While most women are happy to get their period cramps, they often suffer the consequences of it too. With all the pain and discomfort that comes with having your period, it’s no wonder why women resort to taking pain relievers like Advil and Tylenol to make their cramps go away faster or even use heating pads to make them feel better.
However, there are ways you can reduce the pain caused by your period without having to take any medicines, thanks to your diet. Make sure you follow these three diet tips that may help reduce your period cramps and stomach pain.
Period cramps can occur for a variety of reasons, including “There is a common component that connects fibroids and endometriosis. High estrogen levels had been found in both cases. Basically, progesterone deficiency or excess estrogen production, or perhaps both, can result in hormonal imbalance. For healthy female menstruation, these 2 must be in harmony with one another.”
1) Go Vegan
A vegan diet is one that excludes all animal products, including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, and honey. This type of diet has been shown to have numerous health benefits, including reducing inflammation. Some studies have even shown that a vegan diet can help reduce period cramps and stomach pain.
If you’re interested in trying a vegan diet, there are plenty of resources available to help you get started. The Vegetarian Resource Group offers recipes, meal plans, tips for cooking vegetarian foods at home or while traveling, and information about the nutritional aspects of plant-based diets. You can also search for vegan on Pinterest for more ideas!
For those who don’t want to commit to veganism, a vegetarian diet can also reduce period cramps and stomach pain.
Studies have shown that vegetarians typically have lower body mass indexes (BMIs) than meat eaters, which is another factor in reducing pain caused by menstrual periods. Vegetarian foods like beans, nuts, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, soy products, and pasta are packed with nutrients that are crucial for women’s health.
It’s also possible to follow a healthy vegetarian diet while traveling or while dining out at restaurants; check out The Vegetarian Resource Group website for tips on how to do so!
If you’re looking for easy ways to incorporate more vegetarian foods into your diet check out their Pinterest page or website for plenty of ideas!
2) Eat Magnesium
Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxer, so it can help to ease cramping. It’s also thought to help with bloating and water retention. You can find magnesium in leafy green vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
Aim for around 200-400 mg per day. If you have kidney problems or another medical condition that makes taking supplements unsafe, talk to your doctor about getting the same amount of magnesium from food sources.
Take Omega 3s: Omega 3s are essential fatty acids that are critical for heart health and circulation. They’re also anti-inflammatory which helps reduce pain!
You can get omega 3s from oily fish like salmon, but if you don’t eat fish or if you want more variety in your diet – plant sources like walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseed oil, soybeans and tofu all contain omega 3s too! Talk to your doctor before adding any new supplements or foods into your diet.
3) Avoid Artificial Sweeteners
Many people turn to artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose to avoid sugar. However, these substitutes may actually do more harm than good. A recent study found that aspartame can increase the risk of endometriosis, a condition that can cause painful cramps.
So, if you’re looking to reduce your period pain, it’s best to avoid artificial sweeteners altogether. To avoid other unhealthy ingredients in foods and drinks, check the label for high-fructose corn syrup, which is often added to processed foods for flavor. Limit Sodium:
Too much salt will not only make you bloated, but it can also lead to water retention that causes fluid build up in your abdomen (which leads to stomach pain).
For a healthy diet filled with fruits and vegetables – which are naturally low in sodium – consult this list of low-sodium produce by Lifehacker. Drink More Water: Drinking enough water is important for overall health, but particularly when you have periods because blood flow increases during menstruation, which means that there is increased need for fluids. Even mild dehydration will lead to headache or dizziness when on your period.
(This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. Sarefit does not claim responsibility for this information.)
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