Hello hello everyone!

We are coming at you live with a Monday edition of Grow with Flora. It has been a busy week of traveling and recovering from the holidays for us, but we are excited to be back!

This week is going to be an exciting one as we have a surprise giveaway this upcoming Friday on our Instagram! If you are reading this, you are eligible for an extra bonus as a thank you for your support. When our post goes live if you comment a 🌷, your comment will count for double the entries. Follow us there if you haven’t already and be ready to enter!

Another exciting announcement is that our newsletter for dads is also dropping this week! We are absolutely PUMPED to get this up and running as this was our original plan for Flora. If you are a dad or have a dad that wants to learn more, they can follow our other account @floradads on Instagram! We’ll be posting content here this week leading up to their version of this newsletter.

That’s all the updates we have for now! We’ve got fun stuff brewing and we can’t wait to share. Now onto some *hopefully* relatable content😊

Myth or Magic: The Common Chocolate Craving

If you have watched any rom-com ever made you’ve probably seen a familiar scene of a girl sitting on her couch in sweatpants, crying and eating chocolate. She’s probably screaming at Ryan Gosling being swoon worthy in The Notebook and saying that “love isn’t real”.

It’s a tale as old as time, a girl and her chocolate. But a girl and her chocolate while she’s on her period? No rom-com has cracked that kind of love story yet.

I thought this was so stupid when I was a teenager. There was no way people craved chocolate that much, especially while on their period. It seemed like something made up by Mr. Hershey to boost sales.

I was shocked to learn that not only is this craving valid to many women, but there are actually benefits to eating chocolate while you are on your period!

🍫 Nutrient benefits: Dark Chocolate specifically contains higher amounts of Iron and Magnesium.

• It may come as no surprise, but as we lose blood during our period, we also lose iron. If you’re feeling extra tired and groggy, this could be why—chocolate can be one way to help replenish it!

• Magnesium offers several benefits for our bodies. For one, it helps reduce muscle pain, which in turn can alleviate cramps. While it might not completely eliminate the pain, if you’re looking for a sweet treat to pair with your Midol, a square of dark chocolate might be your best friend.

🍫Mood Booster: Yes this is real!!

• Good news everyone, chocolate can actually make us feel better emotionally! Chocolate can increase the release of endorphins, the "feel-good" chemicals in the brain. It also contains small amounts of phenylethylamine (PEA), which can enhance mood. 💃

🍫Caffeine and Theobromine:

• Chocolate naturally contains small amount of caffeine. While it isn’t enough to replace a cup of coffee, it can help you focus throughout the day and give you a mild energy boost if you’re feeling drowsy.

🍫Craving Satisfaction:

• Last but not least, chocolate helps satisfy cravings. Many of us crave sweets during our periods due to hormonal changes. A chocolate bar can not only settle these cravings but also prevent us from overindulging in other sweets that don’t provide any benefits. Too much sugar can spike blood sugar levels, leading to a crash that makes you feel tired, irritable, and possibly anxious.

While we may not be doctors, we do feel qualified to prescribe you one amazing rom-com (Legally Blonde is a personal favorite), a delicious dark chocolate bar, and your coziest blanket. Remember: while periods may suck sometimes, you’re not alone—we and millions of others understand how you feel and have your back!

And if you’re a dad, brother, boyfriend, or supporter, go buy a girl a sweet treat. 🍭

Now, enjoy your chocolate, follow us on Instagram, keep an eye out for our giveaway, and crush it this week! 🫶🫶

xx,

Your Flora friends