Survey study, 1995
Do women crave salty and fatty foods more during certain phases of their menstrual cycle?
No. Women's preferences for salty and fatty foods did not change across their menstrual cycle. What mattered instead was whether women restricted their eating and how much they exercised.
What they did
34 college-aged women rated their preferences for popcorn with different amounts of salt and butter over 4 consecutive weeks. Researchers measured their mood each week and assessed their eating behaviors and exercise habits.
What they found
Women's food preference ratings did not change across their menstrual cycle, and their mood did not vary by cycle phase. However, women who restricted their eating more rated the popcorn samples higher and perceived them as more salty. Women who exercised more than 3 hours per week also rated the samples higher than those who exercised less.
What it means for you
The common belief that women crave salty and fatty foods before their period may not be a real biological change. Instead, food preferences may relate to how women think about food and their exercise habits. The main limitations are that only college-aged women were studied, the sample was small, and the study only tested salty and fatty popcorn, not other commonly craved foods like chocolate.
34
Women studied
4
Consecutive weeks of tracking
3
Hours per week exercise threshold
About the study
- Original title
- Preferences for foods with varying levels of salt and fat differ as a function of dietary restraint and exercise but not menstrual cycle
- Authors
- Kanarek RB, Ryu M, Przypek J
- Journal
- Physiology & behavior
- Year
- 1995
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None (taste preference testing)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(94)00341-2
Topics
Related studies
Survey study, 2025
Is emotional eating linked to PMS in university women?
Review, 2023
Can herbs and supplements help with PMS symptoms?
Survey study, 2022
What diet, stress, and lifestyle factors are linked to PMS symptoms?
Randomised trial, 1995
Is paroxetine better than other antidepressants for treating severe PMS?
Interview study, 2026
How do eating behavior and mood change during the menstrual cycle in women using birth control?
Survey study, 2017
Does the menstrual cycle affect heart rate variability independent of diet, activity, and sleep?