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You are so bloated you feel three months pregnant, your head’s pounding, you have the worst cramps and you just want to lay in your cosy bed and cuddle your hot water bottle...
Yep, there are certain times of the month when you wish you weren’t a woman. Thankfully, with the help of Nurofen and a good diet, you can relieve your PMS symptoms and feel a little more human again. Foods to Avoid Caffeine Too much caffeine can leave you feeling even more irritable and because caffeine is a diuretic, it can contribute towards dehydration and bloating. Salty foods Sodium (aka salt) is one thing you should avoid at that time of the month (in fact, most people get too much so you should try and cut down all the time, but that’s another article...). Excess salt causes fluid retention, and when you’re already big and bloated more fluid retention is not something you want.
Foods that can help
Evening primrose oil
Evening primrose oil contains gamma linolenic acid which is an essential fatty acid needed for the production of prostaglandins, hormone like substances which control a number of essential processes in the body. Some studies have found Evening Primrose Oil reduces the symptoms of PMS and many individuals report benefits.
Hot chocolate
Rather than having any medicinal properties, the warm, cocoa taste of a hot chocolate is good for lifting ones spirts by providing a tasty chocolate hit without loads of fat and calories. Plus it is a good source of calcium which some researchers say helps with the symptoms of PMS. A study in 2005 found women who ate around 1200 milligrams of calcium a day in their diet were 30% less likely to have PMS symptoms than those who ate the lowest average amount of 530milligrams a day.
Water
Think drinking water will make your bloating worse? Wrong. Believe it or not drinking water actually helps reduce bloating. So put down the coffee and drink water or herbal teas to help keep you hydrated and the bloating at bay.
Other tips
Don’t hit the junk food It may make you feel good in the short term, but all the sugar and salt will add to your problems rather than taking away. Keep active Although feeling like crap seems like a good excuse to stay inside with a packet of Tim Tams and a DVD, getting out and doing some gentle exercise can help relieve cramps. Exercise also stimulates the release of endorphins – feel good hormones, so it can’t be a bad thing.
Eat regular meals This will help keep your blood sugar levels steady. Sharp rises and falls in blood sugar can leave you feeling lethargic.
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Caffeine
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