Science Questions

Why do women develop cravings at some points in the month? Jennifer, USA

Chris: Yes, my wife does this: chocolate! Lots of women say their intakes of certain foods change menstrually. Favourites are chocolate around day 14 and also around day 28 when you’re about to start your period. It could be that the reason for this is similar to a woman who’s pregnant craves things, allegedly. The reason that’s suggested is that if you have certain cravings it could be that your body is deficient in certain things. When you’re going to get pregnant you must make sure that you have a ready supply with lots to spare of every single kind of micronutrient you might need in the body. So if you have a craving it makes sure that you binge on lots of things at the end of the month so that when you’re about to fall pregnant your body’s already replete with everything you might need.

Dave: So it’s a bit like if you’re short of water you get thirsty?

Chris: I guess so but what you’re basically doing is overeating in preparation for a pregnancy because that way you eat lots of green leafy vegetables and you have lots of folate; you have lots of B vitamins and iron. Basically you need lots of things because the foetus is like a parasite, it’s going to steal lots of things from your body and if you haven’t got enough to spare the baby’s health can suffer. But then, so could yours.

May 2008