power foods when you have your period. Not only because they are full of antioxidants, but also because they contain a lot of moisture and are a source of vitamins and minerals - important for the protection of your body cells and good for your mood. So make a smoothie or sprinkle red fruit over your breakfast cereal.
