Honoring Your Moon Cycle: Period Cravings + A Recipe for Nourishment

Embrace your moon cycle cravings!

Cravings during your period—whether for chocolate, salty snacks, carbs, or meat—are more than just random urges. They’re your body’s way of asking for nourishment, balance, and support. In Ayurveda, these cravings are deeply connected to the energetic and physical shifts happening in your body during this time. Your menstrual cycle, much like the moon cycle, is a period of transformation, offering guidance on what your body needs to restore balance and vitality.

Ayurvedic Insights Into Period Cravings

1. Chocolate Cravings

   
   

   - Magnesium deficiency is a common culprit behind chocolate cravings, as your body needs extra magnesium to relax muscles, calm the nervous system, and balance mood during menstruation.

   
   

   - In Ayurveda, raw cacao is grounding and slightly bitter, helping to pacify vata and provide a boost to ojas (vitality).

   
   

2. Salty Snacks

   
   

   - Salty cravings often signal electrolyte imbalances or a need for grounding energy. In Ayurveda, excess vata benefits from salty, grounding, and moist foods.

   
   

   - Mindful options: Himalayan pink salt in warm water, roasted pumpkin seeds, or lightly salted vegetable broths.

   
   

3. Carbs and Comfort Foods

   
   

   - Cravings for bread, pasta, or sugary treats often stem from low serotonin levels, as carbohydrates help boost this “feel-good” neurotransmitter. Ayurveda recognizes this as a need to balance kapha, which offers stability and comfort.

   
   

   - Mindful options: Sweet potatoes, ghee-roasted vegetables, or khichdi (a nourishing rice and mung dal dish).

   
   

4. Meat or Protein

   
   

   - Cravings for meat often arise from blood and iron loss during menstruation. Ayurveda sees this as your body asking for grounding, nourishing foods to replenish vital energy and balance apana vata.

   
   

   - Mindful options: Bone broth, lentil soup, or well-spiced stews.

How Ayurveda Balances Cravings

Cravings are natural—they’re signals, not slip-ups. Ayurveda encourages responding to them mindfully with foods that align with your constitution and current imbalances.

Here’s how:

• Vata Imbalances (irregular periods, anxiety, bloating): Favor warm, grounding, and oily foods like soups, stews, and root vegetables.

  
  

• Pitta Imbalances (heavy flow, irritability, acne): Opt for cooling and hydrating foods like cucumber, coconut water, and aloe vera juice.

  
  

• Kapha Imbalances (sluggishness, water retention, cravings for sweets): Focus on warming and stimulating foods like ginger tea, lightly spiced grains, and roasted vegetables.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Energy Bars with Cacao

Time:

15 minutes prep

20–25 minutes bake time

These bars satisfy sweet cravings while providing sustained energy and nourishment during your cycle.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked and mashed sweet potato

• 1/4 cup almond butter

• 2 tbsp raw cacao powder (rich in magnesium and antioxidants)

• 2 tbsp honey or jaggery (optional for kapha types: reduce or skip sweetener)

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon (balances vata and kapha)

• 1/4 tsp nutmeg (calms vata and aids sleep)

• 1/4 cup rolled oats (optional: use almond flour for gluten-free)

• 2 tbsp chia seeds (for omega-3s and hydration)

• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or almonds

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking dish with parchment paper.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients until well mixed. Adjust sweetness or texture as needed.

3. Spread the mixture evenly into the baking dish and bake for 20–25 minutes or until firm.

4. Let cool, slice into bars, and enjoy as a nourishing snack during your cycle.

Ayurveda’s Gentle Reminder

Cravings are a natural part of the body’s cycle and an opportunity to learn more about what you need to feel your best. Ayurveda reminds us that the path to balance is circular, not linear—there’s room for mistakes, growth, and revisiting lessons as you go.

By listening to your body and aligning your choices with your constitution, you can navigate cravings in a way that builds vitality, confidence, and long-term wellness. Small steps lead to big transformations, and I’m here to guide you every step of the way.

At Inspire Jewel Wellness, I honor the unique needs of your body and mind. I offer personalized Ayurvedic consultations and holistic guidance to help you find balance, vitality, and lasting transformation. Whether you’re navigating your moon cycle, seeking digestive balance, or exploring ways to enhance your overall wellness, I’m here to support you every step of the way. Let’s align with your highest purpose and discover your path to wellness together.