Advice for Pre-Menstrual Cravings?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-20-2004
Advice for Pre-Menstrual Cravings?
6
Wed, 11-08-2006 - 5:25pm

Admittedly, I used to eat unhealthy food all the time.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 11-08-2006 - 6:06pm

Oh yea...I have those days too!! Even when out shopping willpower goes out the window and the cravings take over, in isle 1, isle 2, isle 3, etc.....


I think if we can at least 'control' what's on had, or what we pick-up we're at least a little ahead of the game. And you're right, in a way, it's not in your control when they 'take over'.


At least they passed over though....

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-28-2006
Wed, 11-08-2006 - 9:30pm
I am glad I am not the only one to experience this. Yes I go on a feeding frenzy about 3 days prior and then the day of I have hardly any appetite, then it tapers to normal. I don't know what exactly causes it. And there isn't a whole lot you can do about it. Sometimes I make a big bowl of almost fat free popcorn and dump a mini bag of mm's in it. I eat the popcorn and steal and mm' one by one for each mouthful. It gives you the sweet/salty flavor and it's not as bad as sitting and eating a whole bunch of chocolate because the popcorn fills you up. Thats about the only thing I can recommend besides waterlogging yourself.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Thu, 11-09-2006 - 8:44am
Yup been there too!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2003
Thu, 11-09-2006 - 10:54am

I go through the same thing, although I find that the older I get, my symptoms seems to come on about a week before, rather than a few days before. I did find this article, which was very interesting, that kind of explains why we go on carb binges:




Sweet Snacks OK for PMS Sufferers
Snacks OK for PMS Sufferers (CARBO FINDINGS)


Women who suffer from premenstrual depression needn't pass up sweets and
treats out of a fear that carbohydrates will make them feel worse.

Research conducted at MIT has shown just the reverse-meals and snacks high in
carbohydrates substantially improved depression, tension, anger and other
symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in two study groups.

Most women who suffer from premenstrual depression also crave carbohydrates,
the MIT researchers said in an article published in the American Journal of
Obstetrics and Gynecology. This symptom-craving linkage has given rise to many
dietary regimens which advise women to avoid pastry, candy and cookies, the
article says.

The MIT researchers reject these carbohydrate-avoiding diets. They point out
that brain serotonin, which is known to be involved in mood and appetite,
increases following intake of carbohydrates.

The research was conducted by Judith J. Wurtman, PhD, and Richard J. Wurtman,
MD, of the MIT Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, where she is a
research scientist and he is professor of neuropharmacology, and medical
doctors Amnon Brezezinski of the Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel,
and Blandine Laferrere of Hotel Dieu, Paris. Richard Wurtman is also director
of the MIT Clinical Research Center where the study was done.

Judith and Richard Wurtman, wife and husband, are frequent collaborators in
investigating the effects of nutrient intake on brain chemical levels. The
article points out that PMS shares certain similarities with a depressive
disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), in which a mild depression
occurs each fall and winter.

"Individuals diagnosed with SAD have been shown objectively as manifesting
significant improvements in mood after consuming carbohydrate-rich, protein-
poor test meals," the MIT team wrote.

It was the contrast between this objective demonstration of the benefit of a
carbohydrate-rich meal and the anecdotal belief that such food intake was not
appropriate for PMS that interested the MIT researchers. Based on their
findings, the MIT team suggests that craving for carbohydrates reported by PMS
suffers may be the body's attempt to improve mood.

In the MIT study, consumption of a carbohydrate-rich, protein-poor test meal
during the late phase of the menstrual cycle improved depression, tension,
anger, confusion, sadness, fatigue, alertness and calmness scores as measured
on standard tests for PMS patients. No effects were seen among control
subjects involved in the study.

The study was conducted at the MIT Clinical Research Center. Participants
remained at the center for two 48-hour periods and were served measured meals.
All subjects had snacks available at all times except during meals. The snacks
were dispensed from a computerized vending machine which recorded each
person's snacking habits. Nineteen subjects with PMS and nine control subjects
were involved in the first group,18 subjects with PMS and 14 control subjects
in the second.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2001
Thu, 11-09-2006 - 11:48am

I LOVE that idea about the popcorn and lil bag of M&Ms! AWESOME!

- Vanessa


iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2005
Thu, 11-09-2006 - 1:26pm
hmm...it would explain why I'm ready to eat everything in site right now (I'm due next Mon or Tues). That sucks. I hate it. and well, I think I'm living it right now. I want to eat eat eat.