It is not necessary to be pregnant to have cravings, many women days before the arrival of their menstruation suffer from them, they are called premenstrual cravings, included within the symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome (SPM).
Why menstrual cravings occur
When we are ovulating, serotonin levels decrease. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for providing us with the sensation of pleasure and happiness. After ovulation we ‘fill up’ that lack of well-being with food, since sugar increases serotonin levels, which is why what we most crave are foods rich in sugars such as ice cream and chocolate.
This decrease in serotonin is also the cause of other PMS symptoms such as depression, tiredness and irritability.
What to do to avoid gaining weight with menstrual cravings
- Eat five meals a day, eat little but more often makes us calm hunger and anxiety.
- Practice sport.
- Do any activity that keeps us distracted and we don’t have time to think about food, boredom makes us go to the fridge every so often.
- Try to rest well and sleep 8 hours every day.
- Avoid high -fat foods and increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
