MENSTRUAL CRAMPS 

During a period the womb sheds its lining by contracting and relaxing the muscles in that area.  Sometimes the mechanism which controls the contraction and relaxation of the muscles becomes unbalanced and cramp-like pain can result.   This is particularly common in young women before they have a baby, but other women can suffer with period cramps too.  Following a generally healthy diet as outlined below, dealing with any other problems such as candidiasis, allergies and fibroids, and taking regular exercise, can all be very helpful. 

Diet advice

• Eat a diet high in vegetables and some fruit.

• Eat wholegrains, such as brown rice, millet, buckwheat, spelt.

• Eat nuts and seeds, especially almonds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, linseeds (flaxseed).  It’s good to grind these in a coffee grinder and add a rounded tablespoon to your food every day.

• Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates.

• Reduce or avoid alcohol.

• Investigate possible allergies (especially dairy and wheat).

• Reduce saturated fat from beef, lamb and pork.  If you eat chicken or turkey, remove the skin.

• Eat oily fish such as mackerel, salmon, pilchards, herring, sardine, some tuna.

• Eat alfalfa sprouts for their vitamin K content.

• Take daily exercise.  Walk part of the way to work or take a walk at lunchtime. If you don’t have time for ‘formal’ exercise, spend half an hour dancing madly to some dance music when you get home.

Supplements

Often, a combination of supplements may help in alleviating this condition. You may wish to consult a nutritional therapist for personal advice. Supplements that may be helpful in alleviating symptoms are shown below:

(please also read this important notice concerning supplement medical claims)