What's The PMS Food Connection?

Strange as it may seem, for many women there most certainly is a connection between food and a certain time of the month. Some women can even predict the day on which they will start craving sugary or fatty foods, knowing they'll be making brownies that day!

Food cravings and an increase in appetite are quite common PMS symptoms. Most likely the cause of these sudden cravings is related to the change in hormone levels, possibly the dip in serotonin that occurs every month. Simple carbohydrates are a quick way to boost serotonin levels, which regulate appetite and well-being.

Of course this PMS food correlation can become a problem. For some women it leads to PMS weight gain, which can make any other PMS symptoms more severe. Nothing like feeling fat to increase your level of depression or irritability!

For some women PMS food cravings are not too much of a problem. They simply eat the foods they crave and feel okay overall. This is a monthly ritual that they expect. It is one of a very few symptoms they might experience, and it doesn't have much effect on their regular daily activities, besides the need to bake up that batch of brownies.

However, it is more common that eating those foods exacerbates the negative emotional symptoms many women experience before the onset of menstruation. While eating simple carbohydrates such as those found in cookies and cakes, chocolate and fatty, starchy foods might be comforting on some level, they actually tend to lead to a boost in good feelings, followed soon after by another low.

One of the best things many women can do to help curb PMS food cravings and eliminate PMS weight gain is to have a plan and stick to a good diet when you know you'll need it most. Here are some tips that can help you to keep the cravings under control, which in turn can help improve other PMS symptoms you may experience.

Eat smaller meals, but more of them. Try eating six mini-meals a day. This can help keep you feeling satisfied, so you can resist those cravings more easily. It will also help to keep your blood sugar levels regular.

Do your best to steer clear of foods that can affect your moods such as sugary sweet foods, caffeine, and alcohol. Staying away from salty foods will also help to decrease bloating and swelling that may occur during PMS.

Choose complex carbohydrates in order to keep you satisfied longer. Whole grains will do more to satisfy your appetite and improve your overall mood than refined carbohydrates.

Although it's not easy, you can alter your diet to help make getting through those rough periods every month easier on yourself. Not only will it help you fight those cravings, but by steering clear of the cravings, you can improve your emotional symptoms, too.

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