Period FAQs

what helps with bloating during period

by Joany Smitham III Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Other Period Bloating Remedies at Home

  • Drink peppermint tea. Peppermint has a natural pain relief and diuretic properties that can help in reducing bloating. ...
  • Apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid which balances hydrochloric acid that your stomach makes. ...
  • Primrose oil. ...
  • Heating pad. ...

Here are some ways to reduce period bloating:
  • follow a low-sodium diet, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.
  • drink lots of water.
  • skip caffeine and alcohol.
  • limit processed foods.
  • exercise regularly.
  • take a diuretic.
  • talk to your doctor about whether birth control pills may help.

Full Answer

What can I take to reduce period bloating?

How can you treat and prevent period bloating?

  1. Eat the right foods. You should avoid eating too much salt. ...
  2. Drink lots of water. Make sure you drink plenty of water on the days leading up to your period. ...
  3. Skip alcohol and caffeine. Experts believe that both alcohol and caffeine contribute to bloating and other symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
  4. Exercise regularly. ...
  5. Consider medication. ...

Which is best pad during heavy bleeding in period?

  • If you struggle to use a tampon at first, that's completely normal! Ask your parent, another relative, friend, or doctor to give you advice on using them.
  • A panty liner is a very thin pad. Wear them for added protection when you're also wearing a tampon or on light days during your menstrual cycle.
  • Change your tampon at least every 8 hours. ...

What are the best foods to eat during my period?

What to Eat During Your Period

  • So here are the best foods to eat during your period:
  • Iron. Iron-rich foods top the list for Betsy as your body is obviously losing a lot of iron during your period.
  • Calcium. We’re talking Greek yogurt, mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, almonds, broccoli, and leafy greens.
  • Magnesium. ...
  • Fiber. ...
  • Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12. ...
  • Vitamin D. ...

Do you get bloated before or during period?

Yes, the feeling of bloating just before a period is very common. It may occur every month, once in a while, or bloating may never occur at all. Once your period arrives, or a few days into it, the symptoms should disappear. As your period progresses, water retention declines rapidly and the swelling subsides.

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How to de-bloat during period?

The good news: There are some seriously easy steps you can take to de-bloat during your period. Switching up the foods you eat, like swapping in more potassium-filled foods and nixing the caffeine for a few days, can do some serious remedying to your bloated belly.

Why does period bloating happen in the first place?

You can thank fluctuations in estrogen levels and a sharp drop in progesterone right before your period. "When estrogen levels are higher, our bodies tend to retain water," says Meggie Smith, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist and reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellow at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.

How long does it take for bloating to start?

Basically, it's a bloating double-whammy. Bloating usually starts to kick in about one to two days before the start of a woman's period, according to the Mayo Clinic. But some women experience symptoms up to five days beforehand, often interfering with normal activities.

How many women experience bloating during their period?

Because the truth is: An estimated 70 percent of women experience bloating during their period, according to Diana Bitner, MD, a Michigan-based ob-gyn.

What is the best medicine for bloating?

Ibuprofen and Naprosyn (found in brands like Aleve and Midol) block the chemicals that cause inflammation, and in turn, bloating, says Kelly Roy, MD, an ob-gyn in Phoenix. “A couple days before your period, take 200 to 400 milligrams every six to eight hours,” she says.

What foods can you eat to keep your body from puffing up?

Pick protein- and potassium-rich foods. Fill your plate with ingredients that won’t cause you to puff up. “ High-potassium foods like bananas, cantaloupe, tomatoes, and asparagus help promote a good balance of fluids,” says Isabel Smith, RD, a New York City-based dietitian and fitness expert.

When does bloating start?

Bloating usually starts to kick in about one to two days before the start of a woman's period.

Symptoms

Period bloating is very common. In fact, over 90% of people who menstruate report experiencing symptoms like bloating before or during their periods. 3 PMS symptoms can begin any time after your first menstrual period, but usually by your early 20s. Some women experience more severe symptoms in the late reproductive years.

Tips to Reduce Bloating

Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to reduce period bloating, which include: 3

Why Bloating Happens

When it comes to just about any period symptom, you can blame it on the hormones. Changing hormone levels leads to a variety of changes in the body. Each month that you do not become pregnant, your body’s estrogen and progesterone levels fall significantly. This rapid decline in hormones can lead to water retention and bloating.

Risk Factors

Most people who menstruate experience symptoms around their periods. The following risk factors can increase your chances of period bloating: 1

Home Remedies

If you have tried to improve period bloating with lifestyle changes and are still uncomfortable, you may be considering a home remedy. It’s important to note that you should always talk with your healthcare provider before beginning a new dietary supplement. Home remedies that may improve period bloating include:

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If period bloating has become so severe that lifestyle changes do not help and you are unable to keep up with your daily activities, talk with your healthcare provider or gynecologist. They will likely ask you to keep a symptom diary to understand when the bloating starts and what (if anything) helps it.

