Friday, July 31, 2009
Best Foods While On Your Period
Dairy products obviously contain calcium, but if you don’t eat dairy, try dark leafy greens, like kale or spinach. You can pretty much incorporate greens into every meal: spinach in a breakfast green monster, salad for lunch, and sauteed greens for dinner.
Your brain is telling you to reach for that cookie, but your crampy belly will thank you if you have a piece of sprouted or whole grain bread with an indulgent topping, like honey and almond butter, or PB & dark chocolate chips, instead.
Foods rich in magnesium, like beans, tofu, and nuts, are thought to reduce bloating in menstruating women. Shoot for at least 200mg per day.
A great source of vitamin E is avocado. You can whip up some guac or just slice one up and go to town!
This powerhouse of a vitamin aids in the metabolism of proteins and red blood cells, and has even been shown to relieve symptoms of depression. Potatoes and bananas are great sources of this vitamin. Snack on a banana and nuts to get your magnesium and B6 fix.
Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency among women. Make sure you’re getting enough by consuming lots of dark greens, beans, and nuts. Red meat and eggs also contain iron, but it’s a myth that they’re the only good sources of it.
Red berries, kiwi, and bell peppers have plenty of C, as do broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes. Pumpkin seeds are a great source of zinc. Add them to oatmeal, cereal, or salads. Top a sweet potato with pumpkin seeds, wilted spinach, a small handful of nuts, and a sprinkle of goat cheese for a delicious meal that incorporates many of the items on this list.
Getting dehydrated is the easiest way to feel horrible when you’re on your period.
I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but not only can salt interfere with the absoption of certain minerals, it also causes more bloating at a time when that’s the last thing you want.
Labels: calcium, cramps, healthy diet, period
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