It can be all too easy to dive straight into a tub of Sara Lee when Aunt Flow comes to town.
And it’s not really our fault! Our happy hormones (serotonin) actually drop right before our periods start. Combine that with a heightened metabolism and some oh-so-pleasant period symptoms, it’s no wonder we turn to comfort food.
But… what if we told you some foods can make your time of the month more bearable? From beating cravings to fighting cramps, these five foods help with all sorts of period symptoms. (Yes, one of the foods is chocolate.)
Note: Food is not a replacement for medicine. If you experience unusual or painful symptoms with your menstrual cycle, please visit your doctor.
If you have cramps… try turmeric.
Do period cramps have you lying in bed with a heat pack every month? Try eating a variety of anti-inflammatory compounds – found in berries, extra virgin olive oil and even red wine – to ease the pain.
Turmeric is a particularly powerful anti-inflammatory. This comforting Chai Golden Milk will soothe you from the inside out.
If you have a heavy period… try red meat.
A heavy flow can be really draining, especially if you become deficient in red blood cells (anameia). One way to prevent anaemia is to make sure you get enough iron in your diet.
Red meat is a great source of heme iron, which is easier to absorb than vegetarian non-heme iron (see a list of vegetarian iron sources here). You can also increase your absorption of both iron types by eating vitamin C-rich foods, like green veggies.
Slow Cooked Italian Beef Brisket
If you have bloating… try asparagus.
Bloating is just one part of the weird digestive stuff that goes on during our periods. Water retention is common during menstruation (and surely can’t be helped by our cravings for salty, greasy foods during that time!).
To battle the bloat, cut down on salty foods and eat some asparagus. Asparagus is a diuretic food, meaning it can help flush out excess water (just make sure you stay hydrated as well).
If you have cravings… try cheese.
We often crave fatty foods on our periods… so we say embrace it! Instead, swap the fried chicken buckets and takeaway pizza for healthy fat foods, like cheese, yoghurt, eggs and avocado.
And the really great part? Fats are very satiating, which means you’ll stay fuller for longer and your sugar cravings will lessen, too.
If you have bad PMS… try dark chocolate.
As we mentioned before, our serotonin levels can dip before our period starts (aren’t we lucky?). Thankfully, chocolate has been shown to increase serotonin levels! Just make sure you eat good quality chocolate that is 85 per cent cacao or higher.
Chocolate is also a really rich source of magnesium, which can reduce cramps – double whammy!
Do you have any good remedies when you’re on your period?
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