When PMS hits in Week 4 of your cycle, do you get hit with intense cravings for a big bag of chocolate M&Ms, a heaping bowl of salt and vinegar potato chips, or a combination of salty and chocolate snacks? New research reveals the reason: Two seperate studies—one from the University of Iowa, the other from the University of California, San Diego—show that chocolate and salt (eaten alone or together) activate pleasure mechanisms in the brain that chase away depression, a common problem women face during their premenstrual week as estrogen and testosterone plunge.
Trying to watch your waistline? Research shows that exercising, shopping, doing your favorite hobbies and spending time with uplifting friends also boost mood-lifting brain chemicals and distract you when cravings hit so you’re less likely to indulge.
It’s not in your head! A recent study out of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland shows that 25% of women with irritable bowel syndrome (characterized by stomach pain, constipation, bloating and diarrhea), 18% with fibromylgia (characterized by pain and tenderness throughout the body) and 9% with interstitial cystitis (a painful bladder condition) report that their conditions worsen just before or during menstruation. This adds to the the growing body of research that shows other ongoing health conditions, including migraines, also worsen during these days. What’s more, 15% of women in the study reported increased discomfort at menopause. The common link? Low estrogen. Right before your period, estrogen plunges and, while it begins to rise after menstruation, during the first few days it’s still at a relatively low level. During menopause, estrogen also dips significantly. That’s key since “estrogen is a pain preventative,” says lead study author Thomas Chelimsky, M.D. And while going on an estrogen-containing birth control pill appears to help some women, Dr. Chelimsky cautions against getting a prescription for this reason. Instead, he advises doing regular exercise, which has been shown to safely reduce symptoms of many chronic illnesses.
As estrogen plunges during Week 4 of your cycle, you may notice that your skin gets drier. Coupled with cold winter air, you could end up with itchy, flaky, chapped skin that hurts or cracks easily. To get relief, it’s not only important to use moisturizer regularly, but to use the lotion that’s right for your skin type. Mayo Clinic skin experts say that if your skin is normally… 
