Period Cravings — Why You Crave Certain Foods Before Your Period
By Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto | Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Wokingham
Intense food cravings in the days before menstruation — particularly for sugar, chocolate, carbohydrates, and salt — are experienced by a large proportion of women and are among the most persistent premenstrual symptoms. They are not simply a lack of willpower. They are driven by real hormonal and neurochemical changes that occur in the late luteal phase, and in traditional Chinese medicine they reflect the increased demands placed on the spleen, stomach, and blood in the run-up to menstruation.
Why Cravings Occur Before the Period
The late luteal phase is characterised by declining progesterone and oestrogen, rising prostaglandins, and increased energy expenditure — the body is preparing to shed the uterine lining, a process that requires significant metabolic resources. The key hormonal and neurochemical drivers of cravings include:
- Serotonin drop — oestrogen stimulates serotonin production. As oestrogen falls, serotonin declines, triggering cravings for carbohydrates and sugar (which temporarily boost serotonin via insulin-driven tryptophan uptake)
- Magnesium depletion — progesterone promotes magnesium excretion, and declining progesterone can leave a relative deficiency. Chocolate cravings are often a signal of magnesium deficiency — dark chocolate is one of the richest dietary sources
- Blood sugar instability — progesterone increases insulin resistance in the luteal phase, creating greater swings in blood glucose that drive carbohydrate cravings
- Increased basal metabolic rate — the body actually burns slightly more calories in the luteal phase, which can increase appetite generally
TCM Understanding
In TCM, the spleen governs digestion, blood production, and is associated with the emotion of pensiveness or worry. Sweet foods nourish the spleen — and cravings for sweetness in the premenstrual phase reflect the spleen's increased demands as it works to produce the blood and qi needed for menstruation. When the spleen is deficient (spleen qi deficiency), cravings intensify because the underlying nourishment is insufficient. Liver qi stagnation — the dominant premenstrual pattern in TCM — is also associated with emotional eating and cravings, as the liver's stagnation creates a frustrated need for stimulation and comfort.
Managing Period Cravings
Support serotonin naturally — include tryptophan-rich foods (turkey, eggs, pumpkin seeds, tofu) alongside complex carbohydrates throughout the luteal phase to maintain more stable serotonin production rather than chasing it with sugar spikes.
Address magnesium deficiency — a supplement of 300–400mg magnesium glycinate daily in the week before the period is one of the most effective interventions for both cravings and premenstrual mood. Dark chocolate in moderation satisfies the craving and provides the mineral.
Stabilise blood sugar — eating protein and healthy fat with every meal prevents the glucose spikes and crashes that drive carbohydrate cravings. Avoid skipping meals in the luteal phase.
Eat blood-nourishing foods — dark leafy greens, black sesame, red dates, and beetroot support blood production in TCM terms, reducing the relative deficiency that intensifies cravings.
Treatment
If cravings are severe and part of a broader picture of premenstrual syndrome, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine address the root patterns — spleen deficiency, liver stagnation, and blood deficiency — that drive both the physiological and emotional aspects of period cravings. Most patients notice meaningful improvement within two to three cycles of treatment.
To discuss premenstrual symptoms, contact me or book a consultation in Wokingham.
