Period FAQs

why shouldn't you drink caffeine while on your period

by Dr. Marielle O'Conner Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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5 reasons to cut back on caffeine during your period

  • 1. Caffeine can disrupt sleep Low energy and tiredness are common symptoms associated with menstruation and can be caused by fluctuating hormones. ...
  • 2. Caffeine can affect your mood ...
  • 3. Caffeine can upset your digestion ...
  • 4. Caffeine can cause dehydration ...
  • 5. Caffeine can reduce your absorption of nutrients

Caffeine blocks a hormone that can make blood vessels (which are present in the uterus) smaller, slowing the flow of blood. Coffee can also cause inflammation and bloating, adding to tummy pain. So, drinking coffee can make cramps worse.Sep 21, 2021

Full Answer

Can caffeine affect your period?

Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor and constricts your blood vessels making your blood pressure go up, giving you that more awake feeling. If you drink too much coffee, it can be bad news for your period because it can worsen cramp pain and raise tension levels. This doesn’t mean you have to stop drinking coffee completely.

Can coffee cause diarrhea during your period?

If you’re on your period, you may want to drink less coffee or choose a dark roast which has less caffeine. Make sure you drink lots of water to stay hydrated too. If you already experience diarrhea during your period, you may find that caffeine makes your period poops worse.

Is it safe to drink energy drinks during your period?

Switching your energy drinks for Balance Mineral Drink can not only give you a much-needed boost of energy, it can also replenish vital nutrients like magnesium, potassium and vitamin D. Another reason to cut back on caffeine during your period is that excessive caffeine consumption can impact your health by blocking your absorption of iron.

What happens to your body when you drink during your period?

According to period tracking app Clue, caffeinated beverages that are consumed are linked to more intense PMS. While you may feel tired and irritable during this time, drinking caffeinated drinks can increase blood pressure and heart rate and it can lead to anxiety and tension which can make you feel more uncomfortable. 11.

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How much coffee is OK before and during periods?

In general, the FDA states that 400 mg of caffeine per day is safe for most adults (around four cups of coffee). When it comes to drinking coffee during your period or PMS, experts recommend limiting caffeine intake, but the exact amount you can have will depend on how your body processes caffeine.

How to help with PMS?

To help with PMS, experts from the Cleveland Clinic recommend exercising 150 minutes per week and eating a healthy diet by limiting salt, eating leafy greens, nuts, and fruits, drinking plenty of water, and getting enough vitamin D. The ACOG also recommends taking 1,200 mg of calcium per day to relieve physical and mental symptoms of PMS. Chocolate has also been found to relieve PMS symptoms, which is great news for those of us who get cravings!

Does caffeine help with PMS?

Official recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and Association of Reproductive Health Professionals say to avoid caffeine altogether to relieve PMS symptoms and breast tenderness. But people have different sensitivities and reactions to caffeine, and some are more tolerant than others. These recommendations are based on prior studies that could have also been influenced by other factors known to influence PMS, like smoking and obesity.

Is there caffeine in black tea?

Black tea: There’s less caffeine in tea than in the average cup of coffee.

Does caffeine cause breast tenderness?

In fact, in a 2016 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, scientists found that after taking these factors into account, high caffeine intake was not linked to breast tenderness, irritability, and fatigue.

Does coffee affect your period?

But it’s not just PMS that could be affected by caffeine; drinking coffee during your period is linked to longer, heavier periods and other irregularities, according to a 2014 study in the Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences. Researchers believe this is due to the effect of caffeine on reproductive hormones.

Does coffee cause cramps?

Coffee can also cause inflammation and bloating, adding to tummy pain. So, drinking coffee can make cramps worse.

How much is too much caffeine?

The daily recommended limit of caffeine for adults is 400 mg, which is around 4 cups of coffee. However, you should bear in mind that caffeine affects people differently depending on a range of factors such as gender, genetics and use of the contraceptive pill. Therefore, whilst small amounts of caffeine may give rise to negative side effects in some people; others might be less sensitive and able to consume more than 400mg of caffeine without side effects.

How long does caffeine last in your system?

This can be true even if you make the effort not to drink too much coffee or other caffeinated beverages right before bed. This is because caffeine has a half-life of around 5 hours; in other words, 5 hours after your last cup of coffee, half of that caffeine could still be floating around in your system causing trouble.

