---
title: Do women eat differently at different times in their menstrual cycle?
description: Women eat more protein and report stronger food cravings during the second half of the cycle (luteal phase), especially for chocolate, sweets, and salt.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/changes-in-macronutrient-micronutrient-and-food-group-intakes-throughout-the-2016/
---

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- Do women eat differently at different times in their menstrual cycle?

Cohort study, 2016

# Do women eat differently at different times in their menstrual cycle?

Women eat more protein and report stronger food cravings during the second half of the cycle (luteal phase), especially for chocolate, sweets, and salt.

 Moderate study design

259 healthy premenopausal women age 18-44

## What they did

Prospective cohort study of 259 healthy women age 18-44 followed for up to 2 cycles. Women reported what they ate using four 24-hour recalls per cycle, timed to menstruation, mid-follicular phase, ovulation, and luteal phase. They also answered questions about food cravings at each time point.

## What they found

Protein intake was highest during mid-luteal phase compared to around ovulation (p=0.03). Animal protein showed the same pattern (p=0.05). Appetite increased significantly during late luteal phase. Cravings for chocolate, sweets, salty foods, and total food cravings all increased in late luteal phase (p<0.001).

## What it means for you

Women's bodies naturally seek more protein and report more cravings in the luteal phase regardless of whether ovulation occurred. Main limits are that diet and cravings are self-reported (potentially unreliable) and the study included women from one region and time period.

259

Number of women

2

Menstrual cycles followed

P < 0.001

Significance of food cravings in late luteal phase

## About the study

Original title Changes in macronutrient, micronutrient, and food group intakes throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy, premenopausal women Authors Gorczyca AM, Sjaarda LA, Mitchell EM et al. Journal European journal of nutrition Year 2016 Study design Cohort study Participants 259 What was tested None; observational study tracking diet and cravings across the cycle Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-0931-0](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-0931-0)

## Topics

[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)

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