Why do girls crave chocolate when they are on their period?

Question

Every one in my family has this case..... and if it is not chocolate then it is icecream......

Answer 1

Whether chocolate is physically addictive or simply tastes so good that we develop cultural and behavioral cues that mimic addiction is a matter of some debate. As "The Sweet Science of Chocolate" explains, chocolate contains over 300 distinct chemicals. They undoubtedly play some role in our love for the stuff.
The initial chocolate buzz is probably the result of caffeine and several other stimulants, including theobromine, a substance toxic to dogs. But what about the languid, almost post-coital state of chocolate-induced reverie that many people experience? Scientists at the Neurosciences Institute in San Diego, California, suggest that the chemicals in chocolate have roughly the same effect on the brain as marijuana.

Chocolate contains a neurotransmitter called anandamide that latches on to the brain's receptors for THC, the active agent in marijuana. This could explain the chocolate high, as well as the chocolate craving. The research, however, is far from definitive -- to get truly high, you'd need to ingest 25 pounds of the stuff.

Other theories suggest that certain carbohydrates present in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is an active neurotransmitter that is associated with feelings of well-being.

What seems beyond scientific reproach is that to many people, chocolate tastes so good that it is treated like a drug -- it's used for depression, for relaxation, and for celebration.

Answer 2

In a study of more than 500 men and women, a University of Pennsylvania researcher found that 25% of women crave chocolate just prior to and in the first few days of menstruation. The researchers say eating chocolate may relieve premenstrual depression and stress caused by a deficiency in magnesium. Since chocolate is high in the mineral, women may be self-medicating with chocolate, which also contains some of the minerals that balance magnesium: calcium, phosphorous, iron, and zinc.

Seems like there is a lot of speculation, but no real hard facts...there must be something there.

Answer 3

Some alternative medicine practitioners believe that a craving for chocolate may be triggered by a shortage of B vitamins. Some women may need more essential fatty acids in their diet; when they start taking flax oil, their food cravings disappear. Similarly, a craving for red meat seems like a transparent cry for protein. And the reader who consumed great quantities of peaches may have been responding to her body's need for beta carotene.

Chocolate is the No. 1 most craved food, and women are the ones most likely to crave it. Why we crave chocolate is a complex issue.

Our obsession with chocolate could be partially cultural. While men may receive bottles of whiskey as gifts, women often receive chocolates, forming a link between chocolate and love. Chocolate is not a member of any food group and is rarely part of the meat-and-potatoes main course, so it is not a part of our daily routines or responsibilities. Consequently, chocolate symbolizes an escape from the day-to-day drudgery.

Then there is chocolate's creaminess. The cocoa butter in real chocolate gives it a rich texture. Cocoa butter melts in your mouth, providing what has been termed "a moment of ecstasy."

Chocolate also is the perfect mix of sugar and fat to turn on almost every appetite-triggering nerve chemical in the brain. The sugar in chocolate sparks the release of a nerve chemical called serotonin and might lower another nerve chemical called NPY; the end result is a sense of well-being. The sweet taste also releases endorphins in the brain, giving us an immediate euphoric rush. The fat in chocolate enhances flavor and aroma and satisfies another nerve chemical called galanin, thus curbing our cravings for fat.

That's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to nerve-tingling chemicals. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, compounds that provide a mental boost, and phenylethylamine, or PEA, which stimulates the nervous system, increases blood pressure and heart rate, and is suspected to produce similar feelings experienced when a person is "in love." Even the aroma of chocolate could affect brain chemistry. Finally, chocolate contains a substance called anandamide that mimics the effects of marijuana and boosts the pleasure you get when you eat chocolate.

Not all of these connections between chocolate and body chemistry have been substantiated by well-designed research; consequently, many questions remain. For example, cheese and salami also are sources of PEA but seldom evoke similar cravings. In fact, the amount of PEA in a chocolate bar is not likely to be enough to trigger romantic feelings. The endorphin-chocolate link is based on animal studies; no such studies have been conducted on humans so it is only speculation that people and rats share a similar endorphin rush when eating chocolate.

Others argue that a craving for chocolate is really the body's craving for its nutrients, such as magnesium. If this is the case, why don't people crave soybeans, peanuts, and other magnesium-rich foods? In fact, chocolate cravings usually can be satisfied only by chocolate or something that mimics its texture, taste, and aroma. Since cocoa contains more than 400 distinct flavor compounds, it is likely there are yet unexplored compounds that trigger cravings.

In short, no one knows exactly why we love chocolate, yet the cravings are very real. Since chocolate urges are not likely to "just go away," the best tactic is to include a small chocolate snack in your eating plan and enjoy the experience.

Answer 4

When do girls not crave ice cream or chocolate or both? Not even generalizing, I'm just saying, that a majority of the population, male or female, LOVES SWEETS! I mean, come on, who doesn't like chocolate every once and a while, or ice cream of any flavor? I crave it lots. I'm sure girls too, period or not.

Answer 5

Chocolate releases endorphins interior the recommendations, a exhilaration hormone. on an identical time as women are on their classes, their hormones are in each and every single place and as a result this could shift their temper to melancholy, anger or unhappiness. as a result it is sensible that with a view to deliver their temper decrease back to their general point, females consume chocolate to cheer themselves up effectively.

Answer 6

I hate chocolate

Answer 7

I can honestly say that I do eat alot of it when I'm on the rag. I've gained 3 ounds from it!

Answer 8

everyone likes chocolate. cocoa is yummy. mmm chocolate

Answer 9

chocolate is too tasty

Answer 10

Its good.... it taste good, comforting when you need it. doesn't talk back too you. it fulfills all cravings