Appetite in Different Phases of the Cycle: Why Do You Crave Sweets?

You eat normally — and then suddenly there's a day when you want a cookie, a chocolate bar, something else... and more. You've already eaten, but your hand still reaches for something sweet. It seems like you're just "weak-willed," but in reality — it's hormones. And they're doing it for a reason.

🍓 Appetite and Hormones: How Are They Connected?

The menstrual cycle isn't just about mood and abdominal pain. It's also about hunger. In different phases of the cycle, the body spends energy differently and demands it differently.

• After menstruation (the first half of the cycle) — estrogen levels rise. Appetite is usually moderate, mood is stable, and you want "healthy food."
• During ovulation — estrogen peaks, there can be almost euphoria. You want to eat less, but have a lot of energy.
• After ovulation, closer to menstruation — estrogen drops, progesterone rises. And here's where it starts:
  • craving for sweets
  • increased appetite
  • the body seems to be stocking up
  • emotions become more intense — and food helps to "calm" them

This is not weakness. It's a survival system. The body senses hormonal changes and tries to give you comfort.

🍫 Why Sweets Specifically?

Sweets are quick fuel. They raise serotonin levels — the hormone of pleasure and calm. Also, sugar temporarily reduces feelings of anxiety, irritation, and sadness. That's why you crave chocolate or cake when your mood isn't great.

🤍 What to Do About It?

• Don't scold yourself — craving sweets doesn't make you weak. It's just one of the body's ways to cope.
• Plan snacks — if you know that closer to menstruation your appetite increases, prepare something tasty and healthy in advance.
• Add complex carbohydrates — oatmeal, bananas, warm food with cinnamon or honey can satisfy and calm you.
• Monitor sleep and stress — lack of sleep and fatigue also increase the craving for sweets.
• Trust your body — sometimes it asks for exactly what it needs, and it's better to give yourself that than to fight with yourself.

In IVA you can track appetite and mood. This way you'll see: there is a rhythm to it. You're not "always hungry." You're just living in a cycle. And the better you understand it, the easier it is to negotiate with yourself.