Survey study, 1990
Do women's food preferences change during their menstrual cycle?
Yes. Women ate and preferred sweet foods significantly more during their premenstrual period, but preferences for other foods did not change. This is a small study without a control group.
What they did
This was a laboratory study. Women ate everyday foods and rated them on taste scales. Researchers weighed food before and after to measure how much was eaten. Women completed questionnaires about mood and eating habits, and researchers measured their height and weight.
What they found
Sweet food consumption and preference were significantly higher during the premenstrual period. Other foods showed no changes across the cycle. Mood, obesity, and eating restraint patterns did not differ across the cycle. Lower food restraint was associated with fewer menstrual symptoms and better mood.
What it means for you
Cravings for sweets before your period may be real and caused by hormones. The study cannot prove cause and effect because there was no control group, the sample size is not stated, and some findings relied on self-report.
About the study
- Original title
- Variations in food preference and consumption across the menstrual cycle
- Authors
- Bowen DJ, Grunberg NE
- Journal
- Physiology & behavior
- Year
- 1990
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(90)90144-s