Do you need more calories during your period?

sugarfreesquirrel

Cause I'm been grumpy as hell. Or hangry.

yirara

Some people do and others don't. Hormones can be powerful drivers. Being NB, I'm on a contraceptive in long-term cycle and only do a break every now and then. And then I'm just grumpy because I had to do the break, but not more hungry.

Lietchi

I always have a day or two during my period where I crave salty fatty/carby foods. I usually increase my calorie goal on those days to include those foods. I don't know if I need those calories physically, but it certainly helps mentally!

COGypsy

I don’t know if extra calories are *needed*, but when I actually have periods, I target maintenance calories. I’m peri menopausal and unexpected, yet oddly specific hunger is one of my “warning signs” of impending doom

JBanx256

Sorta-kinda on-off topic, but there have been studies about women's cravings during menstruation - depending on where in the world you live, your cravings are different. Eg, as a little girl in the US, if you heard your mom/big sister/whoever complain and say they were craving chocolate, that kind of "programmed" you to think that period = chocolate cravings. Elsewhere in the world, you might crave something totally different, based on what you were "programmed" to associate with periods. Obviously tangential to the original topic, but I think it's pretty interesting.

Here's one of them focused specifically on chocolate:
Does culture create craving? Evidence from the case of menstrual chocolate craving
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5517000/

xxzenabxx

Your rmr increases by 100-500 calories depending on each individual. I would definitely eat more for 2-3 days around my period.

the_real_me_lissa

My hunger definitely increases on the days leading up to my period & it’s not just cravings or all in my head. I used to eat “crap food” or indulge in sweets more because I have PMDD & it just made me feel better (not really but you know what I mean😂).

Now however; I really listen to my body. If my energy is low; I may increase my protein, be mindful of eating more complex carbs, & increase fruit for some simple sugars.

Highmtnlady68

I had PPMD or super heavy periods, and I found high iron foods to help. I love calf liver and greens during this time of the month. You can look up food that will help you through this time and talk to your doctor.