Managing cramps and other symptoms during your period can be as simple as eating a healthy diet and avoiding specific foods. Periods aren’t easy. They can cause pain and severe discomfort in many women. Which is why it is important to eat healthily when menstruating. During this time, girls should take extra care of their diet and sanitation. This is due to the fact that an improper diet can induce pain, headaches, nausea, fatigue and mood swings among other symptoms.
If you have any of these symptoms, changing your diet by adding certain foods and eliminating others may help you feel better.
Foods to eat
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Water
It’s always essential to drink enough water, but it’s more important during your period. Staying hydrated can reduce your chances of getting dehydration headaches, a common symptom of menstruation. Having more water can ease period cramps.
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Leafy green vegetables
During your period, your iron levels are likely to drop, especially if your menstrual flow is thick. Fatigue, body pain, and dizziness may result as a result of this. Leafy green veggies like kale and spinach can help you obtain more iron. Magnesium is abundant in spinach.
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Fruit
Staying hydrated is easy with water-rich fruits like watermelon and cucumber. Sweet fruits can help you satisfy your sugar cravings without causing your blood sugar levels to soar and then drop. They also help you with your period cramps.
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Fish
Rich in iron, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, fish is a nutritious addition to your diet. Consuming iron will counteract the dip in iron levels that you might experience while menstruating.
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Dark chocolate
You don’t need an excuse to indulge any longer. Dark chocolate not only satisfies your sweet craving during your period, but it’s also high in potassium, which helps your muscles work, which is excellent for when cramps strike!
Foods to avoid
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Salt
When you eat a lot of salt, your body retains water, which can cause bloating. Avoid adding salt to your food and avoiding highly processed foods that are heavy in sodium to prevent bloating.
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Spicy food
You may be tempted to eat something spicy, especially if you love fried foods and ready-made snacks. While many people find that spicy foods upset their stomachs, giving them diarrhea, period cramps, and even nausea. Well in both the cases it might be best to avoid them during your period.
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Alcohol
Alcohol can dehydrate you, which can worsen headaches and cause bloating. Plus, a hangover can bring on some symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue during periods.
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High-fat food
Avoid these foods as they interfere with your hormones. They promote inflammation and add to period pain.
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Coffee
Caffeine can promote bloating and water retention. It can also make headaches worse. Caffeine withdrawal can create headaches, so if you’re used to a couple cups of coffee a day, don’t go cold completely. It might also cause digestive issues.
Choose wisely what you eat during your periods to ease your pain and be stress free and rest properly. Know of to have a healthy lifestyle not just during periods but also on daily basis.