Can we eat spicy food during period

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Can we eat spicy food during period

Foods to eat and avoid during periods

0 Comments 2150 Views February 21, 2019

Can we eat spicy food during period
February 21, 2019

It pretty much goes without saying that most women essentially hate that time of the month each time it makes an appearance. But for each woman their menses are different. For some, they experience next to no symptoms, but for many others getting out of bed is also hard due to cramps, and nausea and other severe symptoms.

The good thing however, is that many food products can help you during your periods, while some foods can make your periods worse.

Here is a list of the foods that you should eat and ones that you should avoid during your periods.

Foods to eat:

  1. Bananas:
    • Diarrhoea or irregular bowel movement is very common during periods and is something that many women suffer from.
    • Bananas help with regulating your bowel movement and also helps ease irritation induced by diarrhoea
    • Since bananas are full of nutrients like magnesium, potassium and fiber, it truly helps relax your stomach muscles
    • As a result of the muscle relaxant property, one also experiences relief from period cramps
  2. Dark Chocolate:
    • Healthy and organic chocolate can actually help you during your periods very effectively
    • There is a reason why our body craves chocolate during periods specifically
    • Try opting for unsweetened dark chocolate from a known food supplier instead of those sugar filled chocolates from your local markets
  3. Oranges:
    • Oranges aren’t merely tasty and tangy fruits, but they also happen to be especially helpful during periods
    • Rich in Vitamin D and Calcium, oranges can actually ease a lot of symptoms related to your periods each month
    • Both Vitamin D and Calcium have been known to alleviate period cramps apart from being able to help with mood swings and keeping one away from various depressive symptoms as well
    • Other than this, oranges are also rich in fiber which in turn help with any digestive issues that you might be facing
  4. Other foods to eat:
    • Salmon
    • Lemons
    • Figs
    • Broccoli
    • Eggs
    • Chamomile

Foods to avoid:

  1. Alcohol:
    • Consuming alcohol might just be a bad idea during the 5 to 7 days that your periods seem to last for
    • When you lose blood during your periods, the chances of you having low-blood pressure is high
    • If you consume alcohol during this time, then the chances of you succumbing to the effects of the alcohol are higher
    • Alcohol could also cause you to lose more blood during your periods
  2. Candy:
    • The sugar that your body needs and craves during your periods can easily be found in fruits itself.
    • Resorting to snacking on store bought candies and chocolate bars should not be on your to do list during your periods
    • Apart from having next to no nutrients in them, these candies can actually lead to more bloating and gas formation during your periods
  3. Spicy Foods:
    • If you are someone who experiences extreme symptoms during your periods then spicy food should not be on the menu for you
    • Spicy foods, similar to candies and snacks, can lead to more bloating and gas accumulation in your gut

What you need to remember during your periods is that you can lead a comparatively symptom free period by merely resorting to eating healthier and more wholesome foods and ditching those packaged and heavily processed foods. Make good choices!

During the menstrual phase of the month, every woman experiences several period symptoms such as cramps, fatigue, backache, etc. These symptoms can be controlled by consuming nutritious food items.

This article will discuss the food you should and should not consume during your periods.

Nutrients to Focus on During Period

During the menstrual cycle, your body sheds the uterine lining, which results in bleeding. Therefore, you must focus on consuming the following vital nutrients during the periods:

1. Iron

It is the essential component of haemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells (RBC.) It is also crucial for growth, cellular functioning, neurological development, and the synthesis of hormones. Menstruating women are more at risk of iron deficiency due to blood loss during periods. Hence, iron intake must be high during the menstruation cycle.

2. Vitamin B12

It is essential for RBC formation, cell metabolism, and nerve functioning. During menstruation, hormones oestrogen and progesterone are at their lowest level, which causes weakness and tiredness. Vitamin B12 helps create more RBCs and gives you energy during periods.

You can add the below-mentioned foods to your diet to cope with the uncomfortable symptoms during periods, such as abdominal cramps, nausea, fatigue, and bloating:

1. Fruits

To keep yourself hydrated, you must eat water-rich fruits, such as watermelon and cucumber. These fruits also curb your sugar cravings and keep your blood glucose level in check.

2. Green Leafy Vegetables

As your iron level reduces during the periods, specifically when the menstrual flow is heavy, you may experience fatigue, bodily pain, and dizziness. To handle these symptoms, you must eat green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach, which help boost the level of iron in the body.

3. Ginger

Achy muscles are a common symptom during menstruation. Ginger has anti-inflammatory effects, which can soothe your achy muscles. You can consume a cup of ginger tea during menstruation. However, don’t consume more than 4 grams of ginger in a day because its excess can cause heartburn and stomach aches.

4. Fish

It is a source of protein, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids. Consuming fish during periods can reduce the intensity of period pain. Omega-3 present in fish also helps in reducing mood swings and depression, which many women experience during their menstruation.

5. Quinoa

It contains various nutrients such as iron, protein, and magnesium. Along with this, quinoa is gluten-free and has a low glycemic index, which means that it keeps you full and energised for a longer duration.

