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Why do I crave chocolate on my period?

Freya Eriksson headshot

Written by Freya Eriksson

Freya Eriksson

With more than three years of experience in the field, Freya Eriksson specializes in writing about the latest research into fertility and reproductive health. She is passionate about shining a light on under-researched topics such as contraception and planning pregnancy. Freya holds a Master's degree in Linguistics and lives in Stockholm, Sweden.

Medically reviewed by Jack Pearson, Medical Affairs Manager at Natural Cycles

Jack Pearson

Dr. Jack Pearson is a previously HCPC registered Embryologist with a PhD in reproductive medicine. Prior to joining Natural Cycles leading Medical Affairs, he worked for more than 10 years in a clinical setting working at some of the busiest fertility clinics in the UK. Today he spends most of his time working with experts at the world’s leading institutions to carry out important research with the vision to further the field of female health. He earned his PhD from the University of Sheffield specializing in Sperm Metabolism and currently lives in London.

Key takeaways: 

  • Increased appetite is common around menstruation, and craving chocolate is commonly reported 
  • The research behind these cravings is limited, but studies suggest the cause may be cultural rather than biological
  • Eating dark chocolate on your period may help ease period cramps

It’s the last few days of your cycle and your period is about to start. Do you go to check the snacks cupboard to make sure there’s chocolate in the house? It’s pretty common to crave sugary or salty food before or during your period. But why does it happen? And is it good to eat chocolate on your period? In this article, we’ll dive deeper into these food-related urges, and why it’s so common to crave chocolate on your period.

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