You can still eat so well and exercise so much: During your period, you are thicker. Especially in the already lousy 5 days before menstruation our weight increases. And that's pretty neat: between half and up to five kilos women take before the menstruation. Oh great.

Why do you get fatter before the period?

First of all, the good news: It is not body fat most of the time that you are preparing for your days. The most common reason why you are getting fat now is the hormone progesterone, which is mainly produced after ovulation. Progesterone prepares our body for pregnancy. The uterine lining is better perfused by the increased hormone output, the implantation of a fertilized egg thus prepared. Bingo. But if we do not get pregnant, the progesterone balance in the body goes down again – we menstruate. The problem: With the decrease in progesterone our body now stores more water in the cells. As a result, we weigh more, feel bloated, and have flatulence (thank you, nature, for making it that way!).

What helps against weight gain before menstruation?

Well. You have to make sure that not so much water is stored, so you should drink more water now (sounds like a paradox, but it will save your body memory!) And eat sodium, ie, low-salt food. Because if we absorb more salt than necessary, then the body cells store even more water. If we reduce the salt content in our food and drinks, our body needs less water to work efficiently. In other words, in the days before menstruation drink as much water as possible and eat nothing salty (if possible: no over-salted ready meals!).

Cravings before the period: Does that make me fat?

During PMS, in the 5 days before your period, the stress hormone cortisol in your body increases. You feel aggressive and bumpy, especially because at the same time the feel-good hormone serotonin sinks. However, your body wants to feel good, which is why it sends a desire for greasy and sweet. Because with it, the serotonin level is increased again (at least in the short term). No wonder why you are increasing before your menstrual period. How do you counteract? Instead of deliberately grabbing donuts, chocolate and pizza with extra cheese for healthier, but also sweet snacks: bananas, mango, pineapple, dried fruit, melons. For fat, there is unfortunately no such super delicious replacement, but good: Chashewn sse, avocados, flaxseed, quinoa, eggs, salmon, mackerel and tuna you can already eat. Incidentally, it makes sense to integrate more fiber-rich and protein-rich foods into the diet two weeks before menstruation. These help regulate blood sugar levels and hormone production.

Magnesium deficiency: One reason for gaining weight during the period

In the second half of the cycle the estrogen and progesterone levels increase. The higher these two values ИН ИНgo, the lower the magnesium levels in your body. This waste causes less insulin to be produced. But suddenly you have an increased desire for sugar. The good news: With nutrition, you can compensate for this magnesium deficiency. Raw cocoa, pumpkin seeds, cashews, walnuts, almonds, pecans, avocados, bananas, beans and green leafy vegetables have a high magnesium content. Magnesium deficiency is also a common cause of muscle spasms, circulatory disorders, migraines, and abdominal pain that most women are well aware of during the period.