Why Do Women Crave Chocolate Before Their Period?

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “Why do I crave chocolate before my period?” One week, chocolate is simply nice to have. The next, you’re thinking about it after lunch, during work and possibly while opening the cupboard for the third time.

First things first: chocolate cravings before your period are common. Changes in appetite and food cravings are recognised premenstrual symptoms, and research has found that cravings for chocolate and sweet foods can increase during the late luteal phase — the part of your cycle just before your period begins.

But there isn't one single explanation for why chocolate suddenly sounds so good. Your menstrual cycle, appetite, mood, habits and the simple fact that chocolate is delicious may all play a part.

So no, we’re not going to tell you to ignore the craving. At Funky Fat Foods, we’re much more interested in understanding it — and choosing chocolate that fits into a balanced way of eating.

Why do I crave chocolate before my period?

There is no single proven reason why women specifically crave chocolate before their period. What we do know is that appetite and food intake can change across the menstrual cycle.

After ovulation, you enter the luteal phase. During this part of the cycle, oestrogen and progesterone change as your body prepares for a possible pregnancy. If pregnancy doesn't occur, both hormones eventually fall as your period approaches.

Research suggests that many women eat slightly more during the luteal phase than during the follicular phase earlier in the cycle. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis found that energy intake was, on average, higher during the luteal phase.

In other words: if you feel a little hungrier before your period, you’re not necessarily imagining it.

Food cravings can become more noticeable too. And chocolate? It brings together sweetness, richness, texture and that unmistakable cacao flavour in one very satisfying little package.

Are chocolate cravings before your period hormonal?

Partly? Possibly. Entirely? The research isn't strong enough to say that.

It’s tempting to explain period cravings with one neat sentence about oestrogen, progesterone or serotonin. The reality is more interesting.

Hormonal changes happen throughout the menstrual cycle and may contribute to changes in appetite and how we feel. Studies have also observed more food and chocolate cravings during the late luteal phase.

But that doesn’t prove that a particular hormone directly causes us to crave chocolate. Research comparing chocolate cravings across different cultures has even suggested that learned habits and cultural associations may play a role alongside biology.

So your chocolate craving can be real without us needing to blame it on one hormone.

Your cycle may influence your appetite. Your mood and sleep may be different. You may associate chocolate with comfort. And, frankly, chocolate tastes really good. More than one thing can be true at the same time.

Why am I hungrier before my period?

This is one part of the story where the evidence is becoming clearer.

A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis comparing food intake across the menstrual cycle found that women consumed, on average, around 168 more calories per day during the luteal phase than during the follicular phase.

That doesn't mean every woman needs exactly 168 extra calories. Cycles and appetites are individual. But it does support something many women have noticed for years: hunger can genuinely feel different before a period.

And when appetite increases, we don't necessarily start dreaming about steamed broccoli.

Foods that are sweet, rich and enjoyable can become particularly appealing. Which brings us straight back to chocolate.

What does serotonin have to do with chocolate cravings?

You’ll often hear that we crave chocolate because serotonin drops before a period and that eating chocolate “boosts serotonin”. It makes a great social media soundbite, but the science isn't that simple.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in many processes, including mood and appetite. Researchers have investigated whether serotonin and other brain pathways might be involved in premenstrual food cravings, but we can't reduce chocolate cravings to “low serotonin = eat chocolate”.

Cacao naturally contains a range of compounds, and chocolate is also an intensely enjoyable sensory experience. Its flavour, aroma, texture and sweetness all contribute to why we want it.

So rather than treating chocolate as a way to “fix” our hormones or brain chemistry, we prefer a simpler idea: if you want chocolate, you’re allowed to enjoy chocolate.

Does dark chocolate contain magnesium?

Yes. Cacao naturally contains magnesium, which is one reason magnesium and dark chocolate often appear in conversations about periods.

But there’s an important difference between saying that cacao contains magnesium and saying that eating a chocolate bar will relieve menstrual cramps.

Chocolate isn't a treatment for period pain, and we wouldn't recommend treating it like one.

If you enjoy dark chocolate during your period, enjoy it because you like it. Think of any naturally occurring nutrients as part of the food — not as a reason to turn your evening chocolate into a supplement.

Is it normal to crave chocolate before your period?

Yes. Changes in appetite and food cravings are common premenstrual symptoms, and studies have specifically observed increases in chocolate cravings during the late luteal phase.

Some women experience them every month. Others barely notice a difference. Your cravings might also change from one cycle to another.

Sleep, stress, your usual eating pattern, activity levels and personal habits can all influence how hungry you feel and what sounds good.

