Ugh!! Is one word to describe PMS. As if it’s not bad enough to have a menstrual flow every month, you have to have the emotional and physical symptoms that go with it, which includes headaches, irritation, backaches, bloating, anxiety, mood swings, depression, weight gain, sugar cravings, acne, breast tenderness, and the list seemingly goes on and on. These changes are due to hormonal changes that create an imbalance in a woman’s body. Men are so lucky. However, there are a number of natural remedies you can do to help fight PMS. One is to change your diet and the other is to take vitamins and herbs.
We have all heard to cut back on sugar to help PMS. During the menstrual cycle, the body craves sugar to increase the energy level that has plummeted because of the menstrual period. However, eating more sugar causes a vicious cycle to occur. The more sugar you eat the more your blood sugar level goes down, instead of a boost in energy your energy gets zapped. The plunge in blood sugar levels and lack of energy is what causes the fatigue, confusion, and emotional mood swings. To fight off the sugar cravings during PMS, here are a few dietary changes you can include.
Salty foods can help fight off a sugar craving. Try eating a bowl of miso soup or put a ¼ teaspoon of sea salt in a cup of warm water and drink it. This will stop your sugar cravings instantly. However, don’t take too much salt if you have health problems like high blood pressure or some other illness that can be caused by eating too much salt. Pickled or bitter foods can also fight off sugar cravings during PMS. One of the best foods to eat is a Japanese plum, which are plums that have been pickled with sea salt. You can also try dandelion root tea, which has a bitter taste.
Ginger tea is a great stimulate and can take the place of chocolate. Ginger also helps overcome the overwhelming fatigue, irritability, and anxiety of PMS. Eating smaller meals instead of larger ones can also help to balance the blood sugar levels and reduce the sugar cravings. Eat more carbohydrates, protein, and fiber, but avoid dairy products. For some women, including myself, dairy products can make cramps worse. You should also avoid foods that contain aspartame, which makes symptoms worse. Another thing you can do is to get enough sun or light, which can put you in a better mood.
All women who have PMS should be taking enough supplements or an effective dosage of multivitamins. Take 600 mgs of calcium, 600 mgs of magnesium, and 50 mgs of the B vitamins. Excess estrogen can cause PMS, especially bloating, so to help get rid of excess estrogen, take daily doses of vitamin B6. You can take between 50 to 300 mgs of vitamin B6 to help reduce the more infamous PMS symptoms like fatigue, bloating, irritability, mood swings, and sugar cravings.
To enhance your mood, take 1,200 mgs of calcium and to reduce cravings, take 400 to 600 iu’s of vitamin E a day. There are a number of natural treatments to help fight PMS symptoms. For bloating, take 50 mgs once or twice a day of Pycnogenol. You can also take dandelion leaf by following the directions on the label. For headaches, take 1,000-2,000 mg a day of a bioflavonoid supplement or sage. Follow the directions on the label for the correct sage dosage. For breast tenderness, take 2,000-3,000 mgs a day of evening primrose oil. To get relief from depression or irritability, take St. John’s wort.
