Menstruation and Binge Eating

Why Do Menstruation and Binge Eating Often Go Hand in Hand?
Many women find that their good intentions to eat healthily often fail as their menstruation approaches. What happens in our bodies that triggers these binge eating episodes, and what can we do to break this cycle?

Menstruation, Binge Eating, and Hormonal Imbalance

Just before menstruation, women can feel gloomy or even depressed. These symptoms are often related to a progesterone deficiency and estrogen dominance. When progesterone levels drop, the serotonin level in the body also decreases. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter essential for our sense of well-being. Progesterone plays a crucial role in the production and function of serotonin; a deficiency can lead to mood swings, gloominess, and even depression.

 

Progesterone and Serotonin: The Connection

Progesterone has a direct influence on the production of serotonin. It stimulates the enzymes needed for the conversion of tryptophan, an essential amino acid, into serotonin. Without sufficient progesterone, this conversion can be less efficient, leading to lower serotonin levels.

Besides its direct role, progesterone also has a calming effect on the nervous system by stimulating the production of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA has a soothing and relaxing effect, helping to reduce stress and anxiety. Less stress often means fewer binge eating episodes and a more stable mood, which contributes to a healthy serotonin level.

Estrogen Dominance and Its Impact on Serotonin

A common hormonal imbalance in women, especially around menstruation and menopause, is estrogen dominance. This means that the ratio of estrogen to progesterone is out of balance, usually because there is too little progesterone present. This imbalance can lead to a decrease in serotonin production, as progesterone not only supports the conversion of tryptophan into serotonin but also influences the function of serotonin in the brain.

What Is Serotonin?

Serotonin is often called the "happiness hormone." It helps you feel calm, content, and happy. Many women with postnatal depression have a significant progesterone deficiency, resulting in a serotonin dip. A natural instinct is to reach for sweet foods because sugar temporarily raises serotonin levels. This explains why many women crave sweets just before their menstruation.

The Cycle of Sugar Dips

Although eating something sweet can temporarily raise your serotonin levels and give you a sense of happiness, a sugar dip usually follows quickly. This happens because your blood sugar levels rise rapidly and then fall again. The resulting sugar dip can make you feel even gloomier than before, leading to a cycle of snacking and energy dips. Especially in the evenings, when the distractions of the day fade away, these feelings can become more intense, and many women turn to carbohydrates to feel better.

 

Why Binge Eating Is Not a Matter of Willpower

Binge eating has nothing to do with a lack of willpower but is often the result of hormonal and emotional imbalance. If you often have binge eating episodes around your menstruation, this may indicate low progesterone levels and thus reduced serotonin levels. Serotonin is derived from the amino acid tryptophan. A tryptophan deficiency leads to low serotonin levels, which can cause gloominess or depression.

How Carbohydrates and Insulin Worsen This Cycle

A binge eating episode may temporarily raise your serotonin levels, but it also raises your blood sugar levels and insulin production. Frequent binge eating can cause your cells to become insensitive to insulin, leading to insulin resistance. As a result, the body cannot efficiently process sugar, and what you eat is more often stored as fat. Furthermore, high insulin levels interfere with protein breakdown, which is essential for serotonin production.

How to Break the Relationship Between Binge Eating and Menstruation

1. Restore Hormonal Balance:
   Use a high-quality progesterone cream (Feminine Balance Therapy) to counteract estrogen dominance. This can help reduce or even eliminate PMS symptoms. When hormonal balance is restored, serotonin levels can recover, helping to stabilize mood and appetite.
    

2. Limit Carbohydrates:
   Try to limit your carbohydrate intake to about 50 grams per day, especially on the "good" days of your cycle. This helps stabilize insulin production and reduce insulin resistance.
    

3. Accept the Binge Eating Episodes:
   Understand that your binge eating has a physical cause. As your hormones become more balanced, the binge eating episodes will decrease.
    

4. Take 5-HTP:
   Consider temporarily taking 5-HTP supplements, which can help increase your serotonin levels and reduce binge eating. 5-HTP is a direct precursor to serotonin and can be effective in supporting healthy serotonin levels. In the web store, 5-HTP is available as natural support for these complaints.
    

5. Add Nutrients:
   Add nutritional yeast flakes to your diet; they contain vitamin B1, which can help regulate your mood. Magnesium can help reduce menstrual cramps.

Final Thoughts

Menstruation and binge eating may seem inextricably linked, but there are ways to break this cycle. By balancing your hormones with natural remedies such as progesterone cream and 5-HTP, you can better regulate your mood and appetite. With the right approach, your eating patterns and overall well-being can improve.