If you’re a woman who’s older than 14 and younger than 50, there’s no getting around the fact that once a month you’re going to go through your menstruation period. There’s only one way to avoid it – and of course that’s to be pregnant. With that and the nature and responsibility of having a baby understood, more often than not you’re going to have a period in the coming month.
Most women don’t take any issue with the period itself, but rather what makes them dread that ‘time of the month’ is that it comes with PMS, or premenstrual syndrome for those (if any?) of you new to the term, and PMS always involves significant mental and physical distress. Some have suggested that it’s almost like that higher powers are punishing you for not being pregnant.
Shoot, what’s a girl to do? Have a baby every 9 months for 2+ decades? Seriously.
Of course that’s said in jest, but here’s the reality – PMS can not only make you extremely irritable, but it can also cause physical pain and discomfort. So much in so in fact that some women claim that they’re actually physically debilitated by it.
So today we’ll discuss dietary choices and supplements for minimizing physical symptoms of your period, including a special mention for a product called Estrosmart that we’ve discovered that is absolutely golden with the way it balances your hormones and regulates just how fierily your body reacts to PMS and the period itself.
Good Eats
- Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, and Artichokes
The key to all 3 of these vegetables is that they have a high water content, and the fiber in them reduces bloating and the discomfort that comes with it. Their high water content assists in speeding the biochemical processes along and it will also help lessen the facial puffiness that often comes with your period.
2) Bananas
Hard to imagine there’s anyone out there that doesn’t like bananas. They’re a tasty fruit to be sure, but turns out they’re also a smart choice for women in the days preceding the arrival of their period. That’s because bananas contain plenty of potassium and natural melatonin. Potassium promotes greater water retention in the body (see above) , and melatonin is the body’s natural chemical neurotransmitter that promotes better and more regular sleep, along with balancing your circadian rhythm.
The preferability of a well-rested and hydrated women during her period needs no explanation.
3) Wheat Berry, Quinoa, and – Popcorn!
These 3 are excellent for addressing one of the most prominent complaints women – and their family members (boyfriend / husband most particularly) have about their period – supreme irritability! It definitely comes with their territory, but incorporating wheat berry and quinoa into dishes and then snacking on popcorn (moderation, of course) loads you up with complex carbohydrates. And what do complex carbohydrates do? They boost serotonin levels in your brain, and serotonin is the ‘feel’ good hormone of the 4 major neurotransmitters in the brain. End result is you feel better overall, and less irritable.
4) Free-Range Eggs and Pumpkin Seeds
There are many more food and snack choices that could be included here, but in the interest of keeping it short and moving on to supplements we’re going to conclude by recommending free-range eggs and pumpkin seeds. Free range eggs contain optimum levels of choline, which aids in general brain health but also promotes greater relaxation and self-control. Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of magnesium, which is golden for reducing the severity and duration of the headaches that come with a period.
Good Supplements
- Magnesium Citrate
We listed this one first, because it’s easy for us to just go “^ see above.” Magnesium citrate is great for vanquishing headaches that trouble you will approaching or going through your period.
Keep in mind that some women are more inclined to be magnesium deficient, and if you have any such concerns it’s worth taking it to your family physician.
2) Vitex / Chasteberry
Chasteberry is a herb that’s been shown to relieve certain PMS symptoms, including negative mood, headache, breast fullness, and water retention. Chasteberry extract comes from the fruit of a tree, and has been used for thousands of years by women to ease menstrual problems. Finding a Vitex / Chasteberry formula supplement may be a challenge as it’s not commonly found in most stores, but you should be able to find it in any natural health and wellness store.
3) Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that’s found abundantly in nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils. Vitamin E supplements help ease menstrual cycle-related breast pain and abdominal cramps. That’s because Vitamin E decreases your body’s production of prostaglandins, which are the culprits that cause these unpleasant symptoms in the first place.
As promised above, we’ll gush a little more about Estrosmart and Estrosmart Plus, estrogen-balancing and optimizing formulations designed by renowned nutritionist, biochemist, and women’s health expert Dr. Lorna Vanderhaege. Each is wonderfully effective for maintaining a healthy hormone balance, eliminating hormonal acne, and reducing the severity of those heavy and debilitating periods.
It incorporates all of the vitamins and minerals highlighted above, plus many more, and it’s about as close to a easy 1-pill ‘magic bullet’ for lessening your PMS symptoms.