Hrt and food cravings?

[Guest audrey michelle]

Hello everyone, just had a quick question. Does hrt cause cravings for specific foods? I've been on hormones since October and haven't really noticed it a whole lot but recently more than before I've had specific cravings for food that I never cared for that much. More specifically spicy foods. The last couple of days things like banana peppers and things with hot sauce have just seemed amazing lol. I was wondering also if anyone else has experienced this and what types of foods?

[Charlize]

I am not sure if HRT has changed in what i eat or desire. I have always loved hot foods and have found that the more i eat them the more i love them. As a vegetarian they provide so much interest to my foods.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Guest]

Sounds familiar, Michelle.

For me it was, and continues to be, pickled things. Mostly pickles, but anything pickled would be good.

Huggs,

Joann

[Guest]

There's anecdotal evidence suggesting taste is affected - and since cis women get cravings based on their hormone fluctuation it's entirely possible you will on HRT.

Personally I haven't noticed any cravings but I have noticed that fruits and veggies taste much better than they ever did before. This may or may not be due to HRT though as I've been purposefully reducing my sugar intake to changes palate.

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

I had some chocolate recently that almost made my knees buckle. That's been my only craving, but it comes and goes.

[Cyndee]

I really crave salty foods at times, it never used to be like that.

Fortunately my sodium numbers came back in the lower normal range.

I have real weaknesses for popcorn and chocolate, OMG.

C -

[JJ]

Going the opposite direction I notice that though I always preferred protein rich foods -especially meat-it has become a craving on T. I also find I like jalapenos and hot foods which I disliked before. It surprised me. There was a science program the other day where they mentioned that studies have revealed the reason men like hotter foods is that they actually stimulate T production to a degree. Not applicable to me to I suspect my brain doesn't realize that.

I was hoping T would cure my love of dark chocolate but no such luck. The biggest change is the meat and protein craving really.

And I am hungry a lot. I think perhaps the hormones make our bodies think we are going through puberty again and for FTMs it means meat and foods for growth while for MTFs it means cravings to add that extra layer of fat women have after puberty. Teens have a justified reputation for their appetites and I think that it's the same mechanism driving it with us.

hopefully it eventually eases off. I'm still waiting..

Johnny

[Guest Kate]

Food cravings are actually a highly evolved survival response. We crave foods that contain nutrients our bodies need, which is why pregnant women sometimes crave bizarre foods or food combinations. The cravings for salty and pickled foods that have been mentioned are very common on spironolactone because it causes electrolyte imbalance through elevation of potassium and reduction in sodium. Cravings are normal and important just be careful, you should try to satisfy cravings but typically a small amount of the food you are craving is all that is required to get your body what it needs. Also, cravings for fruit can easily be mistaken for sugar cravings except that they just keep getting stronger when eating sweets because you aren't actually getting the nutrients your body is craving.

Happy eating,

Kate

[Guest audrey michelle]

Thanks for the replies so far. It's been interesting to see the experience others have had. Luckily for me I was able to satisfy my cravin for banana peppers and pickles in the form of a half turkey sub loaded up with them lol. Fortunately they aren't really fattening since I am on a diet and I can eat them without feeling really guilty about it. Chocolate sounds amazing too right now but trying to avoid sweets because I want to lose weights and in the past I used to be a chocolate fiend lol.

[StephanieVikingGirl]

Pickled anything, olives, garlic, salads, and of course dark chocolate. Yep, I have plenty of cravings on HRT. Oh well, at least it for healthful food, and thanks for the more technical reasons for these cravings.

hugs,

Stephanie

[Guest Ripley]

Sweets. I rarely had much of a sweet tooth before aside from chocolate, but for a period following my injections I tend to have heightened cravings for cakes, pies, ice cream, candy.... o.O Possibly because my body's trying to put on weight right now. I've always been super skinny and couldn't put on weight if I wanted too but I've gained like 10 lbs since the orchi and HRT. Mostly in the right spots, thankfully I think I'll have to watch what I eat now though, lest I gain more than I'd like!

[Guest alissa16]

Have always liked spicy flavorable foods but have noticed that Iam starting to lean more towards what I've

noticed women have been enjoying.."well prepared over vs mass quantities and meat n potatoes.

