Are you craving sugar or salt today?

Food Cravings and Weight Gain
If PMS has you reaching for chocolate or donuts, there’s a biological basis to those cravings. High-fat or sweet foods are a quick way to raise the level of serotonin, a brain chemical that affects your mood. But simple carbohydrates such as chips or sugary snacks bring about rapid ups and downs in blood sugar levels. (Not to mention providing a lot of calories for very little nutritional value!) A better way to raise serotonin levels is to eat complex carbohydrates, which include whole grain bread, pasta, cereal, sunflower seeds, peanut butter and plain yogurt. These foods can help you feel good, and they’re good for you.

Many women complain of monthly weight gain before their period. A lot of this is attributable to water retention. Calcium (1000 mg per day) and magnesium (400 mg per day) reduce water retention and premenstrual weight gain. Calcium is found in dairy products such as yogurt or cheese, as well as in puddings, broccoli, salmon and tofu.

For more information on PMS, go to: www.pms.com

DANIELLE'S COMMENTS: There are healthier ways to curb our need for salt and sugar. It's all in the mind. Seriously, some sugar-free pudding or a nice crisp handful of grapes are just as tasty as a heart attack donut. This article was posted for ARose...

You don't have to be pre-menstral to crave salt, carbs or sugar, BUT we curb the cravings the same way.