by Cassandra Gilmore

Created on: November 22, 2008   Last Updated: December 02, 2008

PMS is a serious affliction that can be scary, disappointing, and disruptive to your life. After spending years on hormones and anti-depressants, I have finally found some easy nutrition tips that have worked better than any prescription. What you eat could be directly causing some of your most severe symptoms. This article will tell you what you need to stop eating in order to experience some relief. Don't worry; you can still have a little chocolate.

Bloating

One of the most common symptoms of PMS is the horrible bloating that occurs. Cutting out dairy and beef will ease the strain on your digestion. I know, I missed eating cow, too, but I discovered some palatable substitutes. Vanilla soy milk tastes divine on my cereal and is known to help those violently fluctuating hormones level out.

Tofu can be hard to handle, so I just beef up recipes (pun intended) with extra diced zucchini and yellow squash. This tastes delicious in chili and spaghetti sauce. The veggies are much easier to digest and will help cut down on big belly bloat.

Some other foods act as a natural diuretic. A grapefruit in the morning instead of a fluffy white bagel is just as filling and can ease swelling. Asparagus also fights off puffy fingers and feet.

"My Head Is Pounding!"

PMS headaches are the worst! They hurt so bad that you'd scream if it wouldn't split your already splitting head. An after dinner cocktail can be tempting, but try to avoid alcohol. Ditto for coffee. These only cause your evening headache to stretch into a morning migraine.

You know I am going to say this, but you need to drink more water. Put lemon slices, a pinch of mint, or a diamond ring in your glass; whatever it takes to get you to drink it. Another good refreshing drink is cranberry juice. The real stuff (not from concentrate) is a wonderful detoxifier.

If you really MUST have your morning caffeine, try green tea. It delivers a smaller dose of jolt while working to clean your system. Use a natural sweetener, such as Stevia.

Irritability

If you're like me, PMS can make you so irritable that you yell at the refrigerator when it clicks on. The way to a happier disposition is a Fish Friday, even if it's Tuesday. Fish, especially salmon, is full of Omega 3 fatty acids. These are known mood elevators. Another good source of Omega 3 is flaxseed oil. I use it in place of vegetable or olive oil.

Sugar is a major toxin to avoid if you suffer from extreme PMS irritation. The inevitable crash that comes from eating a Snickers bar often causes me to become so unreasonable that I can't even stand the feeling of my favorite corduroy jacket against my skin. If you are craving chocolate, satisfy the craving with a very small piece of rich dark chocolate. Then drink water. Lots of it!

In addition to these foods, a supplement of Evening Primrose Oil and Raspberry Leaf can be a miracle drug. Just ask my much happier husband and children. Combined with as much exercise as you can possibly stand, you are on your way to becoming PMS symptom-free. Cheers!

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