Hey there, ladies! We all know that dealing with PMS can be a real challenge. In fact, if all women could agree on one thing, it might just be that, well…periods are not fun! While some women consider their symptoms annoying and inconvenient, others may have symptoms so intense they’re debilitating!
Whereas mild PMS symptoms are normal, ladies, I can assure you that “hunching over from being incapacitated” types of symptoms are not normal.”
But guess what? They don’t have to be a part of your life! In this blog, we’ll dive into how you can naturally ease those pesky (sometimes debilitating) PMS symptoms.
Understanding PMS and Hormonal Imbalance
PMS, ugh! It’s like a rollercoaster of emotions and physical discomfort.
Many women don’t really try to understand what their period is trying to tell them until they have a health scare, notice a major irregularity, or are trying to get pregnant. The truth is it’s important to learn about what your PMS symptoms are telling you all the time!
So here’s the deal: hormonal imbalance is often at the root of these symptoms.
This can mean too much estrogen or too little progesterone.
Let’s unravel the mysteries of how our hormones affect us during that time of the month and what we can do to rebalance our bodies.
Too Much Estrogen
When estrogen levels go haywire, it can throw off the delicate balance of hormones in our bodies, making PMS symptoms feel even more overwhelming.
Excess estrogen can be a major culprit behind breast tenderness, clotting, bloating, cramping, and heavy periods.
Too Little Progesterone
We are all well aware of the running joke to stay away from us when we’re about to start our periods. I totally get it. We’ve all definitely been there.
There can be a few factors for this, but one is insufficient progesterone.
Progesterone is “the feel-good hormone,” so when we have too little of that, we can experience irritability around our cycle.
So let’s get into how we can help bring our bodies back into balance.
The Power of Protein
First tip: Protein. It stabilizes your blood sugar levels and helps your hormones stay in check.
It helps our body to get rid of that excess estrogen.
Getting enough protein really matters! It’s best to eat between 80-100 milligrams of protein a day, which would equate to about 30 grams per meal.
Think of yummy sources like:
- Beef
- Chicken
- Seafood
- Dairy
Get your vitamins in!
Vitamins are essential to balancing out your hormones. These can be found naturally in yummy foods or supplements if you’re struggling to get in your necessary vitamins. Most animal products have all 3 of them!
Vitamin B is essential for the detoxification of estrogen.
Vitamin A helps to protect our tissues—especially our breast tissues from the excess estrogen effects that could cause things like cancer.
Vitamin E has been shown to help protect your body against the harmful effects of estrogen since it has anti-inflammatory properties.
These vitamins are your PMS-fighting allies!
Avoiding Unsaturated Fats
Unsaturated oils have a strong estrogen-promoting action, so watch out!
One of the danger zones could be foods fried using polyunsaturated fats. Due to their chemical nature, they are considered unstable fats and can cause inflammation.
Look into the oils you use in your home to ensure you are not adding to excess estrogen and inflammation.
Estrogen Absorption’s Little Secret
Did you know that carrots can help absorb excess estrogen? They’re like little sponges that soak up all the hormonal chaos.
They help prevent the reabsorption of estrogen, which is secreted into the intestines within the bowel.
Eating a raw carrot helps bind things up and get them out of the digestive system.
Go ahead and munch on carrots in salads, as a snack, or get creative with delicious carrot-infused dishes. Check out this blog post for more info!
Additional Lifestyle Tips for Hormone Balance
Knowing what we can start doing now is important to help us feel our very best!
Here are a few more tips to keep our hormones balanced:
- Exercise: Regular exercise is not just about staying fit; it’s a hormone-balancing secret weapon. Dance, jog, swim, or find your favorite activity to keep those hormones happy!
- Stress Management: We all have stress, but don’t let it mess with your hormones. Embrace stress-busting activities like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, or simply doing things that make you smile. Your hormones will thank you!
- Sleep: Beauty sleep isn’t just for fairy tales; it’s crucial for hormonal balance too. Make sure you aim for 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. Sweet dreams and balanced hormones await you!
Live Your Best Mild PMS life!
Finding balance in our lives is essential for overall well-being, and this is especially true when it comes to managing PMS symptoms.
By incorporating simple yet effective strategies such as the ones we discussed today, we can take control of our hormonal balance and reduce the severity of PMS symptoms.
Learn more about how we can listen to what our bodies are trying to tell us during our monthly cycles here on my latest podcast.
Hey there, I’m Kari!
As a Pharmacist and Integrative Health Practitioner, I get the privilege of working with women who are struggling with fatigue, poor sleep, painful cycles, digestive issues, and irritability- all of which have become their norm. And they are struggling just to keep up, simply wanting their health back.
I know what it’s like to feel frustrated and left with the same issues, even after spending time, energy & money thinking I’d found the answer.
With the right support, a proven method, and the Lord as our guide, let’s get your health back so you can run the race set before you with perseverance and joy.
So thankful you found your way here!
