Does eating chocolate worsen period cramps?
This, in turn, can make period cramps more intense. Many people crave chocolate while on their period, but it’s actually one food that can make your period cramps worse. Like red meat, chocolate can heighten prostaglandins levels in the body, the compounds that make the uterus contract.
Is it true that chocolates relieve menstrual cramps?
It’s nutrient content can reduce period discomfort. Cocoa-rich dark chocolate is a powerful source of magnesium, which happens to be a natural pain reliever. When cramps create tension and spasms in your body, the magnesium soothes the muscles of your uterus according to a 2017 review published in the quarterly publication Magnesium Research. 2.
Does chocolate help you while on your period?
Well, dark, cacao-rich chocolate contains magnesium, a mineral that’s essential when you’re on your period. Cramp occurs as a result of tension and spasms in the muscles but magnesium can help to relax these muscles thus helping to reduce pain.
What foods help period cramps?
What foods help with period cramps?
- Leafy green vegetables. Singh says: “Foods rich in magnesium – found in dark leafy green vegetables – should be a part of your routine.
- Nuts. ...
- Herbs. ...
- Salmon. ...
- Dark chocolate. ...
- Whole grains. ...
- Yogurt. ...
- Bananas. ...
- Water. ...
Foods You Dont Tolerate Well
This might seem obvious, but its worth emphasizing: If you have food sensitivities, avoid those foods, especially during your period.
Does Chocolate Make Your Period Heavy
Chocolate has been exalted for its stress and pressure relieving qualities. But on the other hand, does chocolate make your period heavy?
Healthy Food Options To Help With Menstrual Pain
You are on your period and all you really want is to eat a whole bar of chocolate while sitting on the couch? And if the cramps get too much and the hot-water bottle simply doesnt help any more, do you take a painkiller? Nice and good.
Happy Hormones Hopping In
When we eat chocolate, chemicals known as neurotransmitters are released into the brain and circulates our nervous system. Some of these neurotransmitters are:
Chocolate And Ice Cream
Sometimes all you want to do is curl up on the sofa with a tub of Ben and Jerrys. Yet this comfort food could actually be doing more harm than good, as Mina explains:
What Actually Causes Menstrual Cramps
The culprit of those awful cramps? Prostaglandins. They are a type of hormones released from the uterine walls during menstruation that causes inflammation and contractions. This is otherwise what we commonly come to know as menstrual cramps due to a high level of prostaglandins.
More Tips For You To Deal With Menstrual Cramps
Does chocolate help cramps? You ask. Unfortunately, it does not, but there certainly are other foods and natural ways to deal with menstrual cramps. Here are a couple of things to try:
1. Chocolate
Chocolate lovers rejoice. The nutrients in chocolate make it stand out as a top food to help with cramps. First, chocolate is a source of magnesium, which helps with muscle relaxation. This sweet is also rich in polyphenols, chemical compounds that turn down the inflammatory thermometer in your body.
2. Blackstrap molasses
Looking for another sweet treat to help with cravings? Consider blackstrap molasses. Blackstrap molasses is made from sugarcane, but it’s not quite as sweet (and it can be an acquired taste). It’s also a not-so-well-known source of magnesium — just one tablespoon provides 10 percent of your daily value.
3. Ginger
According to one study, ginger could help with inflammation and period pain as much as over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. You can enjoy ginger tea all month long if you like it, but you don’t have to.
4. Salmon
Salmon is on pretty much every list of superfoods, and for good reason. Fatty fish like salmon contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids to help reduce inflammation and menstrual cramps.
5. Walnuts
If you don’t eat (or just don’t love) fish, walnuts are another way to boost your intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Walnuts are also a good source of fiber which can keep you regular.
6. Turmeric
Turmeric is a bright yellow spice found in many Asian and Middle Eastern dishes. The active form of turmeric called curcumin could help significantly with menstrual cramps, mood, and other symptoms of PMS.
7. Leafy greens
Adding a serving of spinach to your plate could support a less painful period. Leafy greens contain iron to replenish losses from menstruating. Greens are also high in fiber and contain many phytochemicals to support overall inflammation reduction. Try to include a variety of types of greens throughout the month like kale, spinach, or swiss chard.
What hormones cause cramps during your period?
Prostaglandins are the hormones responsible for causing the uterine contractions that cause your period. Unfortunately, those contractions can sometimes be really painful, resulting in cramping that can be so uncomfortable you miss work or school.