Summary

Period bloating is a condition that occurs before or during your period. It causes a distended belly and an uncomfortable, tight feeling. Period bloating is believed to be caused by the hormone changes that take place each month during your period.

Taking Supplements Or Medications

Your diet should provide at least 1,200 mg of magnesium daily but if it does not provide you should take a supplement. Calcium, magnesium and potassium can help in reducing effects of bloating.

We Should Drink About 12 Litres Of Fluid Every Day To Stop Us Getting Dehydrated

Staying hydrated is often recommended to reduce menstrual bloating. Some people believe that one of the ways to reduce bloating is to drink lots of water, as it may improve kidney function. Start drinking water especially on the days leading up to your menstrual period.

Bloating Before A Period Is A Common Pms Symptom

The week before your period, you may experience breast tenderness and swelling.

Causes Of Period Gas Pain

Period gas pain is caused by a buildup of gas in your gastrointestinal tract. The gas produced from the digestive process travels along with the food as it is digested. Since your digestive system has slowed down, the food you eat doesnt travel as fast as it usually does through your system.

Menstrual Bloating Remedies To Feel Better Fast

When bloating comes on strong and all you want to do is live in yoga pants and stay in bed, there are things you can do.

Bloating During Period And Weight Gain

Gaining weight and bloating before and during your period is mostly contributed by the retention of water and overproduction of gas.

Eat Protein And Potassium Rich Foods

In addition to avoiding salty foods, fill your plate with potassium rich foods like bananas, asparagus, melon, avocado, sweet potato and tomatoes to help maintain a good balance of fluids in your system. These type of foods helps to lower prostaglandins, which are a group of hormones responsible for causing bloating and muscle contractions.

How to stop bloating during period?

Avoiding foods high in salt and refined carbohydrates may help relieve period bloating. There are many lifestyle changes that a woman can make that may help to reduce water retention. In turn, these changes may help relieve the symptoms of period bloating. 1. Avoid salty foods.

What foods help with period bloating?

Foods that act as natural diuretics include: asparagus. pineapples. peaches. cucumber. leeks. ginger.

What does it mean when you feel bloated before your period?

It may be accompanied by stomach cramps and backaches. Period bloating is when a woman feels her abdomen is heavy and swollen just before and at the start of her period. Bloating is also one of several premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms that can occur 1-2 weeks before a woman’s period.

What hormones cause a woman to bleed?

About a week before a woman’s period starts, levels of the hormone progesterone fall. Reduced levels of progesterone cause the uterus to shed its lining, which is what causes menstrual bleeding.

When do women experience bloating?

Many women experience bloating before and at the start of their period. Can certain lifestyle changes offer some relief?

Does bloating go away after a period?

However, if period bloating affects a woman’s daily life, it is a good idea for her to speak to her doctor. If bloating does not go away after a period, it is also a good idea to talk to a doctor.

Does potassium help with period bloating?

Research shows potassium decreases sodium levels and increases urine production. In this way, potassium may help reduce water retention and improve period bloating.

How to reduce bloating?

Consuming lots of salt leads to water retention, which can result in bloating. To reduce bloating, don’t add salt to your foods and avoid highly processed foods that contain a lot of sodium.

What to eat during period?

5. Chicken. Chicken is another iron- and protein-rich food you can add to your diet. Eating protein is essential for your overall health, and it can help you stay full and sated during your period, curbing cravings. 6. Fish. Rich in iron, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, fish is a nutritious addition to your diet.

What are the symptoms of menstruation?

Many people have uncomfortable symptoms during menstruation. Some foods can lessen these symptoms, while other foods can make them worse. These symptoms include: 1 abdominal cramps 2 headaches 3 nausea 4 fatigue 5 bloating 6 mood swings 7 diarrhea

How to stop cramps during menstruation?

Exercise. Some evidence suggests that exercise, such as light cardio and yoga, can reduce menstrual cramps.

How to help with endometriosis pain?

Massages. Massaging your stomach or your back can reduce menstrual pain. In a small 2010 study, massages soothed pain in 23 subjects with endometriosis.

What is the best diet for menstrual cramps?

6. 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. Omega-3s can reduce the intensity of period pain, according to a 2012 study.

Why is drinking water important during your period?

Drinking a lot of water is always important, and this is especially true during your period. Staying hydrated can reduce your chances of getting dehydration headaches, a common symptom of menstruation. Drinking plenty of water can also stop you from retaining water and bloating.

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