Food Cravings: A Natural Mood Moderator, Says Pharmacist, Marla Ahlgrimm

Women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm explains why women crave certain foods during the menstrual cycle. 

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, while some women keep track of their menstrual cycles with cramps, bloating, and fatigue, others simply look at their plates. Many women, explains Ahlgrimm, crave certain foods during and just after ovulation. It is not uncommon for women to have specific cravings that often include chocolate or salty carbohydrates.

Over the course of her professional experience, Marla Ahlgrimm has noted a woman’s craving for chocolate may actually be linked more to her body’s need for magnesium than an actual weakness for sweets. Since chocolate is a perfect combination of sugar and fat, it may be the ideal food for boosting endorphin levels which typically surge in the days before ovulation. A craving for salty carbohydrates, like chocolate, may also be the body trying to replenish certain types of fats and/or energy expended during the menstrual cycle.

Phytoestrogens Linked to Decreased Cholesterol Levels in Women, Says Pharmacist, Marla Ahlgrimm

A cardiologist at LA’s Cedars Sinai recently completed a study that observed a correlation between high phytoestrogen levels and a decreased amount of total cholesterol. Marla Ahlgrimm explains.

Nationwide, women are struggling with high levels of cholesterol, according to pharmacist Marla Ahlgrimm. With that in mind, researchers at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles have looked for a non-medical way to prevent an overabundance of bad cholesterol. In an observational study – meaning the subjects were simply observed and not asked to change their routine – Dr. C. Noel Bairey Merz found that those who ate ample amounts of foods containing phytoestrogens had lower levels of LDL.