Many women are familiar with the food cravings that come and go throughout their monthly cycles and stages in their reproductive years. The same is possible during menopause, where women can experience profound food cravings. Giving into cravings is often associated with a lack of willpower, but there are biological explanations for food cravings.
Estrogen and progesterone play a critical role in these cravings. Hormone changes during the menopause transition can trigger cravings of particular foods in higher than normal quantities. Studies have shown that certain foods stimulate the brain’s reward regions and directly influence food choices and eating behaviors.
These certain foods can make you excited and create happy, positive feelings. These good feelings then make you want to keep eating them regularly. The foods that create this “happy brain” are called hyper-palatable foods — more commonly referred to as comfort foods — because they’re quick and easy to digest. Comfort foods are typically sweet, salty, and fatty, which can contribute further to weight gain.
The good news is that it’s possible to directly affect the appetite center in your brain that regulates your feeling of fullness and satisfaction by normalizing your hormone levels. Studies suggest that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help reduce the sudden upswing in cravings and appetite during perimenopause and menopause.