What hormones cause cramps during periods?

At the time of your period, the cells lining the womb release hormone-like substances called prostaglandins which are involved in the painful abdominal cramps associated with periods. But these prostaglandins can often leave the uterus and reach the bowels, prompting these muscles to contract and resulting in diarrhoea.

What is the best drink to drink to boost energy?

If you’re looking for an energising pick-me-up without the negative side effects, try Balance Mineral Drink. It’s a great alternative to tea or coffee thanks to its healthy combination of nutrients and minerals to help boost your energy!

What to do when your period is on the blink?

The last thing you want to do when your gut is on the blink is drink copious amounts of coffee and upset things even further! So, cut back on caffeine in the run up to your period to avoid worsening digestive upsets.

Why do I have low energy during my period?

Low energy levels during your period could also be caused by iron deficiency, which I’ll touch on later. Now, this can be difficult to cope with in itself but, add 10 cups of coffee into the mix, and you could be in for a rough week! Consuming too much caffeine can seriously hinder your sleep which can, of course, ...

Why is my bowel so slow before my period?

Many women will experience a sluggish bowel in the days prior to their period because, in preparation for menstruation, a great deal of blood is redirected to your abdomen and reproductive organs, so other processes can suffer. Plus, a drop-off in oestrogen levels can slow the contractions of the gut and make it more difficult for waste to pass through.

What Types of Food and Beverages Have Caffeine?

You may be surprised to learn that caffeine may be lurking in some foods and beverages you never even thought. A few of these include:

Are Some Medications Made with Caffeine?

Do you get headaches a lot from staring at your computer screen all day or horrible cramps during your period? If you’ve popped a Midol recently to fight chronic pain, then you may be surprised to learn that it has a significant amount of caffeine in every tablet. One pill of Midol contains roughly 60 mg of caffeine, which is similar to drinking two 12 oz cans of soda.

What is the best treatment for period pain?

Both uterine fibroids and adenomyosis are common reproductive conditions that can be treated through nonsurgical techniques like Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE).

Why does Midol have caffeine?

You may be wondering why Midol has caffeine in their pills. Midol has caffeine because fatigue and headaches are both common symptoms for women on their period. It’s important to consult with your physician before taking medications to combat period pain, especially those with additives like caffeine. Not only are some people more sensitive to caffeine content, but caffeine can potentially lead to increased period pain and other health issues if taken over an extended amount of time.

Why do women need to lay off caffeine?

This is because all three of these substances affect how your body utilizes and produces hormones.

Does caffeine affect fibroid growth?

This decline inherently causes the body to metabolize estrogen less effectively which could cause elevated hormone levels. Despite these known facts, there are no direct links between fibroid growth and caffeine intake.

Does caffeine cause bloating?

Additionally, caffeine has been found to cause irritability, mood swings, and anxiety which can worsen both physical as well as mental symptoms. If you’re someone who suffers from digestive issues such as diarrhea, constipation, or bloating during your period, you may want to watch your caffeine intake. Consuming caffeine before and during your period can upset your digestive tract which may worsen bowel symptoms. Prostaglandins released by your body during your period can also negatively impact digestion by causing those muscles to contract.

Should you drink coffee on your period?

It’s important to note: It’s not the coffee itself that raises questions here—it’s the caffeine. So, while decaf drinkers can proceed as normal, the answer isn’t quite as clear cut for caffeine fiends.

What happens to the uterus during menstruation?

During menstruation, the uterus is shedding its lining and will contract to release the menses. When blood flow is limited to the uterus, Cabeca says it may increase tension and eventually the intensity of pain during this process.

Does caffeine make PMS worse?

says “drinking caffeine-filled drinks, like tea and coffee, might increase your estrogen levels, which can make PMS symptoms worse. That being said, it is very individual, from person-to-person and from month-to-month.” To further support that point, this particular study showed an increase in estrogen levels from moderate caffeine intake for Asian women, but a decrease for white women.

Does caffeine help with PMS?

If you look to guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, avoiding caffeine is recommended to help relieve PMS symptoms. Whereas, one 2016 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that caffeine intake was not even associated with PMS symptoms.

Why is coffee bad for your period?

Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor and constricts your blood vessels making your blood pressure go up, giving you that more awake feeling. If you drink too much coffee, it can be bad news for your period because it can worsen cramp pain and raise tension levels.

What to drink during your period?

If you’re on your period, you may want to drink less coffee or choose a dark roast which has less caffeine. Make sure you drink lots of water to stay hydrated too.

Does caffeine cause nausea?

When caffeine is combined with acetaminophen, it increases the pain relieving effects. But beware – caffeine and acetaminophen can also cause slight nausea. If you find yourself becoming nauseous, try taking painkillers without added caffeine. 3. Coffee can make you dehydrated.

When is National Coffee Day?

September 29 is National Coffee Day where we celebrate our favourite morning drink. There is no denying that people around the world love their coffee! Many studies suggest coffee has excellent benefits for your health.

How to get rid of cramps and bloating?

But if you want those awful cramps and uncomfortable bloating to go away, eating foods that are nutrient-dense is your best option. "Our bodies are losing a lot of blood [during our periods]. Depending on flow and duration, this could be 30 to 80 mL of blood loss. Your body must replenish this blood to attempt to keep you in balance," director of Clinical Health Psychology and founder of Health Psychology & Wellness Center at Behavioral Associates, Dr. Michele Barton, PhD, says in an interview with Bustle over email. "That is achieved through increased requirements of certain nutrients, and energy normally used in other ways. In addition, we are dealing with hormones going up and down, which is off-putting to us psychologically and physically."

What is worse than cramps during your period?

Alcohol. While alcohol can tastes good in moderation, the only thing worse than having cramps on your period is having cramps and a hangover. Plus, alcohol dehydrates you, which can lead to stomach troubles. Try to drink non-alcoholic or low-alcohol beverages instead.

What foods cause gassiness?

These foods include frozen dinners, fast food, canned soups, and bacon. 3. Large Meals.

How much blood loss during periods?

"Our bodies are losing a lot of blood [during our periods]. Depending on flow and duration, this could be 30 to 80 mL of blood loss.

How to get rid of PMS fast?

Add more vegetables and fruit like oranges to your diet to help lessen your PMS symptoms. 9. Avoid Waiting Until You're Starving To Eat. If you wait till your starving to eat, you're going to feel fuller faster, which can lead you feeling even more uncomfortable.

Why does red meat make you feel worse during your period?

While red meat is a good source of iron, consuming fatty meats can actually make you feel worse during your period because it can lead to cramping, bloating, and acne. According to Livestrong, foods with high fat can influence your hormones.

Can whole grains cause bloating?

According to Healthline, refined grains can contribute to bloating, while whole grains will keep your digestive track regular. While white rice, white flour, and white bread taste delicious, these types of foods don't have that much nutrients left after the grain has been processed. 8. Avoid High Carbohydrate Meals.

How to maintain iron levels during period?

To maintain your blood iron levels and haemoglobin content within normal limits, eat iron-rich foods such as spinach soup , dates, fenugreek paratha, etc. during the first four days of your periods. This is because, even though tannins reduce absorption of iron, they cannot prevent the absorption of iron from foods.

How to lower blood sugar during menopause?

Sweet Tip To Reduce Blood Sugar Levels Post Menopause: Start Your Day With Chocolates. More News. Here are few things you should know about green tea: You can drink up to 3 cups of green tea daily, however, restrict yourself to just 2 cups a day during your periods.

Does green tea affect iron levels?

According to Deepshikha Agarwal, sports nutritionist and dietician, Mumbai, Drinking green tea during menstruation can have a slightly negative effect on the iron levels in the body. That is, the presence of tannins in green tea interfere with the absorption of iron in the body.

Does green tea help with weight loss?

Green tea is packed with powerful antioxidants along with tannins and little amount of caffeine. The tea is known to prevent heart disease, aid in weight loss and prevent cancer. However, tannins present in green tea are polyphenolic compounds that bind to iron, preventing it from getting absorbed by the body.

Does green tea have caffeine?

Green tea contains less caffeine as compared to normal tea or herbal tea. You may also like to read: 6 side-effects of green tea you should know about. How to make green tea in 6 healthy ways. Image Source: Shutterstock.com. For more articles on diseases and conditions, visit our diseases and conditions section.

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