It’s no secret that people who menstruate often find themselves craving sweets or carb- and fat-loaded delights just before the onset of their period. Now, a new research has found that these food-related desires might be linked to insulin sensitivity.
The study, published in Nature Metabolism, found that insulin sensitivity — the response of your cells to the hormone insulin — varied throughout the menstrual cycle. These fluctuations were at their highest in the days leading up to ovulation and dip to their lowest levels in the days following the onset of menstruation.
Insulin, often referred to as the body’s blood sugar regulator, is a chemical messenger that makes cells absorb glucose from the bloodstream, giving them energy to function. Researchers revealed that low insulin activities in women, without prediabetes or diabetes, led to an increase in their blood sugar levels, which caused an increase in food cravings.
Another study in August had revealed that blood glucose levels peaked right before the onset of periods and dipped just before ovulation.
When insulin sensitivity is high, glucose is seamlessly transferred into the cells. In contrast, low insulin sensitivity, often known as insulin resistance, occurs when cells don’t respond optimally to the hormone, leading to a buildup of glucose in the bloodstream. Cravings for food increase when the blood glucose levels are highest.
The increase in blood glucose levels due to insulin resistance deprives cells of the energy they need to function. This can lead to prediabetes, a condition that may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
During the study, researchers assessed insulin sensitivity in women with natural, healthy menstrual cycles. They used a nasal spray to administer insulin and observed how the hypothalamus responded in both the days before ovulation (follicular phase) and the lead-up to the menstrual period (luteal phase).
It was found that in lean women, brain insulin action boosted…
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