Bread, pizza, cereals, and tortillas should be avoided as they lead to bloating and constipation.
“Pizza is a complex carb which takes time to digest. Plus, it will also lead to weight gain, so I don't think it's the right kind of food your body is looking for during periods”, suggests Dr Pillai. “This one falls under the category of complex carbs too.
Dairy isn't a smart choice.
Dairy is a major part of a well-balanced diet, but eating too much cheese or consuming too many milk-based products on your period can cause your period cramps to worsen. In fact, dairy can lead to bloating, gas, and diarrhea, according to Healthline. So, play it safe and skip the ice cream.
Craving pizza during your period
Many folks crave carbs in the days prior to and while on their period, which may be why your local pizza parlor can almost predict when you will make your next midnight order. This may be due to some people having a serotonin deficiency that could contribute to PMS symptoms.
It's normal to gain about three to five pounds during your period. Generally, it will go away a few days after your period starts. Period-related weight gain is caused by hormonal fluctuations. It may be the result of water retention, overeating, sugar cravings, and skipping workouts due to cramps.
Dairy products such as ice cream contain arachidonic acid, an omega-6-unsaturated fatty acid, which could increase in prostaglandin production [2]. However, dairy products also contain calcium, which relieves menstrual cramps.
During your menstrual period, your uterus contracts to help expel its lining. Hormonelike substances (prostaglandins) involved in pain and inflammation trigger the uterine muscle contractions. Higher levels of prostaglandins are associated with more-severe menstrual cramps.
Foods to avoid
These include meat, oil, sugars, and salts. In addition, coffee was found to increase cramps. “Refined sugar, common cooking oils, trans fats, dairy products, processed and red meat, refined grains, and alcohol are considered highly inflammatory foods.
If a hormone imbalance occurs, the endometrium develops in excess and eventually sheds by way of heavy menstrual bleeding. A number of conditions can cause hormone imbalances, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), obesity, insulin resistance and thyroid problems.
Dark chocolate appears to live up to the hype when it comes to relieving period cramps. Studies suggest that eating between 40–120 grams of dark chocolate daily during your period may help reduce pain. This is probably because dark chocolate is rich in magnesium, which can relax muscles and ease aches.
Processed foods: Fast foods, pickles and canned products may seem very tempting while you are on your periods but, they are not the best type of foods which you should be consuming during this time. These foods have unhealthy ingredients and preservatives that can interfere with hormones causing more discomfort to you.
Avoid: Refined grains
In the process of refining the grains, they lose a lot of their nutrients and vitamins, which makes them interfere with your blood sugar levels and increases cravings. Bread, pizza, cereals, and tortillas should be avoided as they lead to bloating and constipation.
Usually, menstrual bleeding lasts about 4 to 5 days and the amount of blood lost is small (2 to 3 tablespoons). However, women who have menorrhagia usually bleed for more than 7 days and lose twice as much blood.
Periods can get heavier and more painful for some women after the age of 40. Sometimes it is a nuisance and sometimes it is a cause for concern.
Period pain is common and a normal part of your menstrual cycle. Most women get it at some point in their lives. It's usually felt as painful muscle cramps in the tummy, which can spread to the back and thighs. The pain sometimes comes in intense spasms, while at other times it may be dull but more constant.
The pain can be a dull cramp or sharp and sudden. It can last just a few minutes or continue for 1 to 2 days. Some women notice a little vaginal bleeding when it happens.
Foods rich in carotene like papayas, carrots can delay your period. The carotene (a naturally occurring vitamin with no oxygen atoms, obtained from certain foods) in these fruits stimulate and trigger the estrogen level of hormones in your body, which has an effect on your uterine blood flow.
The bleeding tends to be heaviest in the first 2 days – but everyone is different. When your period is at its heaviest, the blood will be red. On lighter days, it may be pink, brown or black. You'll lose about 5 to 12 teaspoons of blood during your period although some women bleed more heavily than this.
Heavy menstrual bleeding often causes women to feel tired, commonly known as period fatigue. This is normal due to the decrease in oestrogen levels, which occurs around this point in your menstrual cycle. Your energy levels will usually return to normal within a few days as your hormone levels begin to increase again.