1. Take a Detox Approach
Did you know that your period is actually a monthly detox?
Think about it: a detox is simply about eliminating things the body doesn’t need or doesn’t have any use for.
And detoxing is something you already do everyday when you have a bowel movement or when you pee.
You’re simply eliminating waste that the body doesn’t need.
And when there is no pregnancy, the uterine lining is not needed.
This means the body has to eliminate it!
Now, going back to bowel movements for a second, what do you usually do when you’re constipated or have diarrhea?
You adjust your diet. You don’t blame your colon for being stupid, right?
So, when it comes to PMS, we don’t need to buy into the idea that it’s just our hormones being difficult.
Instead, we need to make dietary and lifestyle changes that support the body’s detoxification pathways.
This means:
- eat whole, unprocessed foods
- avoid alcohol, caffeine, processed sugar and artificial sweeteners
- eat more organic, non-GMO foods
- avoid strenuous exercise (particularly during those initial heavy flow days) and participate in relaxing activities like yoga, tai chi or walking
2. Eat Healthy, Unprocessed Fats
Having a good supply of raw almonds or other raw nuts is so soothing during your cycle!
With all the bloating, cramps or mood swings that come with PMS, the wrong food choices frequently make things worse.
However, naturally fatty foods are very filling and they provide the type of fats that the brain and gut love.
This is significant because:
- the brain is over 60% fat and mood swings/irritability are often the result of not not eating enough fat or not eating the right types of fat.
- the gut is where a lot of hormones are made but conditions like leaky gut syndrome, can lead to hormone deficiencies. Healthy fats are excellent for healing the gut and restoring hormone balance.
Some healthy fats to load up on include:
- raw nuts
- chia seeds
- organic, antibiotic-free butter or ghee
- coconuts and coconut oil
- olive oil
- avocados
3. Flush Out Waste with Water and Herbal Teas
During your monthly cycle, your body is quite literally flushing out waste.
To make the task easier, make sure to stay hydrated by drinking enough water.
Also, drink herbal teas like ginger tea and red raspberry leaf tea.
Ginger is an excellent anti-inflammatory and in a tea form, it’s an effective detox agent that you can sip on all day.
As for red raspberry leaf tea, it’s full of vitamins and minerals, it’s great for removing excess estrogen and it has an affinity for the reproductive organs.
Red raspberry leaf feeds the reproductive system with the nutrients it needs and brings balance to your flow.
4. Load Up on Fruits and Veggies
Eating more fruits and veggies during your cycle does wonders for soothing your symptoms.
I particularly like to focus on water-rich fruits and veggies (watermelons, cucumbers, oranges, and so on).
Their high water content and living enzymes help with cleansing the body, while the fiber (particularly from the veggies) heals the gut, satisfies hunger and keeps your regular.
CONCLUSION
When it comes to PMS symptoms, always remember to work with your body’s natural ebb and flow.
As you understand what your body is doing – and why! – you can make healthy choices that will make your flow days just another day!
I’d love to hear about your experience with PMS. Have you tried natural remedies before, and how did they work for you? Feel free to share in the comments!
