What Can U Not Eat on Your Period
12 foods to avoid when you have period cramps
It's that time of the month — your uterus feels like it's waging a ruthless war on your body causing cramps that make you want to lay in bed and do nothing by sob. But, in addition to applying heat, drinking peppermint tea, and taking Midol, you can help ease cramp pain by avoiding certain types of food. No, seriously.
" Research suggests t hat women who suffer from PMS symptoms, including cramps, are likely to have elevated inflammation markers," licensed nutritionist Monica Reinagel told INSIDER. " Although this needs to be studied further, it's possible that following an anti-inflammatory diet could help reduce those symptoms. In a nutshell, follow a Mediterranean style diet pattern."
With that advice in mind, here are the main foods you should avoid if you're suffering from period cramps:
1. No added sugar.
As tasty and delicious as high-sugar foods are, the unfortunate truth is giving into sugar-filled cravings on your period can disrupt your body's natural blood sugar levels , according to Livestrong. In turn, this can lead to intense mood swings and tension in your body — hence the increased cramp pains. Limiting or cutting out high-sugar foods entirely during this time of the money will help stabilize your mood and, hopefully, reduce cramp pain.
2. Say goodbye to refined foods.
From flour to ever-delicious grains, refined foods are made of simple carbohydrates and often have a ton of hidden sugars. Not to mention the fact that many refined foods, like white bread, cereal, and rice have very little nutritional value . But, if your body is craving a hearty piece of toast, opt for whole grains over the refined options. Your body will thank you.
3. Fried foods are the enemy.
This sounds like a no-brainer, but sometimes you just can't help but crave a slice of pizza, pile of French fries, or doughnuts on your period. That's totally fine, but fried foods can actually cause inflammation , which may be linked to increased pain during your period, according to a study by the Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Thankfully, you can reduce your painful period cramps by opting for a snack free of grease.
5. Dairy isn't a smart choice.
Dairy is a major part of a well-balanced diet, but eating too much cheese or consuming too many milk-based products on your period can cause your period cramps to worsen . In fact, dairy can lead to bloating, gas, and diarrhea , according to Healthline. So, play it safe and skip the ice cream.
7. Put down the processed food.
Similar to refined foods, you should avoid eating a ton of processed foods if you're suffering from intense period cramps. That means limiting cakes, cookies, chips, or even crackers. Sorry!
8. Legumes are out.
Beans, beans, the magical fruit! You know how that song goes, but did you know legumes can also cause you to bloat ? Yup. So, do yourself a favor and cut chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans, and even peas out of your diet while on your period.
9. Skip the morning coffee.
Caffeine might make the world go round, but drinking it while on your period can make your cramp significantly worse. Drinking caffeine-filled drinks like tea and coffee can increase your estrogen levels, which can make PMS symptoms worse . Save yourself the trouble and avoid caffeine-heavy food and drinks when you're on your period.
10. Turn down the red meat.
Hamburgers, steak, ribs, oh my! Red meat might taste delicious, but it could be making your period cramps more intense , according to a study by The Institute for Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics. Since red meat is often high in saturated fat, eating fatty red meat can cause inflammation in your body which can lead to cramps . Reinagel suggests eating oily fish like salmon during your period as they are filled with healthy nutrients your body needs.
11. Eliminate salt.
Too much salt is never a good thing — especially when it comes to easing period pain. Help protect yourself against bloating by significantly limiting your sodium intake during this time of the month, although it can't hurt to follow a low-sodium diet in general.
12. Alcohol can make things worse.
Sadly, alcohol can make PMS symptoms worse and may even lead to " prolonged cramping ," according to the New York Times. As that doesn't sound like much fun, you might want to skip your nightly glass of wine while on your period — and maybe even a few days before, just to be safe.
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What Can U Not Eat on Your Period
Source: https://www.insider.com/foods-to-avoid-when-you-have-period-cramps-2018-5