What to do with the relentless craving for sweets in PMS? – GOOD SHAPE

A TPM – Pre Menstrual Tension – is the group of symptoms that affect most women and occurs between ovulation and menstruation. One of the most observed typical symptoms is the increased consumption of chocolate and other foods high in sugar and/or fat (called ‘food cravings’). Most women report this ‘madness’ for chocolate mainly two or three days before menstruation. Others cannot describe how long PMS lasts and some do not even notice this relationship between food consumption x menstrual period.

There are several theories and/or explanations for the phenomenon. The first one says that the desire to eat sweets (or sugary/high-calorie foods) is a consequence of the hormonal variation characteristic of the menstrual cycle: the drop in progesterone It’s from estrogen at the end of the cycle and the reduction of serotonin can cause more hunger and appetite.

Another explanation for this increase in consumption would be the ability of sugary foods to activate our brain reward system. As chocolate is a product rich in sugar and fat, capable of ‘pumping’ our neurotransmitters, it would be a great target for women on days when we are more irritated and sad. There also seems to be a link between these biological factors and behavior: in a period of irritation and sadness so common, the chocolate it becomes a way of dealing with these feelings. That’s why it’s so important, in addition to maintaining a good quality of life, to work on the way we deal with our anxieties.

BUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE WILL?

If the desire to eat candy It is relentless, my first advice is not to divert attention from him. Realize, observe, understand where your will is pointing: Brigadeiro? Cake? Chocolate? Pudding? No matter what the will, get organized and make your wish come true. We try to replace sweets with fruits or ‘fit desserts’, but this strategy doesn’t always work. This happens because, if we want to eat brigadeiro and we eat carob, we continue with the desire for the brigadeiro – and in the end, we end up giving in to that desire. So why not go straight to the point?

I understand that excesses are not welcome, but certainly a slightly higher consumption in a few days will not harm your health.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WEIGHT?

Women are very concerned about the weight gain, even more so when the consumption of sweets increases. And PMS is a classic period where we notice an increase in the abdomen, body swelling and the scale pointer pointing upwards. But this oscillation is normal! It is estimated that a woman can vary between 2 and 4 kilos on the scale, the average being around 1.8 to 2.0 kg. This swelling is a consequence of the drop in progesterone that makes our body retain more liquid. It varies greatly from woman to woman and is almost inevitable.

Understand that you’re probably not gaining so much weight, but you’re retaining liquid: a retention that goes away with the end of menstruation. So don’t despair: no detox or restrictive diets! Physical activity, liquids and regulated sleep help more than any medicine.

LAST BUT NOT LESS IMPORTANT

Understanding how our body works is essential: nowadays we have several apps to follow the cycle, in addition to the traditional calendar. We know the classic symptoms of PMS, but they manifest individually. And there are other not so mild symptoms, which an extra chocolate won’t solve. And then you can notice more serious conditions, such as dysphoric-premenstrual disorder. This disorder can be easily confused with anxiety disorder, depression, endometriosis and others. It gets in the way of social relationships, can harm women in their work environment and bring about several other harms. But it has treatment!

If you are very uncomfortable with your PMS, before resorting to magic formulas or oils that suggest improving your symptoms, look for a serious professional and make your observations.

Premenstrual tension is a difficult moment for many women, but it must be respected and understood as it is: a natural cycle of the female gender.

To the next!