Your period is almost here.

And it’s like someone’s switched on a carbs + sweets magnet in your brain — making it impossible for you to resist the siren call of family-sized potato chip bags, thick-ass chocolate chip cookies, and [insert your usual period craving].

Of course, that first bite (or two) is always immensely gratifying.

But the guilt and horror can quickly set in when you realize you’re somehow elbow-deep into that bag of chips/polishing off the last crumbs from the 5 huge cookies:

"Omg, are period cravings a thing? Or am I just greedy?"

Well, we shall see.

Are period cravings a thing?

Before you beat yourself up, rest assured that period cravings are a thing (i.e., it’s not just a “you-thing”).

Research consistently shows that, during the premenstrual period, women tend to experience an increased desire for sugar-, salt-, and fat-rich foods, aligning with anecdotal reports of common period cravings, such as:

OK. So, period cravings are a thing. But why?

Remember what we said about a newly switched-on carbs + sweets magnet in your brain?

It's a pretty accurate metaphor (like, maybe 70%?) for what happens in the premenstrual period.

A 2023 study published in Nature Metabolism found that your brain becomes less sensitive to the hormone insulin during the luteal phase (the time between ovulation and your next period).

As a result, the researchers believe that this insulin resistance in the brain could trigger period cravings by:

1. Making energy production for the rest of the body more challenging (FYI, insulin's primary function is to help your body take up freely circulating blood sugar for energy)
2. Interfering with insulin’s other roles, such as appetite control

Of course, it’s unlikely for a decrease in insulin sensitivity in the brain to be the only contributing factor to period cravings. But until further research is done …  it's our best explanation for now.

What’s the solution?

Is it possible for you to prevent insulin resistance in your brain during the premenstrual period? So, you’d avoid getting hit by period cravings?

Well. Research doesn’t say anything about that.

However, you may still find it beneficial to help your brain stay as sensitive to insulin as possible* by adopting or maintaining the following healthy lifestyle habits:

• Getting 7 to 9 hours of good-quality sleep nightly
• Exercising (a good mix of cardio and strength training)
• Using stress management techniques that work for you

*Think about it this way. If you start with a higher insulin sensitivity, the decrease associated with the premenstrual period is less likely to affect you as much.

That said, you might not even need to bother preventing period cravings.

Indulge in your period cravings … and not gain weight?

Wait, what? Wouldn't you balloon from all that stuffing of your face?

A 2018 study published in RBGO Gynecology & Obstetrics suggests no.

Despite the participants' greater desire for sugar-, salt-, and fat-rich foods in the premenstrual period, they did not actually:

• Eat more calories or
• Change their diet's overall macronutrient distribution

Fantastic news. 🎉

What about other goals?

Right. But what if your goal isn’t weight loss? What if it’s hypertrophy or strength?

In such cases, over-indulging in your period cravings could end up hurting your performance in the gym. During your training session, you could feel lethargic, weak, and generally unmotivated.

Ouch. So, what can you do? Here are a few tips:

Speaking of … is it worth investing in a continuous glucose monitor?

Continuous Glucose Monitoring: The Key to Healthy Eating?

Continuous glucose monitoring—you don’t have diabetes, but you wish to use it to tweak your diet for better blood sugar control. Should you?

GymStreak BlogGene

Prioritize a healthy lifestyle

Ultimately, here are the 2 key messages to leave with.

First, period cravings are a natural part of the menstrual cycle. And second, you don't have to be concerned about preventing period cravings as long as you're keeping up with healthy, appetite-regulating habits.

Psst, here are 5 ways to stop appetite naturally:

How to Stop Appetite Naturally (5 Hunger Management Methods)

Hunger can quickly derail your weight loss aspirations. But you don’t have to be hungry — here’s how to stop appetite naturally while on a diet.

GymStreak BlogGene

At this point, you should be pretty clear on what to do on the nutrition side of things — a good variety of minimally processed foods with a focus on protein, etc.

So, let’s spend the remaining article kind of rehashing and expanding on the benefits of strength training; it:

1. Counts toward your daily exercise recommendations (+ reminder: it improves insulin sensitivity)
2. Builds muscle mass, which, beyond being good in and of itself (especially for those on a bulk), is also crucial for appetite regulation and is the key determinant for whether someone regains the weight lost during a diet

But, of course, strength training can be overwhelming. There are so many exercise variations. And even if you’ve settled on suitable exercises, how many sets and reps should you do? What’s the ideal training frequency?

If you’d like someone else to take care of the nitty-gritty routine planning part of strength training, check out GymStreak.

This AI-powered personal trainer app will tailor your training sessions to your specific preferences and goals. Bonus: it can also create personalized diet plans!

Check it out: