Sugar cravings hitting harder than they used to? In perimenopause, falling estrogen lowers serotonin and raises ghrelin — your hunger hormone — while blood sugar swings and poor sleep pile on top. This isn't a willpower problem; it's measurable hormonal chemistry, backed by real studies from Maturitas, Biological Psychiatry, and the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Cathy breaks down exactly why the 3pm craving hits, when it might be more than a craving, and what protei