If you start craving chocolate intensely a few days before your period up to Day 2 of your period, you’re not alone. So do about 50% of other women. Interestingly, the other 50% still crave chocolate; they just don’t do it at the time of their period, according to one expert.

What is it about chocolate and why do you crave chocolate on your period? Let’s explore some out-of-the-box ideas.

1. It’s a matter of fungus.

If you ask David Asprey, founder of the Bulletproof.com website, chocolate – and coffee both are loaded with fungi. He had various brands tested and discovered that the fungi count is a big problem if you have been exposed to mold in the home in the past or present, or have Candida overgrowth.

The high levels of fungi are allowed in the chocolate and in the coffee and are not monitored by any regulatory agencies. The problem is that these high levels of fungi can make you ‘goofy’, give you symptoms ranging from depression, irritability, and oversensitivity to PMS rage. It’s not you, but the fungi that are responding to the changes in your body during this time of the month.

What’s the solution? It’s to get a type of chocolate and coffee that have a very low count of fungi. So far, the only place I know of to get these products is at Bulletproof.com However, I noticed a HUGE difference in irritability after I switched, and you may, too.

2. It’s a deficiency of magnesium.

For some time now, experts have discussed a connection between low levels of magnesium and craving of chocolate. Chocolate contains some magnesium, and apparently it’s enough to calm the body down during one’s period. A simpler solution; however, is to take a 300-400 mg capsule or tablet of magnesium every day since there are no added calories in the capsule of magnesium.

3. It reflects an overall nutritional status that is poor.

All cravings are eliminated when a person gets a lot more nutrients into their body. Thus it makes sense that craving chocolate before the period or craving chocolate during the period, as well as craving sweets on your period can be alleviated when you load up on the nutrients.

In the best of worlds and most ideal world, you’d see a clinical nutritionist who can figure out exactly what you need and in what amounts. But not everyone can do that. After all, you have a lot of bills to pay and may be overextended in your budget. However, at one time or another, making room for this in your budget will help you greatly.

Ways you can increase your overall nutrient intake include the following:

• eating a 3-4 oz serving of liver three times a week

• doubling up on your vitamin mineral tablets or your Period Vitamin for a week (This is a secret that some nutritionists use in their practice.)

• going on a juice fast but keeping protein in your diet at the same time

• adding fruit and vegetable capsules to your diet to total an addition of 17 servings daily

For many years, I saw this principle about increasing one’s overall nutrient intake work well to stop all cravings – including for chocolate – within 3 days.

Thus, if you’re looking for 5 ways to stop craving sweets or how to control craving during your period, consider these four as possible solutions and choose one of the other solutions.