The impact your diet can have on PMS and menstruation

(NaturalNews) You may be reading this and wonder why a man (especially one who is not a doctor) would write about an issue that involves the female anatomy such as PMS and the menstruation period. The author of this article claims no expertise on this subject but rather only seeks to provide information that might be useful to women who experience PMS and menstruation. Premenstrual tension syndrome (PMS) can significantly interfere with activities of daily life for women of reproductive age. PMS is a recurring cycle that lasts for a majority of a woman's life and includes physical and psychological symptoms. These symptoms typically arrive about a week before menstruation. Some of the symptoms include (but are not limited to): cramps, bloating, weight gain, fatigue, headaches, body aches and pains, depression and mood swings.

Supported research and testimonials

A crossover study was done by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University School of Medicine where 33 women followed a low-fat, plant-based (vegan) diet for two menstrual cycles. For two cycles prior to the vegan switch they took a placebo pill and followed their traditional Standard American Diet (S.A.D.), a meat-based, dairy, processed (white) sugar sweets etc diet. This was a crossover study, so after eating vegan for two months, the women were required by the study to go back to their SAD diets to see if the pain from menstrual cramps, caused by inflammation, would return. But the women felt so much better, that when asked by the researchers to go back to their regular diet several women refused.

A plant-based diet is the safest and most natural way to reduce or eliminate inflammation and doesn't come with the costly and harmful effects of surgery or drugs. Another similar study was conducted among college-aged females at El-Minia University in Egypt by their Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Both studies confirmed that PMS symptoms are impacted, for better or worse, by diet. In support of the findings of these studies the Journal of Reproductive Medicine stated that, "The consumption of food and beverages that are high in sugar or a sweet taste prove to be associated with the prevalence and severity of premenstrual syndrome." The studies are evidence of a diet and lifestyle composed of predominantly cooked food S.A.D. (animal flesh, dairy, caffeine, fast food, white (refined sugar and table salt, alcohol etc) being likely to increase the duration and intensity of PMS and the menstruation period. The studies also confirmed however, that a predominately raw, plant-based (vegan) diet, will decrease the duration and intensity of the pain and discomfort associated with PMS and the menstrual cycle.

In addition to the studies above, individuals have experienced a change in PMS symptoms with a change in diet. Tricka's PMS was very debilitating with a lifestyle that involved eating foods that comprise the S.A.D. When she switched to a mostly raw, plant-based diet she testifies that "My pre-menstrual syndrome and the accompanying depression, cramps and heavy menstruating has reduced significantly". In a similar way, Pam also has positive results from leaving the S.A.D. and adopting a plant-based diet, saying, "My PMS symptoms have completely disappeared on the diet, and I feel great!"

Relief is a choice, a diet and lifestyle choice

There are more testimonies and likely more studies than were covered in this article but the findings provided here are for your consideration. And although only women naturally go through PMS and menstruation (endowing us with the ability to reproduce the human race), they do not have to despair, natural relief can be found in a healthier diet and lifestyle.

Sources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

http://www.naturallifeenergy.com

http://biblical-health.com

http://www.webmd.com

http://www.hindawi.com/journals

http://healthnews.myhdiet.com

http://www.vitasearch.com

http://nutritionfacts.org

About the author:
Jay Ricci is a resident of Massachusetts, gospel minister, certified health minister/coach and has been a health writer, researcher and lecturer for years. He has taught one day health seminars and Hallelujah Acre's nine week health course called Get Healthy Stay Balanced. Jay continues to educate all interested parties about empowering our self-healing bodies and experiencing the optimal health we were created for as outlined in 3rd John 1:2 in the New Testament.

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