It often starts subtly. A thought of chocolate, something sweet, or something savory. Not because you're hungry, but because you 're drawn to it. And the closer you get to your period, the stronger that craving sometimes seems to become.
PMS cravings can feel compelling and confusing for many women, especially if you are normally quite relaxed about food.
Yet these cravings aren't a sign of weakness or lack of discipline. They're a signal.
Pull that won't just go away
PMS cravings feel different from regular cravings. They're not the kind of craving that disappears if you just postpone it. They remain, sometimes in the background, sometimes very much in the foreground. As if your body is trying to tell you something.
What you often notice is that the craving is very specific. Sugar, chocolate, carbohydrates, or salty foods that provide quick energy and also have an emotional impact. That's no coincidence.
What changes in your cycle
After ovulation, your body's hormonal balance shifts. Estrogen, which helps with energy and stability earlier in your cycle, gradually declines. Simultaneously, progesterone becomes more dominant.
This shift affects how your body uses energy. Your blood sugar can fluctuate more quickly, you use slightly more energy, and your body becomes more sensitive to signals that tell you: "I need something ."
In this sense, cravings are not random impulses, but a response to a changed internal need.
The emotional layer of cravings
Besides energy, mood also plays a role. In the days before your period, serotonin activity, a substance involved in calmness and well-being, can decrease. You often don't immediately notice this as a feeling of sadness, but rather as restlessness or a desire for comfort.
Food, especially sugar and carbohydrates, provides a temporary sense of relief. Not because you're doing anything wrong, but because your brain is searching for balance. It's an attempt to make yourself feel better for a while.
Why it feels so intense sometimes
Cravings often become stronger when you're already tired, experiencing a lot of stress, or have little time to recover. In such a context, your body demands not only nourishment but also relaxation and safety.
When you can't give yourself that rest, the signal becomes louder. And that signal often translates to eating, simply because it's the fastest way to temporary relief.
The cycle as a magnifying glass
Many women find that PMS cravings occur around the same time each month. Once menstruation begins, they disappear again. This pattern shows that it's not a matter of habits or personality, but rather of timing.
Your cycle acts like a magnifying glass: what your body needs becomes more visible. Sometimes it's energy. Sometimes it's comfort. Sometimes it's just a little bit of gentleness.
Less fighting, more understanding
Cravings are often followed by guilt. The feeling that you "should have known better" or "should have had more control." But this inner conflict actually increases stress and, as a result, often also PMS symptoms.
By viewing cravings as a signal instead of a fault, your relationship with them changes. Not everything needs to be resolved, but acknowledging them helps.
Finally
PMS cravings aren't your enemy. They're a form of communication from your body during a period where your balance is temporarily off. Taking these signals seriously without judgment often leads to a more peaceful state.
Understanding your cycle doesn't mean cravings disappear, but it does mean you can deal with them differently. With more gentleness and less struggle.