Food for a Happier Period : Healthier Choices to Relieve Menstruation Symptoms

It is easy to head to the freezer for a pint of good old Haagen Daaz, but we are all about the bigger picture of making healthier food choices. The results might not be immediate (who doesn’t like a quick pick-me-up from good old sugar!), and these foods will help reduce those pesky period symptoms and keep those see-sawing hormones under control. 

You are what you eat, after all and incorporating these ingredients into your diet might just make you (dare we say it) enjoy your period a little better!

What to eat for a happier period

Whether you have them steamed in soy sauce or baked mixed with your salads, fishes such as salmon, halibut and mackerel contain high levels of Omega-3s and other nutrients. Studies have shown the many benefits of Omega-3s such as relaxing the uterus, reducing the intensity of period pains while combating the typical moodiness associated with PMS. 

Dark Chocolate

Who says you can’t indulge a little with these bittersweet delights of dark chocolate. Delicious while packed with iron and magnesium, dark chocolate of 75% and above treats the severity of those pesky PMS symptoms. A 2015 Trusted Source study found that magnesium deficiencies were more likely to experience severe PMS symptoms.

There’s a reason why it was crowned ‘Food of the Gods’ by ancient Mayans. 

Oatmeal

One of the most versatile foods in a woman's kitchen arsenal, oatmeal is high in cramp-fighting nutrients such as calcium, zinc and magnesium. Mix it with berries, chia seeds and honey for a fast and easy midday snack to get all its benefits of making period more tolerable.

Eggs

Do you know that Malaysia is no. 6 countries that consume the most eggs in the world? It’s no wonder - eggs make the perfect breakfast dish as it is deliciously loaded with essential vitamins like D, E and B6. All these vitamins work together to give us much needed fuel and regulate fluctuating hormones. 

Tip: Avoid hard boiled eggs during periods as they have been found to cause bloating and heartburn.

Ginger

Commonly found in every Malaysian dish, this terrific spice in ginger tea or ginger water is the perfect beverage to soothe nausea and help to settle pain and gas from bloating during periods. It has also been said that it also helps to regulate irregular periods caused by hormonal imbalance. 

However, too much of a good thing can be counterintuitive – daily consumption should be not more than 4 grams as too much will cause heartburn and stomach aches.

Peanut Butter

A spoonful of good old peanut butter will fill you up in protein, magnesium and vitamin E. The good fats (mono & polyunsaturated fats) in your peanut butter help to stabilize our blood sugars and estrogen levels while working behind the scenes to assist with period cramping and inflammation. 

It also contains magnesium which controls the feel-good chemical aka serotonin to improve mood and combat depression.

While you don’t have to restrict certain foods (like nasi lemak or pan mee) from your diet, balance is key. Eating well is all about making your mind and body feel good.