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Period drama

Every month is the same story: a week of stomach cramps, backache, bad moods and bloating. 8 out of 10 women experience some of these symptoms when they get their period. Knowing it's coming doesn't make it easier to handle. But simple changes to your diet can ease the pain

PMS, or Premenstrual Syndrome, describes a range of physical and mental problems that affect women before and during their menstrual cycle. The list above is only the start: some women also suffer from water retention, mood swings, cravings, irritability, depression, anxiety, acne, constipation, diarrhoea and tender breasts.

No one really knows why we suffer from PMS and there’s no proven way to cure it, but a number of tried-and-tested methods do seem to help. Millions of women, for example, have found they can manage their PMS better by adapting their diet. It’s believed this is helpful because food affects levels of oestrogen – the hormone linked with menstruation. Exercise will also help alleviate painful cramps and boost your mood because it gets endorphins whizzing round your body and these make you feel happier. Here are some things to focus on in your diet:

1. Carbohydrates Have you ever noticed how you crave certain foods in the run up to and during your period? Chances are, you’ll crave carbs like bread, pasta, potatoes or sweets. Extensive tests have shown that carbohydrates help reduce many PMS symptoms, especially mood swings.

   Doctors believe that carbs help PMS because they raise blood sugar levels. This is beneficial because when blood sugar levels drop, the body releases adrenalin, which stops the efficiency of progesterone – the hormones that help relieve symptoms of PMS. By eating carbs every three hours throughout the day some women are able to control some of the unpleasant effects of PMS.

2. Vitamin B6 It’s thought that mood swings during PMS are caused by the reduced production of the body’s natural feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine. Although scientific trials don’t support this theory, it’s widely believed that taking the ‘women’s’ vitamin, B6 – which is involved in the production of serotonin and dopamine – can help kick start the process again.

   You can get your B6 fix naturally by eating meat, fish, eggs, whole cereals, brussel sprouts, peas and potatoes or in capsule form at your local chemist. Although vitamin B6 deficiency is rare in humans, taking too much of it through high dose supplements can, in rare cases, result in nerve damage. Speak to your doctor before taking Vitamin B6.




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