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Premenstrual Disorders
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choices and bingeing. Because so many PMS sufferers craved car-
bohydrates during the last part of their luteal phase, Dr. Wurtman
studied nineteen PMS sufferers who lived with her at her labs for
forty-eight hours before and after the onset of their periods. She
measured their food intake and monitored the types of food each
woman ate.
Dr. Wurtman found that before their periods the women chose
carbohydrates more often than they did after their periods began.
She also tested the effect of carbohydrates on mood by giving pre-
menstrual women a bowl of cornflakes with nondairy creamer. The
women who were melancholy and tired became more alert and
happier.
With this knowledge and the studies she had already performed,
Dr. Wurtman began to study the influence of food on serotonin lev-
Spaghetti and other pasta are a good source of carbohydrates.