Do you suffer from cramps all the time? Have you wondered whether they can be prevented or reduced?
Fortunately, the answer is yes! One way is to watch what you eat in the days leading up to your period and while you're menstruating. You may notice a significant difference not only in your symptoms, but also in the smell, type and amount of your menstrual flow.
It's a good idea to eat fresh foods rich in vitamins and minerals. It's also important to avoid fried and processed foods, as they can cause fluid retention, which leads to bloating and cramps.
Without further ado, here are some foods to eat during your period:
Vegetables
Green vegetables in particular are rich in calcium, magnesium and potassium, which help prevent the spasms that cause cramps. We tend to feel a little more sensitive and irritable during our periods, and these minerals can help ease these 2 common symptoms.
Tea
Most of us know that warm foods can help us feel better when we're suffering from cramps. Ginger tea is known for its many benefits and can also be helpful during your period: it may relieve nausea and ease tension. Another recommended option is chamomile tea, which has properties that soothe muscle spasms and reduce tension that can lead to anxiety and irritability.
Pineapple
Pineapple is rich in nutrients such as manganese, which may help reduce menstrual pain. It also contains high levels of bromelain, an enzyme said to help relax the muscles and therefore prevent menstrual cramps.
Foods to avoid during your period:
Caffeine
Avoid caffeine and say goodbye to those delicious chocolates, soft drinks and coffee.
Caffeine causes blood vessels to narrow and dehydrates the body, which can lead to unpleasant headaches and may make you feel more nervous. We all know that's the last thing we need during those days.
Processed and fried foods
If you want to prevent bloating, especially around your abdomen, I recommend reducing your sodium intake, as it causes fluid retention, as I mentioned earlier.
Ideally, avoid canned and processed foods such as cold cuts, cheese products, sauces, delicious potato chips—especially spicy ones—soy sauce and any packaged food high in sodium.
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Sugar
How can it be that all the delicious foods are off-limits during our periods?
Refined sugars can raise and disrupt blood sugar levels, leaving us sluggish and a little irritable.
I recommend cutting back a little on those delicious cakes, sweets, sugary breakfast cereals and white flour, which your body quickly converts into sugar.
It seems that all those delicious foods have been causing both physical and emotional symptoms. If someone asks you next time why you're in a bad mood, tell them it's not your period—it's the food you're eating. If you're invited to eat cake or fried snacks, or go to the cinema for popcorn and chocolate, and you can't resist, warn them about all these effects.
Personally, when those days are approaching, I crave things (almost everything), especially Cheetos Flamin' Hot, as if there were no tomorrow. Almost all those foods make me feel bloated, so I feel fat, get depressed, and everything seems wrong; everything annoys me.
Who would have thought that food could have such an effect on our periods? So, be mindful of what you eat. It's fine to indulge now and then, but, as with everything, moderation is key.
