You know your period is around the corner when you start experiencing symptoms like abdominal cramps, mood swings, and bloating a week or two before your due date. But for some of us, the dreaded premenstrual syndrome (PMS) also induces uncontrollable food cravings that perhaps, one might feel during pregnancy! The irresistible urge to down tubs of ice-cream and a gazillion bars of chocolate during is real folks. And unfortunately, so is the unhealthy weight gain associated with giving in to these cravings. But before you begin your binge-eating spree, there’s something that you need to know about foods that you may crave for during periods and what they indicate about your health. Read on for all the deets:
Foods That You May Crave For During Your Period
If you find yourself struggling with constant hunger and food cravings before or during your periods, you’re not alone. Here are five common foods that you may crave during periods:
Dessert
An irresistible sugar craving is a common shark week feat that we all experience at some point. From cakes and puddings to icecreams and mithais, all things with sugar may scream “grab me right now” during that time of the month. The result? Rapid spike in blood sugar levels, extra calories, and maybe, even a cavity or two!
Chocolate
Dark chocolate is rich in magnesium and helps relieve period cramps. But this doesn’t mean that your periods are your free pass to down an entire big bar of it. While eating 40-120 gms of dark chocolate can be beneficial, exceeding this limit can backfire and lead to weight gain.
Salty Foods
Have you ever found yourself craving for something “chatpata” during or right before your periods? From pickles to aam papad and masala noodles, you may feel like treating yourself to a harmful little sodium party during shark week.
Fatty Foods
Craving for fatty and fried foods is yet another common period-induced food craving. You may feel like downing packs and packs of fried chips, cheesy pastas, pakoras or even creamy cakes and ice creams during your periods. But remember, they’re all rich in fats that can be quite harmful to your body.
Bread
Your period-induced fatigue may make you want to binge on carb-rich foods like breads to get that instant boost of energy. While a moderate amount of carbohydrates can help you feel better, going overboard can make you gain weight.
Why Do You Crave Certain Foods During Periods?
Period-induced food cravings can be your body’s way of conveying a food deficiency or a hormonal change. For instance, sugar craving can be a result of a natural drop in your blood sugar levels and your body’s need for an insulin spike during your periods. Carb and fat cravings can be due to a need to compensate for the lack of serotonin (mood-regulating hormone), beat period-induced fatigue and simply boost your mood. Chocolate craving can indicate a magnesium deficiency or a need for a temporary sugar high to feel better. If you’re craving salty foods, it could mean that you’re dehydrated. So pay close attention to these yearnings and work on the root cause rather than giving in to these temptations each time.
How To Deal With Food Cravings During Periods
Now that you know exactly why you crave certain foods during shark week, let’s understand how to feel better without harming your health:
Don’t Deprive Yourself
The key is to not let these cravings get the better of you is to not deprive yourself. Stick to eating junk food in moderation. Small portions can help you satisfy your food cravings without making you go overboard on the calorie counter.
Find Healthy Substitutes
Another way to go about it is to look for healthier substitutes for the high-calorie/sugary foods that you’re craving for. For instance, you can opt for whole grains like oats, wheat, and barley instead of maida or white bread to satisfy your carb cravings. Have a piece of jaggery or dark chocolate to fulfill that sugar cravings. Opt for baked kale chips instead of fried potato chips. And indulge in some tasty and healthy guacamole instead of cheese.
Stock Up On Healthy Foods
When you know shark week is around the corner, make sure to get rid of all the junk and packaged foods from your kitchen. Stock up on green veggies, whole grains, chicken, pulses, yogurt, and fruits instead.
Eat Filling Foods
Add more protein and fibre-rich foods in your meals as they can keep you satiated for a longer time and prevent cravings. Also, eat hearty portions of healthy, home-cooked meals to keep hunger pangs and mindless snacking at bay. Lastly, drink at least three-four litres of water. Sometimes, hunger can be a sign of dehydration and staying hydrated can help feel fuller.
Folks, you don’t have to feel guilty about indulging in foods that you crave during periods occasionally. But remember that moderation and balance is the key to staying fit even during that time of the month.
Featured Image: Pexels
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