Lots of people crave sweets before their period, and doctors list food cravings as a common sign of PMS. You can soften them without banning anything. Coffee isn't strictly off-limits either, though doctors suggest trying without it if you have PMS.
Why do I crave chocolate so much?
In the second half of the cycle many people get hungrier, and sweet or filling food feels especially tempting. The popular idea that you're short on magnesium hasn't held up: craving chocolate doesn't mean you're deficient in anything. Your body is simply asking for a bit more food than usual.
What helps when a craving hits?
Don't ban sweets altogether: have a couple of squares of chocolate after a meal, calmly and without guilt. And eat small meals every 2–3 hours: steadier blood sugar makes PMS symptoms easier.
Build your meals around grains, wholegrain bread, beans and lentils. US gynaecologists (ACOG) say this kind of food may reduce food cravings and mood swings.
Is coffee really off-limits on your period?
There's no strict ban, and no special coffee limit for periods. But caffeine can disturb sleep and make anxiety or a racing heart worse, so ACOG suggests trying without it if you have PMS. If you decide to cut back, do it gradually: stopping suddenly can bring on headaches and sleepiness.
What about alcohol?
For PMS, ACOG suggests avoiding alcohol, and the NHS advises not drinking too much. If you could be pregnant or are trying for a baby, the safest choice is not to drink at all.
Common questions
Is this a chocolate addiction?
A craving on its own doesn't mean addiction. If you want sweets all month, your cycle isn't the reason: PMS symptoms fade within the first 4 days of your period.
How much coffee is okay?
Adults are usually advised to stay under 400 mg of caffeine a day, about two to three large 350 ml mugs of coffee. In pregnancy the limit is 200 mg, roughly two mugs of instant coffee.
Does chocolate have caffeine too?
Yes, but not much: under 25 mg in a 50 g bar of dark chocolate and under 10 mg in milk chocolate. A mug of instant coffee has about 100 mg.
In short
- Before your period, eat small meals every 2–3 hours
- Keep a couple of squares of chocolate on the menu
- To see if coffee bothers you, cut back gradually
Source: ACOG: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Educational content; it does not replace professional medical advice.