Women, Hormones & Chocolate
Women & Chocolate
Why are women more addicted to chocolate then men? The answer may lie in hormones. Chocolate eating in women may be an unconscious attempt to keep hormone levels more steady. Women report that they have a an increased frequency of craving for high fat, pleasant tasting food including chocolate around their menses. This may be due to the higher levels of progesterone at that time. Progesterone is a female hormone that is important in ovulation and in the menstrual cycle. Progesterone is thought to induce fat storage and a drop of the level of fat in your blood may prompt a craving for fat.
Anne’s Comment
Most chocolates contain very little cocoa and a lot more fat and sugar. So if you want the feel-good effect of chocolate but with less fat and sugar, buy the more expensive chocolates which contain more cocoa. However, if you are trying to lose weight it’s better to avoid this high fat, high sugar treat as it is not helpful for weight loss.