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Its that time of the month again.
You find yourself eating an extra couple of slices of pizza and finishing every french fry in sight.
Then youre reaching for that bag of chips and a bar of chocolate for comfort.
Malik Evren / Getty Images
But, you’re likely wondering why you get extra hungry while you’re on your period.
What Is the Menstrual Cycle?
Around day 14 of your cycle, your ovaries release an egg that moves down the fallopian tubes.
If the egg does not get fertilized and implantation does not occur, it will disintegrate in the body.
Changes in the levels of these hormones can affect how hungry you feel.
Estrogen
In the days leading up to your period, estrogen starts to decline.
Estrogen is a hormone that can help boost your mood and suppresses your appetite.
A drop in estrogen can increase your hunger cravings.
Progesterone is responsible for stimulating your appetite, causing you to feel extra hungry.
Cortisol
Cortisol, the stress hormone, can also affect your appetite.
The follicular phase is day 114 of your menstrual cycle.
There may be other health issues that are going on.
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