Do I actually "need" chocolate when I get my period or not?

[cobwebsoncornices]

Got my period today. Currently trying to lose weight and have generally managed to stay away from chocolate, cake, biscuits etc for the past couple of weeks. As soon as DH walked through the door tonight, I practically pushed him over in my rush to get out and buy chocolate. Devoured chocolate and instantly feel better - cleared head, less pain, more cheerful.
I have always been like this and usually have a bar of chocolate in the house for this purpose but was determined this year to not succumb to the period cravings. When I got my period last month, I still have Christmas chocolate in and ended up eating that. This month, nothing in the house which led to the emergency dash.
Does chocolate actually do anything or is it just psychological?

Well, there are good things in chocolate, dimly remember maybe one is magnesium?

Carbs boost serotonin too which dips premenstrually.

I think it buggers up your blood sugar too and it helps with that. I’m not a massive sweet eater normal. PMT I can easily tuck away a few bars.
Medically necessary as far as I’m concerned.

I don't eat much chocolate because it gives me migraines so I tend to crave smoked salmon, spinach and pumpkin seeds.

If it makes you feel better. ...!

Not sure how this works in non-diabetics but as a T1, women often need more insulin during their periods due to hormones making you insulin resistant. When you are insulin resistant your blood sugar is actually higher but you crave carbs/sugar more.

TLDR no you don’t need it but you might be more likely to crave it.

I’ve heard it’s the magnesium that makes people crave chocolate. Unsure how reliable that explanation is, but supplementing with magnesium is a thing some people swear by for easing pmt symptoms.

No.

And you deserve it

Have a Google. Vaguely remember seeing publicity for a book on the subject (Why Women Need Chocolate?). Haven't actually read it but the fact it exists is justification enough. The darker the chocolate the better I think. Beware of eating too much because sugar dips can make mood swings worse. Agnus Castus supplements and a women's multi-vitamin are helpful.

Did you eat an entire block in 1 sitting?
what about a hot chocolate, scoop of ice cream, chocolate muffin or other chocolatey fix. Does anything else help your craving? Seems more like a habit you've got yourself into. Have you tried just have a few squares of chocolate and asking your OH to hide the rest?

No you dont 'need' it.

I actually "need" chocolate

There, fixed that for you!

It is an essential, along with wine. I have been known to make husband walk to the shop in the rain to get it :-)

Of course you need chocolate during your period, it's high in iron.

More importantly, which chocolate did u get?! I'm usually a Galaxy girl when it comes to AF...

I thought it was quite good of me to go & get the chocolate myself rather than asking DH to go!
Yes, it has to be actual chocolate. No other sugar/saturated fat combo quite seems to do ... although can be consumed in addition. I have also tried the sophisticated option of a few squares of dark chocolate but still ended up "needing" the chocolate.

I'm the same every month. I do love chocolate but normally prefer savoury snacks. When I'm on my period, I devour chocolate for 5 days🤣🤣

@DuesToTheDirt
Of course you need chocolate during your period, it's high in iron. smile

It's not. and if it was, you wouldn't be able to absorb it because of the milk, caffeine and tannins.

Why don't you just admit that you want it?

Have a chocolate orange. Iron and vitamin C together

Plain chocolate has more iron. And yes you can absorb it.

Such bolllocks. I've needed multiple blood transfusions due to genuine iron deficiency anaemia. It takes weeks to build up iron stores and chocolate is way, way down any list of decent iron sources. It's a transparent excuse.

You know what they say
You can have results, or excuses. But not both.

Make your own choice.

@Scarlett 🙄

I couldn’t care less if we need it, I’m having it. Due on on Saturday, had to go buy some whole nut today because I really craved it. Apparently I read somewhere a few years back all of the s turf you crave on your period, junk food, takeaways, spicy food and chocolate actually makes it worse. Not sure how true this is. Luckily I usually crave all this before it comes and don’t really eat whilst it’s here,

Good quality dark chocolate I'd high in iron. It's about the only thing I remember from home economics lessons.

I’ve been reading a book about quitting sugar, and it basically says that sugar’s addictive.

So what it means is, you might feel better after eating chocolate, but that’s because it’s stopped the sugar withdrawal symptoms, and brought your mood etc up to where it would be if you’d never been addicted to sugar in the first place. Not because chocolate’s actually good for you.

I started taking magnesium just over a year ago because I grind my teeth, it's working really well and also helps me sleep better. I've noticed I stopped craving sugary food and chocolate , no more mood swings either.