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Natural Ways To Eliminate PMS Food Cravings

 

Do you find that you can’t get enough chocolate when it’s “that time of the month?” Or, maybe you want salty foods, or foods that are crunchy. If so, you aren’t alone. In fact, it is estimated that approximately 40% of women experience similar PMS-related cravings. So, just how can you eliminate PMS food cravings when they strike?

What Causes PMS Food Cravings?

Experts are not 100% sure what causes PMS food cravings in the first place. Although, researchers do believe there is a connection to PMS food cravings with the hormones of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Serotonin, which is a chemical found in the brain, also seems to be affected by PMS and, therefore, have an impact on PMS food cravings.

Focusing on Carbs to Eliminate PMS Food Cravings

One of the most popular PMS food cravings is chocolate chips. But, contrary to popular belief, a nutritional deficiency is not the cause of PMS food cravings. Rather, it is associated with the brain. The brain actually undergoes real changes during PMS, which are driven by serotonin. Serotonin can be produced by eating carbohydrates, but it isn’t necessary to eat potato chips or chocolate to satisfy this need.

Many women fall into a vicious cycle of attempting to eliminate PMS food cravings by succumbing to them. It is easy to grab a high fat or sweet food to satisfy the craving, such as a candy bar or a bag of chips. These foods also provide a quick way to raise the serotonin and endorphin levels. These snacks are not, however, the best way – or the only way – to eliminate PMS food cravings.

In fact, grabbing a bowl of ice cream or a box of cookies only provides temporary relief of PMS food cravings. These foods provide a quick relief, but are followed by a fast decline, which results in needing more snacks to eliminate PMS food cravings.

Instead, eliminate PMS food cravings for good by grabbing foods that provide the carbs your body desires, but that are healthy and that release those carbs slowly. For example, grains and beans will help eliminate PMS food cravings.

A little tuna on a rice cake or on a piece of rye crisp can also be helpful to eliminate PMS food cravings. Adding a little mayonnaise or almond butter will aid in slowing down the absorption of the carbohydrates, which will result in a longer lasting elimination of PMS food cravings.

Eat Smaller Portions Using the Rule of Halves

Eating smaller portions can be a great way to eliminate PMS food cravings.

For example, eating six small meals a day helps keep your blood sugar more stable. This doesn’t mean you eat more. Instead, you eat the same amount, but spread it out throughout the day.

This can easily be accomplished through a healthy diet. For example, you can eat a ½ cup of whole grain cereal with low-fat milk for breakfast. Go ahead and throw on a few berries for flavor and added nutrition. In the middle of the morning, grab a handful of whole-grain crackers and a few celery sticks or carrot sticks. Or, eat a half a banana to help satisfy your sweet tooth.

At lunchtime, you can have half a sandwich rather than a large sandwich and half of an apple. Lean turkey on whole wheat bread is a good choice for the sandwich. A couple hours later, you can eat the other half of your sandwich and apple, or you might have a half cup of low fat cottage cheese or yogurt.

At dinnertime, follow the same program. Eat smaller portions at meal time, then have a small snack a few hours later.

The Importance of Calcium

Your levels of calcium and magnesium can also help eliminate PMS food cravings. Your body needs magnesium to help regulate muscle relaxations as well as blood sugar levels. Magnesium also aids in promoting proper amounts of sleep. All of these are especially important during PMS.

In addition, magnesium helps the body to better absorb calcium. Having magnesium and calcium levels in balance can help eliminate PMS food cravings. In fact, a study conducted by The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that 1,200 mg of chewable calcium carbonate per day helps reduce PMS symptoms by approximately 50%. A good multi-vitamin containing calcium and magnesium can be helpful, too.

There is one excellent Women's Multi-Vitamin that I can recommend without any reservations whatsoever. It not only contains Calcium and Magnesium in the right proportions but it also has additional high potency extracts proven to support the balancing of female hormones both pre and postmenopausal.

These extracts have also been established in multiple clinical studies to help reduce the incidence of PMS symptoms and hot flushes/flashes in women going through menopause. This multivitamin also contains over 70 other active ingredients in total balance including:

Vitamins
Minerals
Trace Mineral
Antioxidants
Amino Acids
Neuronutrients
Bioflavonoids
Herb extracts
Enzymes

Plus, it also contains other specialty substances and co-factors which help to eliminate PMS food cravings.
 

Water and Exercise

Many women actually avoid water during PMS because of water retention. But, drinking water actually helps the body flush out impurities and helps to reduce bloating associated with PMS. Therefore, drinking six to eight glasses of water per day can help eliminate PMS food cravings and other symptoms associated with PMS.

Exercise is also helpful because it is a natural mood enhancer and stress-reducer. Many women turn toward high fat, sweet foods, during PMS in order to gain temporary relief from stress. Exercise, on the other hand, helps provide long-term relief – and burns calories, rather than adding to them.

PMS can be a stressful time of the month for many women, but through eating healthy and exercise, you can eliminate PMS food cravings.

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Article by Shannon Keitzman

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