6. Peppermint Tea

It helps to soothe the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and can relieve menstrual cramps, nausea, and diarrhoea.

7. Dark Chocolate

It contains iron and magnesium, which reduces the severity of symptoms of periods.

8. Nuts

It has loads of omega-3 fatty acids and protein that keep you healthy and active even during periods. Certain nuts, such as almonds and cashews, are believed to soothe period pain.

9. Lentils and Beans

These are rich in protein. Consuming beans and lentils provide you energy during periods and reduces fatigue and body aches.

10. Yoghurt

Most women tend to get yeast infections during the menstruation cycle. Yoghurt, a probiotic-rich food, strengthens the good bacteria in your vagina and helps you fight yeast infections during periods.

What to Eat During Periods to Reduce Stomach Pain

Stomach cramps are common during periods, and to relieve this pain, certain foods are suggested, such as:

1. Mint

It helps with stomach pain and other symptoms of menstruation. You can either have peppermint tea or a peppermint oil capsule. However, if you have heartburn, avoid peppermint, as it can worsen the condition.

2. Tofu

It is rich in calcium and can ease menstrual stomach pain. Consumption of tofu during menstruation helps muscle cells work properly, which reduces cramps and aches.

What to Eat During Periods to Increase Flow

Below mentioned are a few superfoods that can increase menstruation flow:

1. Emmenagogues

These herbs stimulate blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus. Turmeric or Haldi is one such herb. It has an antispasmodic effect on your body, expanding the uterus and inducing menstruation flow. Therefore, you may regularly consume Haldi doodh or turmeric latte to increase the flow and reduce period irregularities. However, before consuming these herbs, always consult a health expert.

2. Vitamin C-rich Fruits

These fruits are beneficial for inducing period flow. Papaya is one of the best vitamin C enriched fruits to eat during periods to increase blood flow. It contains carotene, which can help stimulate the oestrogen hormone that induces menstrual blood flow. Pineapple, oranges, lemon, kiwi, and mangoes are other vitamin-C-rich fruits that reduce irregularities in periods and regularise the flow when eaten regularly.

3. Beetroot

It contains iron, calcium, folic acid, and other essential nutrients. It helps decrease water retention and bloating and induces menstruation.

What to Eat During Periods to Reduce Pain

Following is a list of food that can help to reduce pain during the period:

1. Bananas

They are amazing for menstrual cramps. Hence, these are rich in fiber, beneficial in easy bowel movements, and reduce digestive problems, which might occur during periods. They also contain magnesium, which helps in reducing the severity of period cramps.

2. Lemons

These are a powerhouse of vitamin C, which assists your body in absorbing iron from the food you consume into the bloodstream and tissues. As you lose blood during menstruation, consumption of lemon juice or lemon tea helps in boosting the possess of iron absorption in your body. This also reduces stress in your body.

3. Broccoli

The fibre and iron in broccoli help reduce period cramps, especially the pain in your lower abdomen.

Fruits to Eat During Periods

Following are some fruits that you should eat during periods:

1. Sweet Fruits

To control sugar cravings during periods, you can eat sweet fruit such as apples, grapes, etc. These fruits help to fulfil your daily sugar intake and keep you at bay from consuming artificial sugar.

2. Water-rich Fruits

Fruits such as watermelon, muskmelon, strawberries, oranges, cucumber, etc., contain loads of water, hence keeping you hydrated. Staying hydrated is crucial, especially during menstruation, to avoid feeling fatigued and stressed. In addition, these water-loaded fruits also help to decrease the chances of bloating during menses.

3. Citrus Fruits

Oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes are some citrus fruits you can consume during your periods. These fruits help regulate your mood and make you feel better during periods.

4. Gut-friendly Fruits

Various women suffer from digestive problems during their periods. Therefore you must consume fruits that help resolve digestive issues and maintain your digestive health. One such fruit is bananas. It contains high potassium, which is beneficial for nerve function in the digestive tract.

What Not to Eat During Periods

Here are some food items that you must avoid during your periods:

1. Spicy and Salty Food

You may crave more spicy and salty food while you’re on periods. Consuming too much spicy food upsets your stomach and may cause diarrhoea, stomach pain, and nausea. Excess salty food causes water retention, which may cause bloating.

2. Refined Grains

These have no nutrients in them. Consuming refined grains hinder your average blood sugar level and disturb your regular appetite control. Therefore, one must avoid pasta, bread, or noodles during periods. Instead, switch to whole grains.

3. Coffee

Some of you may be coffee lovers. However, it would help if you reduce your coffee intake during periods because excess caffeine causes water retention in the body and leads to stomach bloating. It may also cause digestive issues. So you must decrease coffee consumption if you have diarrhoea during periods.

4. High-fat Food

These foods, such as burgers, pizza, etc., interfere majorly with your hormones and cause inflammation and increase period pain. Therefore, you must avoid high-fat food, especially during menstruation.

5. Alcohol

Consumption of alcohol during menstruation can cause dehydration, resulting in headaches and stomach bloating. It can also cause digestive problems such as diarrhoea and nausea. Therefore, you must avoid consuming alcohol during your menstruation period.

