Whether you’re on your period or just need a bit of comfort, chocolate is a great option. The good thing about chocolate is that it contains many nutrients that help women cope with their periods. These include magnesium, Serotonin, and the feel-good hormone serotonin. And while it can help to reduce the pain associated with your period, you should know that it can also cause bloating and weight gain.
Serotonin
A recent study in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology has found that chocolate can help a woman’s menstrual period. Dark chocolate contains tryptophan and magnesium, which increase serotonin levels. This hormone is responsible for making women feel happier and chirpier, but it’s also low during the menstrual cycle. Iron, another component of menstrual blood, reduces serotonin levels and causes tiredness and low energy. Consuming chocolate during this period can provide a temporary boost of energy that lasts until the next menstrual period.
Dark chocolate contains cocoa flavanol, which protects the body against free radical damage. This hormone boosts serotonin levels in the brain, which eases pain and discomfort. Milk chocolate does not contain a high concentration of cocoa, and it has more sugar than dark chocolate, which can actually make cramping worse.
Women who are on their periods often feel cravings for sweet food. This is a sign that the hormones that regulate blood sugar are out of balance. High levels of insulin can lower blood sugar, triggering a craving for sweets. Chocolate can be an effective solution for this craving, as the sugar in chocolate can mimic serotonin and increase endorphins, which may reduce depression.
However, consuming too much chocolate during your period can cause symptoms of mood swings and cramping. Likewise, eating too much chocolate may cause weight gain, which can cause bloating. It is best to eat dark chocolate that contains at least 65% cocoa beans. In addition, eating too much chocolate can result in a woman gaining more weight than she can afford to, which may increase her anxiety levels.
Chocolate also promotes mood-boosting feelings and increases the production of endorphins, which can increase feelings of happiness. It contains two anandamines, which inhibit the breakdown of endogenous anandamine. Despite this, it is not known whether chocolate consumption results in an increase in serotonin levels.
Magnesium
Whether you’re having a stressful period or you’re just trying to feel less crampy, you should consider adding magnesium to your daily routine. This mineral is vital to your body and is involved in over 300 chemical reactions. It also has important roles in the nervous system and energy production. It may also help you feel less anxious during your period, reduce PMS symptoms, and relax your muscles.
A magnesium deficiency in women can result in cramping, brain fog, and tiredness. If you’re taking calcium supplements and don’t balance them with magnesium, you could end up with a magnesium deficiency. To correct this deficiency, include magnesium-rich foods in your diet, including dark chocolate. You can also eat leafy greens and carrots, as well as nuts and seeds, dried fruits, and organic seaweed.
Dark chocolate contains high amounts of magnesium, which can ease the discomfort associated with your period. It also helps regulate sodium levels in your body and has anti-inflammatory properties. It may also help alleviate cramps and improve cognitive activity. Moreover, it’s rich in antioxidants, including flavanols.
Magnesium in chocolate can reduce period pain by relaxing muscles and suppressing the synthesis of the chemicals that cause contractions. A medium-sized banana has around 32 mg of magnesium, while a single-square of 70-80 percent dark chocolate provides 56% of your daily magnesium needs.
Taking magnesium supplements is a good way to get more magnesium in your body, but it’s important to remember that the effects of magnesium supplements take time. To see results, you must take them consistently. In addition, it can take several days before your body reaches the optimum magnesium level.
In addition to magnesium, chocolate may also help with painful cramps. Increasing magnesium intake will prevent cramps and improve your mood. Aim for a balanced diet and get plenty of magnesium during your periods. In addition, magnesium supplements will help relieve your cravings for sugar. If you’re still craving chocolate, try to eat sugar-free chocolate, or make your own using raw cacao powder.
Dark chocolate contains magnesium, iron, and other micronutrients. Some women suffer from iron deficiencies during their periods. This is because they lose more iron during their periods than they do during their regular periods. Fortunately, one ounce of dark chocolate provides 19% of the recommended daily intake of iron for adult females. Dark chocolate also helps with stress because it releases chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins boost your mood.
Serotonin-stimulating endorphins
Interestingly, chocolate isn’t just good for your period. It can also help improve your mental health. Research shows that a higher level of endorphins in the body can help with depression and anxiety. It may even help with certain mental illnesses such as obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Women on their periods often crave sweet foods and ice cream. It can help ease symptoms of PMS and help you feel more energetic. Chocolate has been shown to stimulate the production of serotonin, the hormone responsible for making us feel good. During a period, we often lose our serotonin levels, which results in low energy. Dark chocolate helps to increase serotonin levels, which can help improve mood.
Endorphins can be released in the body by physical activities, such as exercise. A variety of aerobic activities, involving periods of increased exertion, stimulate the release of endorphins. Running is just one example of this type of exercise, but other forms of exercise such as jumping rope, dancing, and playing basketball are effective as well. Endorphins are released throughout the body and can relieve stress and pain.
Studies have shown that endorphins are useful for many conditions, including depression. These hormones improve mood and self-esteem. They are also beneficial for reducing pain and discomfort. If you suffer from PMS or depression, try talking to your healthcare provider about increasing your levels of endorphins.
Chocolate may boost your mood, but the effects of chocolate are more complex than previously thought. Researchers believe that chocolate may affect serotonin levels through a variety of brain-altering, nutritional and sensory properties. They also disagree on whether chocolate affects dopamine levels.
Chocolate contains chemicals called flavonoids, which may help the brain produce endorphins. They are responsible for reducing pain, and increasing feelings of happiness. These chemicals are produced by the hypothalamus and released by the pituary gland.
Dark chocolate can help with period cramps and improve mood. Dark chocolate also contains high amounts of magnesium and iron, as well as flavonoids. Flavonoids have omega-3 and 6 fatty acids and are a good source of calcium. However, dark chocolate can cause bloating and can cause mood swings.
Aside from its benefits, chocolate also contains magnesium, which helps muscles relax. It is also high in polyphenols, which reduce inflammatory reactions in the body and increase dopamine, the neurotransmitter that affects mood. Women often experience cravings for chocolate during their period because of hormonal and neurotransmitter changes. For best results, try to eat dark chocolate with 70 percent cacao or higher.
Chocolate has also been linked to a reduced risk of depression. Dark chocolate has high amounts of flavanols, which are a good antidepressant. Research has shown that eating chocolate during a depressive episode has reduced the risk of depression by up to 70 percent. While these findings are preliminary, they do show the potential of chocolate for depression.