Every woman's body has a unique way of alarming her about an upcoming period. Different women experience different symptoms around their due date like abdominal pain, nausea, mood swings or simply feeling bloated. When one or more such symptoms happen concurrently with your period, the condition is known as Premenstrual syndrome.
If you are facing some of the PMS symptoms regularly, chances are that your estrogen levels are not up to the mark. Popping a pill seems a good idea but we can all agree upon the fact that natural remedies are better for our health in the long run. Here are a few ways by which help your PMS symptoms naturally.
1. Add Omega-3 fatty acids to your diet- Omega-3 fatty acids help significantly with mood-related problems, as well as breakouts. Cold-water fatty fishes like tuna, salmon, and sardines are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. If you are looking for some plant-based sources of Omega-3, walnuts, chia seeds also do a good job. Changing your cooking oil to canola or flaxseed oil can also bring a huge difference.
2. Magnesium can make a difference- Most American diets lack magnesium, which is quite essential for blood glucose control and cell functioning. Due to modern farming methods, the supply of magnesium in the soil has seen a significant decline over the years. You can consider taking additional Magnesium supplements along with your regular diet to control PMS symptoms in general and regulate your mood swings.
Water retention is amongst the most common problems faced by women during PMS. You can tackle this by simply switching your regular salt to Himalayan pink salt. Table salt contains aluminum-based anti-caking agents that can make water retention worse. High-quality sea salt or Himalayan pink salt doesn’t have the aluminum compounds that meddle with your body’s natural water balance
3. Meditation- Yoga, and meditation have been scientifically proven in improving your body's both physical, as well as mental health. If you are facing any sort of stress, be it work-related or due to personal issues, meditation can help your body stay calm and composed during your tough days of the month. Meditation may also improve certain premenstrual physical symptoms including abdominal or back pain, and menopausal symptoms such as night sweats. Some Yoga postures like Bow pose (Dhanurasana) and standing forward fold (Uttanasana) have proven to be stress and pain-relievers of PMS.
4. Watch out what you eat- Many women are not exactly sure about what kind of foods should be avoided to prevent PMS symptoms. Complex carbohydrate foods like lentils, whole grains, brown rice, or beans need to be a part of your daily diet. On the other hand, you must avoid fun food items that might be a treat to your taste buds but bring no value to your nutritional requirements. Cutting out on caffeine, sugar and fatty foods can help you overcome the feeling of being bloated. Additionally, you can also change your eating patterns. For example- Instead of eating 3 full meals of the day, you can eat 5-6 small portions every 3 hours.
5. Exercise- Exercising helps in releasing feel-good chemicals (also known as endorphins), which can improve your overall mood. If depression, anxiety, and mood swings are a common problem for you around your periods, exercising can help you overcome them all. Many women do not like the idea of exercising while on a period, mostly because they tend to think that they might end up exhausting themselves even more. Trust me, you will feel rejuvenated after a light exercise session and it will help your cramps as well.
6. CBD - Many countries have now realized the medical benefits of cannabis and unlisted it from the category of hard drugs. The interesting part is that hemp CBD has been used for curing menstrual ailments since eternity. CBD is an abbreviation for a compound called cannabidiol and is naturally found in the hemp plant. For those who don't, CBD does not produce any high and is used for many therapeutic purposes. CBD helps your body restore its hormonal balance and the anti-inflammatory properties help in reducing pain and discomfort.
7. Essential oils- PMS causes wild mood swings in some women and often disrupt their routines. In such scenarios, smelling something pleasant helps in uplifting the mood for several women. Essential oils are the best way to create a bedtime ritual which may help in informing your body that it’s time to relax and get some sleep. Lavender oil is known for its calming prowess. Additionally, it also has anti-acne properties. The second best oil for PMS is the clary sage oil. Clary sage is an aroma oil and is used in an aromatherapy back, as well as abdominal massage. You can add a few drops of the clary sage oil to your hot water bath to support mood regulation.
So these were some of the natural and effective ways to ease your PMS symptoms. If followed regularly, these practices can make you feel like your period days are just like any other normal days of the month. Sometimes, stress can be a major factor behind your PMS symptoms. If you are facing any stressful event in your life, try to avoid them as much as possible. If not, then you can also consider signing up for a stress management course or therapy.
Also, if you suspect that your PMS symptoms are highly severe than others, talking to a gynecologist or naturopath are the best options. However, keep in mind that taking birth control pills is a cookie-cutter approach in the healthcare industry and your doctor might suggest the same to you as well. Try to connect with a healthcare professional who considers natural healing practices.
Comments