Foods to Avoid During Your Period

It is very vital to keep an eye on what you’re eating during your period if you suffer from some of PMS symptoms. Some foods could be making matters worse, while others may be recommended as they contain many of the crucial nutrients that we most likely do not have. In today’s blog post, I will reveal foods to avoid during your period. Avoiding these five foods will help to reduce uncomfortable monthly symptoms.

What Not to Eat During Your Periods

When talking about monthly period signs, and those linked to PMS, diet is an essential consideration. Nonetheless, eating healthy while on your period can be a lot of challenges for some persons.

Some women can experience intense cravings during these days in the month. And these cravings can be very hard to ignore and very erratic, which means there is a considerable temptation to taste unhealthy options. Nevertheless, if we succumb to these cravings, it could negatively impact our body system, since the foods we consume can directly affect how we feel and look.

I have carefully compiled a list of the five foods you should avoid during your period to help you out. The listed foods are:

• Fried foods and fatty meat
• Sugar
• Caffeine
• Dairy
• Processed and salty foods

Let’s dive deeper and explain in more detail how these listed foods can disturb one’s monthly signs. I will also go ahead to discuss recommendations on which foods could prove to be better options instead.

1. Fried Foods and Fatty Meats

When we discuss fat, we need to put into consideration the different types. There is saturated fat found in meat is one of particular concern when it comes to PMS symptoms. During a research trial in this field, it was found that pain scores and water retention were among the signs that could be intensified by a diet high in saturated fats.

Any meat with noticeable fat on it will contain a higher dose of saturated fats. The same goes for other processed options such as sausages or bacon (with an extra dose of salt and additives in most cases). If these selections are then fried, it merely means even more fat is added to the mix!

Red meat and many of the vegetable oils we use for frying are known to be extremely rich in omega-6 fatty acids. These arachidonic acids and fatty acids are mostly found in meat. They are known to contribute to an increase in the production of chemical mediators called prostaglandins, which we know may also have an essential role at the beginning of period pain.

Simple swap test: If you have the habit of having meat in your meal trying exchanging those for veggies or fish. Little pre-planning activities can go a long way, and by breaking some part of your everyday habits, you will feel the difference!

2. Sugar

Remember that sugary foods include refined carbs, such as white bread, pasta, or rice, and not just those apparent sources like cake and biscuits that taste sweet! These foods can stimulate a sudden rise in your blood sugar levels and, in turn, your energy level rises as well. No doubt, these listed foods will make you feel good initially; however, in subsequent times, your energy levels will fall just as suddenly as they rose, leaving you more lethargic and even grumpier than before.

Sugar also supports inflammations in the body and can potentially worsen a host of signs, including cystitis.

Regrettably, sugar is always hidden in a vast array of foods and drinks, from breakfast cereals to condiments such as tomato sauce in our today’s diet. Besides, juices don’t escape the sweetness either, and the same with fizzy or flavored beverages. The alcoholic brands are often one of the worst offenders when it comes to sugar content.

Simple swap test: If sweet treats are your weakness, try swapping them for a more savory snack to see how satisfied you feel. Some home-roasted dishes are simply delicious, and the fat and protein content should keep you feeling fuller for a more extended period. This is no doubt a huge bonus!

3. Dairy

Unless you are careful to use purely organic dairy in your diets, you should note that dairy significantly influences your hormones. Research has revealed that dairy products may make hormonal acne worse, so it is something worth noting there. The plant-based sources have the added bonus of providing additional nutrients that animal-based dairy products may not offer like magnesium.

Nevertheless, since how dairy influences hormones isn’t exactly clear, as there could also be some more complicated, underlying inflammatory pathways may be at play.

However, if you are worried that you might miss out on some of the vital benefits of dairy in your diet, like providing a high dose of calcium, remember that there are several plant-based providers of calcium. These plant-based sources include green, leafy veggies, such as cabbage or broccoli, spinach, beans, whole grains, peas, lentils, and nuts. Naturally, many of these contain magnesium.

Magnesium is very beneficial for women of child-bearing age; it helps with many monthly signs from the uncomfortable cramps to erratic mood swings. Besides, many women are known to be deficient and in need of this nutrient.

Simple swap test: If you are the type that cannot eat your meals without cheese topping, consider trying a homemade vegetarian crumb. Simply whipping up some seeds of your choice (sunflower or pumpkin are good options), with some garlic powder, nutritional yeast, and a pinch of salt makes a satisfying and delicious topper!

4. Caffeine

With unbalanced hormones leaving your mental state most of the time in a little out of sorts, the last thing you should introduce into your system is a stimulant such as caffeine. Gulping caffeine at this time of your life will only risk throwing your body into overdrive and, potentially, causing more erratic mood swings.

Coffee is obviously a common source of caffeine, but other popular foods and drink options are not innocent of this content. Tea, fizzy drinks, chocolate, and energy drinks can also pack quite a punch with caffeine.

On the topic of drinks, fizzy drinks could be problematic for several reasons. Besides the hidden caffeine content in them, they also have this thing with making bloating worse. Apparently, it helps all the gas build up in the tummy. Now, to avoid this, quench your thirst with plain, still water rather than fizzy drinks.

Apart from the fizzy drinks, we also have alcohol.

It is common practice with many people to substitute their food intake with alcohol over the weekends. Unsurprisingly, this dietary content, when consumed in excess, have mind-boggling detrimental effects when it comes to PMS signs.

Besides the fact that alcohol can play havoc with your fluid and blood sugar levels, you should also note that alcohol is considered pro-inflammatory. This means it can give rise to your cravings, disrupt your appetite, leave you somewhat bloated, and affect your mood. It is wise, therefore, to avoid alcohol during this time.

Simple swap test: If you cannot do without caffeine, why not try Bambu instead? It’s comparable in taste but completely caffeine-free!

5. Processed and Salty Foods

When we talk about processed foods, tinned food and ready-made meals come to mind. Yet, our supermarkets are lined with processed foods these days, and they are becoming increasingly tough to avoid – there are lots of packets! There is this rule of thumb that suggests that if a product has more than 5 ingredients in its ingredients list, it’s more than likely to be highly processed. As mentioned above, even dairy can end up quite processed, especially if we’re tempted by ‘low-fat’ varieties, for example.

Processed and packaged foods are commonly high in salt, aside from the fact that they also contain refined carbohydrates, excess fat, and chemical additives. Salt, nevertheless, needs to be avoided as it may leave you feeling even more uncomfortable, bloated, and sluggish, symptoms which many women complain of every month.

More processed, refined carbohydrates that are usually found in our everyday foods like pasta and bread, could also play havoc with your mood, and blood sugar levels. These foods make your mood to be all over the place and heighten your cravings. So, it is recommended to avoid them during this time.

Simple swap test: while getting rid of processed foods can take quite some time, select one tinned meal each day and try swapping for a fresher alternative. Over time, you’ll get out of the habit of buying them entirely, and it will all become second nature to you.