The important part? A craving isn't a failure of willpower.

We don't believe balanced eating means spending the week before your period fighting yourself over a square of chocolate. Balance leaves room for foods you genuinely enjoy.

Should you avoid chocolate during your period?

Unless you've been given individual dietary advice that says otherwise, there is no reason chocolate automatically needs to disappear when your period arrives.

Instead of making chocolate the enemy, look at what you're actually choosing.

Chocolate recipes vary enormously. Some have long ingredient lists. Some contain large amounts of added sugar. Others keep things much simpler.

That means the better question isn't necessarily, “Should I eat chocolate?”

It might be, “What do I want from my chocolate?”

What should you look for in chocolate when the craving hits?

If you want chocolate, choose chocolate that actually tastes like chocolate and fits the way you want to eat. For us, that comes down to a few simple things.

1. Look for real cacao

Cacao should be doing the heavy lifting. A good chocolate should taste rich and chocolatey without needing an endless ingredient list to make it interesting.

2. Check the added sugar

If reducing added sugar is important to you, look for chocolate made without added sugar rather than assuming every dark chocolate automatically contains less.

At Funky Fat Foods, our chocolate is made with no added sugar. That means you can satisfy the chocolate craving while staying consistent with a lower-added-sugar choice.

3. Read the ingredient list

We like ingredients that have a reason to be there.

Our approach is simple: cacao, cacao butter and carefully selected ingredients, without filling the recipe with unnecessary extras.

Because when you’re craving chocolate, you probably want chocolate. Revolutionary, we know.

4. Choose a flavour you genuinely enjoy

This one sounds obvious, but it matters.

Trying to satisfy a chocolate craving with something you don't actually want often misses the entire point. If you love dark chocolate, choose dark. If hazelnut is your thing, have hazelnut. If you want something creamy, choose the flavour that gives you that experience.

Satisfaction matters too.

What can I eat when I'm craving chocolate before my period?

Our first suggestion?

Chocolate.

We’re a chocolate company. You knew that was coming.

But chocolate can easily be part of a bigger snack or meal too. If you're feeling hungrier than usual, pairing it with other foods can turn the chocolate moment into something more substantial.

• Dark chocolate with a handful of nuts
• Yoghurt, berries and chopped chocolate
• Banana with nut butter and melted chocolate
• Oats topped with chocolate pieces
• A smoothie with banana, cacao and your usual protein source
• A few squares of chocolate after a balanced meal

And sometimes you don't need to turn it into a recipe at all. Sometimes a couple of squares of chocolate with your coffee or tea is exactly what you wanted.

Can I stop chocolate cravings before my period?

You don't necessarily need to.

We’d rather move away from the idea that every craving needs to be controlled, hacked or eliminated.

If you notice that you're generally hungrier before your period, it can help to pay attention to your regular meals rather than trying to compensate by eating less. A varied, balanced diet can include protein sources, fats, fibre-rich foods, carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables — and yes, chocolate too.

Keeping foods you actually enjoy at home also means that when the craving arrives, you already have an option that fits your preferences.

That's not “giving in”. That's knowing yourself.

So, why do women crave chocolate before their periods?

The answer is probably more nuanced than the internet makes it sound.

We know that appetite and energy intake can increase during the luteal phase. We know that food cravings are a common premenstrual symptom. And research has observed that chocolate cravings can become stronger around the late luteal phase and menstruation.

What we don't know is that one hormone, one nutrient or one brain chemical is solely responsible.

Hormonal changes may be part of the picture. So may appetite, mood, habits, culture and the simple sensory pleasure of eating chocolate.

And we actually like that answer.

Because eating well doesn't have to mean fighting every signal your body sends you. Our approach to balanced, clean eating is about understanding what works for you, choosing ingredients with intention and leaving room for pleasure.

The Funky Fat take on period chocolate cravings

Your period isn't a reason to fear chocolate. And craving chocolate isn't something you need to feel guilty about.

Choose chocolate you genuinely enjoy. Look at the ingredients. If reducing added sugar matters to you, choose an option made without added sugar. Eat enough throughout the day. And let chocolate be chocolate — not medicine, not a guilty pleasure, just something delicious that has a perfectly valid place in a balanced way of eating.

Our Funky Fat chocolate bars are made with real cacao, no added sugar and carefully selected ingredients for exactly those kinds of chocolate moments.

Because sometimes your body says chocolate.

We say: choose a good one.

No added sugar. No unnecessary nonsense. Stay funky.

If your premenstrual symptoms are severe, regularly interfere with daily life, or you are concerned about changes in your cycle or appetite, speak with a healthcare professional.