HEALTH

Do you ever feel like some months your period is a walk in the park while other months it’s a weeklong nightmare you just can't wake up from? Yeah, we all do...and it leaves us wondering “what's the difference between my cycle last month and this month?” Turns out it could be the foods you're eating before and during your menstrual cycle. Check out the list of what to avoid below.

Caffeine
Found in soda, coffee, teas and energy drinks, caffeine is an alkaloid extracted from a plant that is okay for human to consume in small dosages. We often rely on it for a boost of energy but caffeine actually creates an imbalance in the neurotransmitter activity in your brain that gives you headaches, jitters, fatigue and insomnia. It's also proven that it can worsen PMS symptoms such as bloating, mood swings, backaches and even cramping. So ditch the venti Starbs or Red Bull and grab yourself a bottle of water to hydrate your body, instead.

Processed foods
Yes we’re tired, fatigued and moody on our period and the last thing we want to do is cook or wait for Mom to finish with dinner...so what do we do? Pop the frozen pizza rolls in the oven or ask Mom to pick up McDonald's on the way home. However we're just making our symptoms worse. Most processed foods, aside from not being good for your health, contain a lot of salt, which is something we should avoid on our periods. Salt increases fluid retention which leads to bloating and feeling sluggish.

Sugar
Put down the candy. Due to hormonal changes during menstruation, our blood sugar levels become unstable so we opt for Reese's or ice cream. But snacks high in sugar make your blood sugar fluctuations even crazier, resulting in mood swings and tension, so pick fruit instead or, keep your chocolate chomping to a minimum.

Fatty foods
Anything high in fat including fatty cuts of beef, whole-milk dairy products, sausages and burgers influence the hormonal activity in your body and can increase bloating and breast tenderness. We suggest that you replace the beef with lean meat and fish.

What do you like to eat on your period? Tell us below! 

We want to hear from you! Send us your weirdest body questions here (seriously, we'll answer anything!) and it just might get featured.

by Khadean Coombs | 6/1/2018