Why do we crave sweets before our period? The answer is simple: hormones! As women, we know the struggle of PMS - the cramps, exhaustion, discomfort, backache, and indigestion. It's no surprise that we crave sweets during this time too. But what exactly is causing this sweet tooth?

Firstly, serotonin is a neurotransmitter that also acts as a hormone that brings happiness. However, during menstruation, the secretion of serotonin levels decrease, causing us to crave sweets as a supplement. This hormonal change in our body is the cause for the reduction of serotonin secretion.

Secondly, physical exhaustion and mental stress levels increase during our period. This is because a large amount of stress hormones called cortisols gets released. These hormones influence the insulin density in our body, which heightens the craving for sugar. Hence, why we reach for sweets like chocolate or ice cream when we start to feel stressed out or frustrated.

Thirdly, food intake and consumption of sugary food can increase due to progesterone. Progesterone is a hormone that is formed in the ovary and secreted, and it increases prior to menstruation. Both food intake and consumption of sweets rise, which is why we may find ourselves reaching for that chocolate bar.

It's all attributed to hormones! When our serotonin density decreases, mood swings get bigger due to the occurrence of gloominess, lack of sleep, and imbalance of sleeping rhythms. Being sensitive and frustrated and treating things that were regarded as normal as an eyesore is all because of the influence of hormones.

Sugary food contains a large amount of a substance called amino acid tryptophan, which plays an important role in synthesizing serotonin. Tryptophan is an amino acid that people consume the least among the 20 types of amino acid that are needed for the body. The substance is contained in large amounts in chocolate and bananas. So, it's not wrong to say that we crave chocolate when we get stressed out. However, it's important to be mindful of the potential negative effects of consuming too much sugar, including blood sugar instability and weight gain due to inactivated lipase. By understanding the role of hormones in our cravings, we can better manage them and maintain a healthy balance during menstruation.