Foods To Be Avoided When You Have Menstrual Cramps

Slight pain during your menstruation or just a day or two before your menstrual period is quite normal. However, there are a few women who suffer from excessive pain. In such cases, how could one avoid such pain? Yes, there are certain foods one needs to avoid to prevent pain and menstrual cramps.

The pain becomes so unbearable that it affects your day-to-day routine activities and almost cripples you down. Also, this leads to a lot of mood swings and women tend to get irritated by it quickly too.

Also Read: Home Remedies To Postpone Your Periods

Menstrual cramps are basically caused when the uterine and abdominal muscles contract to push out the menstrual fluid out of the body. When the body experiences these contractions, menstrual cramps and pain are caused.

It is seen that women who have a higher level of hormone-like substances, called the prostaglandins, tend to have more of these menstrual cramps.

Also Read: Remedies For Irregular Periods

If you experience such cramps quite often, then the next time, try avoiding these foods, as it helps in doing away with the menstrual cramps and pain.

So, here is the list of 10 foods that you need to avoid when on periods. Take a look.

1. Caffeine:

The caffeine content in tea, coffee or soft drinks can be harmful, and this could lead to worsening of the menstrual cramps. The caffeine constricts the blood vessels and increases the tension and also the cramps during menstruation, hence it is best avoided during periods.

2. Alcohol:

Excessive consumption of alcohol during your periods can lead to the rise in menstrual cramps and also bloating of your lower abdomen. This happens as alcohol contains a diuretic that leads to retention of water in the body during the time of menstruation.

3. Chocolate:

Chocolates contain caffeine and hence should be avoided when you have menstrual cramps. It constricts the blood vessels and leads to worsening of the cramps and therefore it is advisable to stay away from it during periods.

4. Red Meat:

Several studies have shown that red meat stimulates menstrual cramps. The arachidonic acid that is present in red meat stimulates prostaglandins, which is one of the major substances that instigates menstrual cramps.

5. Dairy Products:

Dairy products like milk, yogurt, butter and cheese are rich in arachidonic acid, one of the chief substances that stimulates menstrual cramps. Hence, it is best to avoid these foods when on periods.

6.Salty Foods:

Chips, processed foods, table salt, etc., are among the major not-to-eat foods when you have period cramps. These foods that are high in salts can lead to water retention in the body and increase menstrual cramps.

7. Pickles:

Salty and sour foods, of which pickle is one among them, contain a high amount of sodium and this leads to water retention in the body. This will further lead to stimulation of menstrual pain. Hence, this is one food which should be avoided during menstrual cramps.

8. Canned Foods:

Canned foods, or also processed foods, contain a lot of sodium and hence this should be avoided when you have menstrual cramps. The sodium is known to retain the water level in the body and this causes increase in the menstrual cramps and pain.

9. Fried Foods:

Fried foods are known to increase the oestrogen level in the body. When the oestrogen level increases, it brings about an imbalance in the uterus; and this leads to an increase in the cramps during menstruation.

10 Sugar:

Sugar induces inflammation and hence it is one of the food items that needs to be avoided during menstrual cramps.

However, it needs to be seen that if the menstrual pain is constant over a long period of time, then it could also be due to certain other factors like infections. Hence, it is always best to get this condition checked with a gynaecologist.