What to do when you have cramps?
If you’ve got cramps, grab chocolate. There are at least three ingredients in chocolate that can help alleviate cramps and help you feel better, not to mention you’ll get a nice little dopamine release which can help improve your mood, too. It’s a win/win.
What happens to the uterus when you have your period?
Each month that we have a period, our bodies release hormones that help the muscular walls of the uterus contract. These contracts help the uterus shed its lining and prepare for your next monthly cycle. The shedding of the uterine lining is what gives you your monthly period.
What hormones are high before your period?
In addition to the prostaglandins squeezing your uterus, your hormone levels begin to fluctuate just before your period. Estrogen and progesterone levels are highest just before you start. The rise in these hormones can affect another hormone in your body, called insulin.
What minerals help with muscle cramps?
Magnesium is a mineral that plays a role in the way our muscles contract and relax. It helps the muscles send messages to the brain that tells it it’s okay to relax the muscle or that the muscle needs to be engaged. Low levels of magnesium are associated with chronic muscle cramping.
Why is comfort food important?
Comfort food is comforting for a scientific reason! When we eat foods that are comforting to us, like chocolate, dopamine is released in the brain. Dopamine helps us feel relaxed, happy and gives us a sense of well-being.
Which chocolate has the highest fat content?
The comforting aspect of chocolate is likely the fat content, and dark chocolate contains the highest fat levels without as much sugar as milk chocolate.
How to stop cramps during menstruation?
You can apply heat to your lower abdomen to control menstrual cramps. Heat works because it relaxes the contracting uterine muscles. Here is what to do: 1 Get a heating pad and place it over your lower abdomen. Be sure to apply heat until you feel better. 2 Get a towel, soak it in water, wring out the excess water, and then put it in the microwave for a minute or two. Then place it directly on your lower abdomen. Repeat the same every few minutes until you feel better. 3 Consider taking a hot shower to help control your menstrual cramps.
What is the best medicine for menstrual cramps?
Ginger. Ginger has a variety of health promoting properties and is often used in traditional Chinese medicine as a remedy for menstrual cramps. Many women have tried ginger during menstruation and enjoyed its amazing effects. To get the best results, you should use fresh ginger only.
What foods cause cramps?
It is better to avoid it to keep your symptoms under control. 4. Dairy Products. Yogurt, cheese, milk, and butter can all play a role in making your cramps become worse.
How to get rid of bloating during period?
This really helps if you experience bloating during your period. You can mix bananas with non-fat yogurt, toss in a fruit salad, or even eat plain.
How to get rid of cramps in pelvic region?
Simply stretching your abdominal muscles may help deal with cramps. You can try certain yoga poses or opt for other fitness routines to improve blood circulation to your pelvic region. Even a short walk will do the trick. It is a good idea to do moderate exercise because it releases endorphins that make you feel good and relaxed.
How to get rid of a swollen abdomen?
Get a heating pad and place it over your lower abdomen. Be sure to apply heat until you feel better.
Does salt make cramps worse?
Salty Foods. Just like alcohol, salty foods also promote water retention, which is not good during period. This leads to bloating that will eventually make cramping worse. Be sure to avoid foods high in sodium, such as fast foods, chips, processed meals, and Chinese food dishes such as lo mein and General Tso's Chicken.
Why do women eat dark chocolate during their period?
People have a belief that dark chocolates during periods help to ease the pain, but it is actually not dark chocolate—the reason is its vitamin and mineral content. Chocolate bars have a fair amount of magnesium and potassium, which is essential for our body. That is why women usually crave dark chocolates during menstrual days. Their sweetness works wonders during the menstrual cycle, and they are one of the best remedies to ease period pain and cramps.
Why do women crave chocolate?
That is why women usually crave dark chocolates during menstrual days. Their sweetness works wonders during the menstrual cycle, and they are one of the best remedies to ease period pain and cramps.
What foods should you eat on your periods?
These foods include leafy vegetables rich in iron content, cold-water fish rich in omega 3 content, oats, cashew nuts, and apples that are good sources of magnesium and zinc. Additionally, bananas and eggs are highly rich in vitamin B, and dark chocolate, which contains 85% of cocoa.
Does dark chocolate help with bloating?
