You know that week before your period when you suddenly want to eat everything in sight?

The chocolate. The chips. The baked goods.

You feel hungrier, moodier, and maybe even a little “out of control.”

First things first: you are not broken.

You’re not weak, undisciplined, or “bad” at eating healthy.

You’re simply in your luteal phase—the second half of your cycle when your hormones shift dramatically. And those cravings? They’re actually messages from your body. Today, we’re going to decode them and learn how to respond with nourishment, not judgment.

“You need to eat more red meat.”
That was my mom’s go-to advice whenever I felt tired, moody, or just off during my period.

And years ago? I was feeling off a lot. Exhausted, foggy, short of breath after climbing the stairs, hair thinning, and just not myself. I blamed it on the usual suspects—being a busy working mom, hormones, not sleeping enough.

But when I finally had my labs done, the results were clear: I was borderline anemic. My iron was low—and it was impacting everything.