6. Red Meat

While you are on your periods, your body produces prostaglandins (a group of lipids), which help your uterus contract and result in menstrual flow. Red meat also contains prostaglandins, and when you eat red meat during your periods, the prostaglandins level in your body increases. High levels of prostaglandin result in period cramps and aches.

Other Things to Avoid During Period

There are certain other things that you should avoid during your periods, such as:

1. Using a Douche

You must avoid using a douche to clean yourself down there because it is harmful. It interferes with your vagina’s natural barriers against bacteria and can result in various health issues such as infections and an increased risk of developing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs.)

2. Wearing the Same Sanitary Product All Day Long

You must change your sanitary product within 4 to 6 hours. Not changing the product for a longer duration can cause bacterial infection and develop a foul odour. Along with this, it can also cause skin rashes and Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS.)

3. Having Unprotected Sex

Having unprotected sex, especially during your periods, can cause infections and increase the chances of contracting STDs.

4. Smoking

It is altogether dangerous for health, and women who smoke during their periods are more likely to experience severe abdominal pain and cramps.

5. Going Pad-less on Bed

You might want to feel comfortable at night, but going to bed without your pad can cause a serious mess. If your current sanitary product is causing skin rashes, you can change the brand or product. For example, if you don’t feel comfortable using pads, you can switch to tampons or menstrual cups.

6. Going For a Breast Exam

During menstruation, your hormone level fluctuates. Therefore, detecting abnormalities via the breast exam during your periods is difficult due to the fluctuations. Consequently, it is advisable not to take the exam during periods.

7. Consuming Junk Food

You must avoid eating junk and processed food during periods because it causes acidity and other digestive issues. This may increase abdominal pain.

Some menstrual symptoms, such as abdominal cramps, fatigue, mood, and swings, are common. However, if you experience the below-mentioned symptoms, then you must contact a doctor:

  • Irregular periods
  • Bleeding after sex
  • Bleeding after menopause
  • Heavy bleeding
  • Bleeding, which lasts longer than seven days
  • Extreme pain in which over-the-counter drugs provide no relief

Summing Up on What to Eat During Periods

Staying healthy during menstruation is crucial, and this is possible by making specific changes in your diet. For example, include green vegetables and fruits in your daily diet. In addition, consume more iron-rich food to manage blood loss during periods, such as seafood and peas.

FAQs

Can We Drink Milk During Periods?

Yes, you can consume milk during your periods, but excess dairy products may worsen period cramps and cause bloating and acidity.

Can We Drink Coffee During Periods?

No, you can not drink coffee during periods because of the caffeine component of the beverage. Excess caffeine can cause vasoconstriction, which is the condition of the narrowing of blood vessels. This can increase cramps and cause discomfort and bloating. However, you can have a cup of coffee but not more than that.

Can We Eat Eggs During Periods?

Yes, you can eat eggs during periods. Eggs contain vitamins like B6, D, and E, which altogether help fight off the symptoms of menstruation. Consuming eggs in your periods also keeps you full for a longer time.

Can We Eat Chicken During Periods?

Yes, you can have chicken during periods. It is an iron and protein-rich food that helps in keeping you full and curbs your junk-food craving during periods.

Can I Eat Bananas During Periods?

Yes, you can consume bananas during periods. It boosts your mood by keeping PMS symptoms at bay.

Can We Eat Pomegranates During Periods?

Yes, pomegranates can be consumed during periods as they may help in relieving period pain and leg pain.

Can We Eat Grapes During Periods?

Yes, grapes can be consumed during periods.

References

  • Nahid Fathizadeh, December 2010; Evaluating the effect of magnesium and magnesium plus vitamin B6 supplement on the severity of premenstrual syndrome - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22069417/
  • How to Add Foods That Are High in Iron to Your Diet - https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-add-more-iron-to-your-diet/#management-and-treatment
  • SamiraKhayat, June 2015; Curcumin attenuates severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S096522991500059X?via%3Dihub
  • Masoumi SZ, 2016; Evaluation of mint efficacy regarding dysmenorrhea in comparison with mefenamic acid: A double blinded randomized crossover study - https://www.ijnmrjournal.net/article.asp?issn=1735-9066;year=2016;volume=21;issue=4;spage=363;epage=367;aulast=Masoumi
  • Menstrual cramps - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menstrual-cramps/symptoms-causes/syc-20374938
  • Sarah E. Racine, June 2011; Differential associations between ovarian hormones and disordered eating symptoms across the menstrual cycle in women - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/eat.20941

Do spicy foods help with period cramps?

Each person is unique, and some claim that spicy foods actually fight period pain. On the other hand, those with a sensitive digestive system report feeling nauseous and bloated after consuming spicy foods. Scientists have yet to confirm or deny either of these claims.

What should we avoid eating during periods?

What Not to Eat During Periods.
Spicy and Salty Food. You may crave more spicy and salty food while you're on periods. ... .
Refined Grains. These have no nutrients in them. ... .
Coffee. Some of you may be coffee lovers. ... .
High-fat Food. ... .
Alcohol. ... .
Red Meat..