It is normal to experience food cravings around the time of your period. Your menstrual cycle increases two different female hormone groups at the same time: sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) and stress hormones (cortisol and epinephrine). The neurotransmitter serotonin also fluctuates with your monthly cycle. These changes drive up your appetite and prompt you to eat the kind of foods that increase your insulin levels.

Minimize your munchies with these three easy steps help prevent cravings for refined sugar and carbohydrates:

1. Eat more protein. (i.e. An egg or lean chicken).
2. Get 1,000 mg of Calcium from food or supplements daily.
3. Exercise.