If you get PMS month after month, I totally get it. Trust me, I've been there. You might have terrible cramps, cravings for sugar & carbs, mood changes or all the above.
Now here's the good news, did you know that PMS is totally preventable?! YES GIRL. It's time to break the cycle and take control so you can enjoy some relief and start to love your period!
BUT FIRST, let's talk about what the cause of PMS actually is because I'm here to educate and empower you. Did you know that premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is reported by up to 85% of women? It's time we change this.
So what is PMS? PMS is caused from unbalanced hormones. Typically it's due to your estrogen levels increasing and progesterone levels decreasing.
So now you might be wondering what causes hormone imbalance? There are many things that promote these hormone imbalances, such as stress, a high-sugar diet (aka blood sugar imbalance), high in processed foods and refined carbs, dairy, caffeine, alcohol and xenoestrogens (toxins in our environment from herbicides, pesticides, pollution, chemicals like plastic, etc.).
Now that you're educated on what causes PMS, here are three easy ways to reduce PMS. Try one or all of these three easy fixes for the next few months and start to see the magic happen!
#1 Magnesium
Magnesium is a miracle worker. Magnesium has over 500 enzymatic reactions in the body. According to Carol Dean, author of The Magnesium Miracle, magnesium levels fluctuate throughout your cycle. Magnesium decreases during the second half of your cycle as progesterone and estrogen increase. Low magnesium levels can contribute to symptoms of PMS like cramps, headaches, and bloating.
Your body also needs magnesium to keep blood sugar levels balanced and to help with healthy glucose metabolism. This is an absolute must if you want to balance your hormones.
Here's how you can boost magnesium levels:
Supplements
If you want to boost your magnesium levels, oral supplementation is great! Be aware if you take too much magnesium it can cause loose stools (which can be great for constipation but otherwise, not ideal!). I typically recommend anywhere between 200mg and 600mg but it's always best to talk to your Nutritionist or practitioner before taking supplements.
Food
I'm always a food first kind of gal. Supplements are supplemental to a healthy diet. Some great foods that are high in magnesium are:
dark chocolate
pumpkin seeds
almonds, spinach
avocado
legumes
salmon
Topical
Another option is topical magnesium. Magnesium oil is a spray that is easy to apply. I usually recommend my clients to spray it on the bottom of their feet before bed to help with sleep and relaxation, but it can also be applied to any muscle aches and pains. Magnesium gel or lotion are other great options too!
#2 Sugar
Blood sugar imbalance plays such an important role in hormone health. You might not realize it but everything you eat plays a role in hormone balancing. Now I know when I was in school studying nutrition I was like "what the heck is blood sugar dysregulation?". When you think of blood sugar imbalance and insulin resistance, you might think of diabetes and diabetics, but it can actually affect anyone who consumes too much sugar and carbs.
Now you might be thinking, well I eat healthy so this doesn't apply to me, and I'm here to tell you it certainly does!
Have you ever felt hangry?
Do you ever eat all day and never feel full?
Do you crave sweets and carbs?
Do you crash in the afternoon and reach for the caffeine?
Do you ever get hungry shortly after eating?
Have you ever felt nauseous, light headed or get headaches and just need that snack?
Well I hate to break it to you but that's blood sugar imbalance. When I was vegetarian, I experienced major blood sugar imbalance because most of my meals were carbs with small amounts of protein and f