Crave to Know: What Your Period Cravings Reveal About Your Body

Cravings around your period aren’t just a “maybe you feel like it” moment – they can actually tell you quite a bit about what’s going on inside your body. If you’ve noticed yourself suddenly craving sweets, salty snacks, or red meat in the days before or during your period, here’s what those urges might mean and how you can respond in a way that supports your health.

Why Cravings Happen

Your menstrual cycle involves shifting hormone levels, changes in metabolism, and fluctuations in neurotransmitters. All of these can influence hunger, mood, and what you want to eat. A few key factors:

• Hormones & appetite: After ovulation during the luteal phase, your body sees a rise in progesterone and a drop in oestrogen. That shift can increase appetite and make you crave energy-rich foods.
• Serotonin dips: Serotonin (the “feel-good” brain chemical) tends to fall around this time. Your body may crave carbohydrates, sweets or chocolate because these foods help temporarily boost serotonin. 
• Energy & blood sugar changes: Your metabolism can increase slightly in the luteal phase and your body also may have decreased insulin sensitivity – this can lead to cravings for quick-energy foods like carbs and sweets.
• Nutrient needs: Some specific cravings may hint at actual nutrient shortfalls (for example craving red meat when iron levels are low).

What Typical Cravings Might Mean

Here are common cravings and the possible body messages behind them:

• Sweet / Carbs (bread, pasta, baked goods): Could signal that your serotonin levels are low or your body wants a quick energy boost due to increased appetite or fluctuating blood sugar.
• Chocolate: Might hint at a magnesium shortfall, mood swings, or desire for comfort.
• Salty snacks (chips, fries, cheese): Possibly your body responding to fluid retention, electrolyte shifts, or simply the comfort of salty taste when bloated.
• Red meat / high-protein desire: May indicate low iron or increased need for protein – especially if you’ve had heavier bleeding or feel unusually tired.
• Unusual or non-food cravings (ice, dirt, etc): Could be a sign of something more serious like iron deficiency or a condition called pica – worth checking with a doctor.

What You Can Do About It

Cravings aren’t bad – they’re signals. The trick is to listen and respond in a way that’s supportive rather than indulgent out of guilt. Here are some helpful steps:

Choose smarter versions of what you crave.

If you want sweets: go for fruit with a little dark chocolate, or yoghurt with honey instead of a huge sugary dessert.

If you’re after carbs: pick whole-grain bread, sweet potato, oatmeal rather than white bread and pastries.

If salt is calling: try lightly salted nuts, popcorn, or whole-grain crackers instead of deep-fried chips every time.

Ensure nutrient intake is solid.

Make sure you’re getting enough iron (especially if you bleed heavily), magnesium, B-vitamins and overall good protein.

Keep meals balanced with complex carbs + protein + healthy fat to steady hunger and energy.

Be kind to your body and mood.

Acknowledge that mood shifts, bloating, fatigue might happen; cravings may be part of that cascade.

Practice stress-relief or mood support (walks, gentle exercise, breathing, good sleep) which also helps moderate appetite.

Monitor if cravings are extreme or unusual.

If you’re craving non-food items, or you’re binge-eating in a way that disrupts your life, or the cravings last all month, that’s a cue to see a healthcare professional.

When to Reach Out to a Professional

If your cravings:

• Persist well beyond the time just before your period,
• Come with very heavy bleeding, extreme fatigue, irregular cycles,
• Include non-food items (ice, dirt, etc), or
• Are part of a broader pattern of emotional or physical instability

Then it’s wise to talk to a gynaecologist, nutritionist or doctor. They can help check hormone levels, iron status, other nutrient levels and ensure nothing underlying is being missed.

The next time you notice that sudden urge for chocolate, a carb-loaded meal or salty snacks during your menstrual cycle, try reflecting: What might my body be telling me right now? Is it low on iron, craving comfort, needing mood support, dealing with bloating? By tuning in to these signals and responding with thoughtful choices, you move from “craving guilt” to “informed self-care.” Your body is speaking—listen with curiosity, not judgment.

Image credits: Image from Freepik