Milk chocolates help to ease the pain, but they are not as effective as dark chocolates. The reasons are myriad. Milk chocolate contains cocoa and is loaded with excess sugar, butter and has double the calorie amount, which usually worsens bloating and causes weight gain, unlike dark chocolate. On the other hand, dark chocolate consists of heavier amounts of the healthy cocoa bean, and is high in magnesium, potassium, and iron. All these minerals help to relax your muscles and uplift your mood without resulting in high calorie consumption.
How long does it take for chocolate to turn your mood around?
In fact, research shows that chocolate can turn around your bad mood in as little as three minutes, which is as good a reason as any to keep some stowed away in your car (and your bag, and your bedside table drawer) at all times.
Does dark chocolate help with mood?
This type of chocolate will relax your muscles, and it also contains magnesium, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids. These will all help to boost your mood without giving you that deceptive sugar high followed by the resulting crash. Oh, and dark chocolate makes you live longer, too, so there's that.
Can chocolate help with cramps?
Submit. Well, yes and no. Basically, you're right that your body is craving something like chocolate when you're PMSing, or in the middle of a super bad cramp session, but that doesn't necessarily mean that chocolate will "heal" you, so to speak.
Can you take calcium instead of chocolate?
Instead of eating chocolate, LIVESTRONG advise s you to take a calcium supplement instead, which gives you all of the nutritional benefits without any of the aggravation found within some of chocolate's ingredients.
What are the best supplements for menstrual cramps?
Manganese, copper, vitamin C, B1, B6… name it, it’s probably in it. The vitamins in pineapple help to relax your muscles, making a great solution for combatting menstrual cramps.
What is the best food to eat during your period?
1 – Dark Chocolate. Now you no longer need an excuse to indulge. Not only does dark chocolate satisfy your sweet tooth during your period, but it’s high in potassium which helps your muscles to function, ideal for when those cramps come!
What are some good foods to eat to help with PMS?
Whether you like them scrambled or sunny-side up, eggs are a great way to fight PMS. Vitamin D, B6 and E have been proven to help reduce the symptoms of the cycle, and luckily, eggs are full of them!
What vegetables help with cramps?
There’s no better time to start on the health hype than before or during your period. Leafy green vegetables like kale and broccoli are packed with calcium which help to relieve muscle tension during cramping.
Does salmon help with cramps?
Just to name a few benefits, salmon is rich in fatty acids which helps with menstrual cramps, it’s a source of vitamin D which helps absorb calcium (a mineral that maintains muscle), and filled with B6 which may stop those moods from swinging.
Does drinking water help with cramps?
We’re advocates of staying hydrated anyway – water is essential for your body to function! But drinking even more water during this time of the month can help out with both the bloated belly and cramps.
Does ginger help with period cramps?
Ginger kills two birds with one stone. It helps to relieve the inflammation and pain associated with period cramps, and is often used to soothe upset stomachs – a symptom many experience during this time of the month.
How to make cramps worse during period?
If you do not want to make your period worse, cut back on your caffeine intake. Try to just stick to one cup of coffee per day. Having excessive coffee can cause vasoconstriction- the narrowing of blood vessels, which can worsen your cramps during period. It can also increase discomfort and bloating. readmore.
What are the symptoms of a period?
The monthly menstrual cycle is often accompanied by a lot of symptoms like fatigue, bloating, mood swings and cramps. The symptoms are even worse for some, making the entire period a big struggle. In between the unbearable cramping and mood swings, all you do is reach out for some comfort food.
Does sugar cause cramps?
Your blood sugar level will rise and drop drastically. Additionally, sugar is inflammatory and can increase cramping and you surely do not want this to happen. Refined sugar also causes your body to retain sodium and water, which leads to bloating and mood swings. readmore.
Can you eat chips during your menstrual cycle?
Taking food containing a high amount of sodium can make the bloating and water retention in your body even worse. Stay away from chips and french fries.
Is chocolate good for your period?
Chocolate craving is pretty normal during this time, but it is not good when it comes to managing your period. Chocolate can elevate your prostaglandins level and you may experience more period cramping. If you want to have chocolate, have only dark chocolate and that too in a limited quantity.
Can dairy cause cramps?
Having a lot of dairy products is not the best idea, as it can cause cramping. Dairy products like milk, cheese, and ice cream contain arachidonic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid), which can increase inflammation and can intensify your period pain.#N#readmore
Does eating fatty food cause cramps?
Fatty food increases the number of prostaglandins in your body and can make your uterus contract. The contraction of the uterus will increase the cramping and will make you uncomfortable. Even fatty meats should be avoided during the period due to saturated fats which can worsen period pains.#N#readmore