Also have developed an addiction for nuts, raisins, and m&M's trail mix..kit Kat's also.

[Guest allygator]

im new to this Trans-M2F, thing, i started taking the injections and blocker Nov 2014, so far its been a "WONDERFUL ROAD" & i must say i do feel so much better about my self and how i can now express my self & the feeling is just..... amazing. i never felt so free. sucks though that i am Asexual so.... ya n_n

but to answer this question based off what i been going through and sooo glad i found this post, i was thinking the same thing im i alone in this?

past few weeks/1 month i felt more & more wanting to eat spicy foods, anything with SPICY IN IT, any thing. n_n

i have always been a fast food type and never eat at home just junk food but never a over 209 weight. always skinny not sure why any ways, one day i got on HRT & stop eatting fastfood and chips and slim jims and well junk. i know eat at home, cook on stove, and hardly eat processed food more home cooking then anything, when i go out to eat social i get water and hardly ever drink soda now. im in fact a changed person and people notice!

but yes been craving spicy foods a lot!

[Guest audrey michelle]

Franks red hot hot sauce is my new best friend ?

[Paula ult]

I craved dill pickles and would buy large jars to satisfy my salt craving. Spiro is a diuretic which usually makes you pee allot, you lose allot of sodium and your body craves salty foods to replenish the sodium you lost,

Paula

[Guest allygator]

yes i have been drinking pickle juice a lot .... not big fan of eatting it but had a few but more into the juice this is a good find that we all crave pickles and spicy food from the look of it well i salty food from the looks of it, i cant help but wanna eat lots of salty foods.

went to Chilies the other day & poored lots of salt on there chips..... felt strange for doing it bit tasted soooo good and then poored a lot of salt into some rice i was making......

yes i love franks red hot O.M.G..... deep fried burritos with a side of it .... yum lunch time

[Guest allygator]

I craved dill pickles and would buy large jars to satisfy my salt craving. Spiro is a diuretic which usually makes you pee allot, you lose allot of sodium and your body craves salty foods to replenish the sodium you lost,

Paula

is this for real is that why i cant stop eatting salty foods.... i took the lid of the pickle jar & drank half the juice OMG..... i need to ask my dr., about this and if i should worry OMG n_n//////

[StephanieVikingGirl]

I am eating a bowl of green olives with pimentos, deli sliced peperoncinis, and tamed jalapeno slices. Oh well, cravings.

Stephanie

[Guest allygator]

umm is it me or.... is everyone else craving candy all the time..... mostly sour candy but ya candy..... i cant seem to get enough candy i have to visit the Sweet Factory at the mall & stock up.... its really strange givin the fact i have never ever been a candy fan and now sadly i getting cavities

[Guest dani83]

Hello everyone, just had a quick question. Does hrt cause cravings for specific foods? I've been on hormones since October and haven't really noticed it a whole lot but recently more than before I've had specific cravings for food that I never cared for that much. More specifically spicy foods. The last couple of days things like banana peppers and things with hot sauce have just seemed amazing lol. I was wondering also if anyone else has experienced this and what types of foods?

Yes, I have the same cravings. Spicy food, salty food and sour food... sometimes i just eat a bow of salad with vinegar and pepper to kill this craving... lol... Before HRT I was all about sweet stuff, but now I'm not so fond of it anymore. I would guess that spiro has a major part on it, because the desire for salt is probably related to its diuretic effects. But I can't explain the spicy and sour desires...

[Guest Deenah]

I crave everything, but I'm on the depo shot.. I seem to eat anything, but franks hot sauce is my new friend.. omg why. Lol

[Aria20]

For me, I just started craving chocolate a lot. That nutella. Overall I just had a huge appetite and I ate frequently. Like every two hours. All friends caught notice, it became soo obvious. But its okay, they're nice guys

[Guest Cyndysub]

I saw Cowspiracy on netflix and I no longer eat any meat. My body feels better for it. I bought some fake meat products that really satisfy. I was always a big meat eater and after transgendering I liked meat less and less and never thought that I would quit eating meat. Paula is right about spiro because after my last blood workup I got a call from my endo saying that my sodium levels were low. I thought Oh my goodness I love salt and thought that I was using too much of it.

I usually Late to these comments,

Cyndy