Last Updated:July 07, 2025, 15:11 IST
A bite into a bar of an indulgent chocolate is one of the most sought-after comfort food during menstruation. This craving is your body’s way of asking for support.
Magnesium in dark chocolate can help ease period pain.
Of all the things that might be considered sacred comfort rituals during your menstruation cycle, there are few foods as comforting as chocolate. There’s a reason why chocolate feels non-negotiable during your period – and it’s not just comfort food. That sweet urge might be your body’s way of asking for support. Recent research links dark chocolate (yes, the rich kind) with magnesium intake, mood regulation, and menstrual health. Turns out, your PMS snack habit might be more intuitive than indulgent and backed by science.
Why Do We Crave Chocolate on Our Periods?
Your period brings a hormonal roller coaster – estrogen and progesterone levels swing up and down, serotonin dips and prostaglandins ramp up, causing cramps and mood swings. Dark chocolate comes to the rescue with its magnesium, flavonoids, and polyphenols, offering both mood support and physical comfort when everything else feels overwhelming during your cycle.
Dr Ridhima Khamsera, a Clinical Dietitian, says, “Binging on chocolate during menstruation is a comfort food. But instead of having milk chocolate, swap it with dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is rich in magnesium and flavonoids.”
Explaining the role of magnesium during menstruation, Khamsera explains, “Magnesium works as a natural relaxant for the uterine muscle wall, which decreases the pain associated with menstrual cramps. Studies have shown that magnesium may reduce the production of prostaglandins, which trigger period pain. They promote good estrogen clearance.”
Chocolate and Mood: An Affair to Remember
In addition to cramps and physical issues, the menstrual cycle can also affect the mood – from mild irritability and sadness to total emotional breakdowns. Chocolate is bolstered by high levels of theobromine, phenylethylamine, and serotonin precursors – making it a natural mood stabilizer.
Dr. Pratayksha Bhardwaj, World Record Holding Dietitian & Weight Management Specialist, says, “Unexpectedly for many, chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, does not need to sabotage your fitness goals. It can, in fact, support your health journey. In my career as a weight management specialist, I’ve encountered countless incredibly strict diets that have failed due to their rigidity. A tiny piece of dark chocolate boosts serotonin levels, curbs cravings, and helps avoid frequent hunger. Balancing diet is more important than denial.”
“You can choose chocolates with less added sugars but a high percentage of natural cocoa. These kinds of chocolates are high in polyphenols, which aid in metabolism,” Bhardwaj adds.
The New Food Philosophy: Enjoy, Don’t Obliterate
Simrat Kathuria, Celebrity Dietician & Wellness Coach says, “Chocolate is generally associated with indulgence, but it can be incorporated into a guilt-free lifestyle as well. As a wellness coach myself, I recommend moderate consumption of dark chocolate, particularly those which contain 70% or more cocoa; chocolate contains potent antioxidants, mood-lifting properties, and even magnesium in dark chocolate helps alleviate stress and anxiety.”
As conversations around women’s health grow more holistic and inclusive, chocolate is being reimagined – not as a guilty pleasure, but as a source of nourishment, balance, and hormonal support.
Kathuria adds, “Good eating habits have a positive relationship with food and are not based on deprivation. Consuming a square or two of chocolate after a meal can help you relax and feel more satisfied than usual. Chocolate, in its purest form, nourishes and comforts both the body and the soul in remarkable ways.”
Next time a pre-period chocolate craving hits, don’t dismiss it. It could be your body’s way of asking for magnesium, serotonin, or simply comfort. Rich in mood-boosting compounds and essential minerals, dark chocolate might just be the kind of medicine that tastes like indulgence.
- Location :
Delhi, India, India
- First Published:
#Magnesium #Mood #Menstruation #Crave #Chocolates #Periods #Lifestyle #News
