Food and
cravings
By Ben Jonas Goedeke · 3 min read · checked against its sources
Cravings before a period are real, and they are not a lack of willpower. Changes in appetite are one of the recognized premenstrual symptoms.
Eat little and often
Smaller meals every few hours can keep you steadier than two big ones. Having something ready makes it easier on tired days.
Turn a few things down
Less caffeine, salt and sugar in the two weeks before your period may ease some symptoms. You do not have to cut them out, just turn them down.
Foods with calcium
Calcium has been studied for premenstrual tiredness, cravings and low mood. Milk, yogurt, cheese and foods with added calcium are easy ways to get it. Talk to a doctor before taking supplements; food is the easy place to start.
Be kind about it
If you eat the chocolate, eat the chocolate. One week of cravings does not undo anything, and guilt only makes the week heavier.
Keep the record your doctor needs. Tideline is a period and mood tracker for iPhone: write one sentence a day, and after two cycles it puts the week before your period next to the week after it starts. Free to track, no account.
Get Tideline on the App Store
Keep reading
Sources
- US Office on Women’s Health: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- NHS: PMS (premenstrual syndrome)