Why Many Women Crave Chocolate Before Their Period: Science Behind the Sweet Tooth.

It’s a familiar cycle for many women: as the days before menstruation approach, so do intense cravings for sugary foods, with chocolate often topping the list. While it may seem like a momentary lapse in dietary discipline, researchers suggest that complex biological and neurological factors are likely driving these food urges.

Dr. Sridevi Krishnan, a nutritional biologist at The University of Arizona, has been exploring what influences women’s food preferences during the premenstrual phase. Many women report specifically craving chocolate, but Krishnan believes this may not be entirely biological. “I wish we knew [why],” she said, pointing to cultural factors that may influence the type of cravings women report. For example, chocolate cravings are more frequently reported in American women than in those from other regions. Still, Krishnan emphasized that the general desire is for sweet-tasting foods, whether chocolate or not.

Scientific clues to these cravings begin with hormones. Previous studies in rodents revealed that estradiol, a form of estrogen, can affect feeding behavior by altering the brain's sensitivity to leptin, the hormone responsible for signaling fullness. While this connection had been established in animals, it hadn't been investigated in humans—until Krishnan and her team stepped in.

To explore this, they conducted a clinical trial involving 17 women aged 18 to 30. Throughout the menstrual cycle, they monitored levels of estradiol and leptin in the participants’ blood while also tracking their food cravings. Their findings revealed a correlation between the estradiol-to-leptin ratio and cravings during the luteal phase—the stage just before menstruation when both estrogen and progesterone levels peak. Women with higher ratios were more likely to report cravings for sweets and carbohydrate-rich foods. “It’s not just leptin by itself that determines whether a woman is going to crave high calorie dense foods,” Krishnan explained.

But the investigation didn’t stop at hormones. The team also examined the role of the endocannabinoid (EC) system—neurotransmitters that influence appetite and interact with the body’s cannabinoid receptors. Leptin is known to suppress EC signaling, which plays a role in food intake regulation. In a follow-up observational study with the same group of women, Krishnan’s team measured levels of EC-like chemicals and their connection to cravings. They discovered that women with naturally high levels of oleoylethanolamide—a chemical involved in appetite regulation—during the first half of their cycle had fewer sweet cravings later in the luteal phase.

According to Krishnan, these findings highlight the intricate balance between hormone levels, EC signaling, and even dietary fat intake, which influences how these signaling chemicals are produced. “It’s their leptin-estradiol axis, it’s what kind of ECs they are intrinsically making, but also regulated by what kind of diet, especially the fat they [consume],” she noted.

The researchers also explored another possible factor: insulin sensitivity. Although Krishnan’s initial study found no clear link, another small clinical trial involving 11 women showed varying insulin sensitivity in the brain throughout the menstrual cycle. Sensitivity was higher during the follicular phase, right after menstruation, and decreased during the luteal phase—suggesting a potential link to increased appetite and cravings as insulin resistance grows.

Despite the prevalence of these cravings, scientific understanding remains limited—largely due to insufficient research funding for women’s health issues. “It is hard to establish [whether] behaviors that result from craving in the luteal phase alone result in women's health being impacted adversely,” Krishnan said. “Without that evidence, it's going to be hard for scientists to invest more into it.”

As researchers continue to unravel the hormonal and neurological underpinnings of menstrual-related cravings, it becomes increasingly clear that women’s periodic sweet tooth is far more than a matter of willpower—it’s biology at work.

Source:https://www.the-scientist.com/why-do-some-women-crave-chocolate-before-their-period-73005

This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.