HEALTH

Your Bod

Is your period tricking you into thinking you are fat?

Tons of girls get tough-to-resist craving during their period (ugh). And who hasn't downed a double serving of Ben 'n' Jerry's or a bunch of brownies during those moments, only to feel even worse when the snack sesh is over (bloated, guilty and...yep, kinda like a chunky monkey).

The good news is, there might be an explanation for that “fat” feeling you get. As in, your mind may be tricking you. Seriously. A new study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders shows that the fluctuations in hormones while you have your period could lead to a feeling of guilt about your intake of food. We all kind of thought emotional eating and periods went hand-in-hand, and now research proved it. After a period-induced binge, our minds make us feel self-conscious and the big F word. Not cool.

Britny Hildebrandt, a co-author of the study, told The Huffington Post "You're consuming larger amounts of food, eating in a way that's not necessarily typical for you on a day-to-day basis or even meal-to-meal, which might be boosting this preoccupation with weight.”

OK, so not every girl overeats or feels bloated during every period (luckies). The study is just sayin' that it’s possible to feel this way based on how our minds and bodies are wired.

So don't fret. On the bright side, there are totally natch ways out there that can help ya nix a bad case of the "blahs". Next time you are about to get your period, try eating a banana, or maybe even some walnuts and beans. These foods have been known to help cure pesky cramps and eliminate that yucky bloating feeling that ultimately leaves you feeling five pounds heavier.