Comments on: Chocolate cravings and the menstrual cycle

By: cheryn english

cheryn english — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:10:28 +0000

Men have similar cycles. See below
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=53725

By: Neuroskeptic

Neuroskeptic — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:59:02 +0000

Studies like this are patronizing to chocolate-eaters, a typical British trait. I’m a historian of chocolate and when I see studies like these I feel like I’m in a time warp.

By: rita

rita — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:15:30 +0000

I don’t like chocolate, sugar and all the other stuff people are supposed to find so appealing – didn’t crave it before menopause, don’t crave it now. On the other hand, my husband can’t live without it for a single day, but it’s not a cyclical craving – it’s a permanent one*. Go figure.
*anecdotal evidence there.

By: Whistler

Whistler — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:16:38 +0000

There was a Danish study that found 30-day testosterone cycles in men. Here’s the citation:
Ramey, E. (1972). Men’s cycles. Ms.,1(8), 8, 11-12, 14-15.
This Q/A site explains the citation a little: http://theboard.byu.edu/index.php?area=viewall&id=46080

By: Lilian Nattel

Lilian Nattel — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:40:50 +0000

Here’s the scoop. Eating chocolate is lovely anytime. So of course post-menopausal women do so. What–you think women become idiots after menopause? Not so. Quite the contrary. If there is a drop, I’d imagine that it’s because people get more health conscious as they age. Not because of hormonal changes. Chocolate is yummy whether someone ovulates or not.

By: DrGEN

DrGEN — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:58:52 +0000

Of course men have hormone cycles, but different from women. Remember circadian rhythms (rythms that last near a day) that involves melatonin, cortisol and many others.
Greetings from Argentina,
Lisandro

By: fairyhedgehog

fairyhedgehog — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:37:35 +0000

I still crave chocolate and I’m fifty-five. I’m looking forward to the day when it wears off!

By: Peggy

Peggy — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:32:00 +0000

I’ve often wondered how much of the PM chocolate craving is cultural. It’s only fairly recently that humans have had ready access to inexpensive chocolate, so women of 150 or 1500 years ago (or presently in countries that don’t consume chocolate) would have obviously reported craving something else
In my own experience, PM cravings can be non-specific – so I’m craving something, but it’s not a particular type of food. When the cultural expectation is that the craving will be chocolate, it’s natural to eat some chocolate to fulfill the craving – and thus it becomes a habit. I usually find that a handful of crackers is just as fulfilling, but I may be in the minority.