For many, menstruation is far from a pleasant experience. Some may feel zero symptoms during their cycle, while others may feel burdened by their PMS symptoms and experience bad menstrual pain or heavy flow. It can be very uncomfortable and inconvenient, which is why many people look for ways to improve their menstruation. A popular solution that gets mentioned is altering your diet during that week. Just like there are foods that can improve your period, which you can read more about here, there are also foods that can worsen your period. Here are five foods to avoid while on your period:

1. Coffee: Caffeine can play a part in those bad cramps and uncomfortable bloating you experience while on your period. This happens because caffeine causes the blood vessels that feed to the uterus to tighten. If you feel like your menstrual cramps and the bloating may be getting out of hand, your morning coffee definitely won’t help the issue. The week before your period, try to switch to a less caffeinated alternative like tea.

2. Honey: If you do decide to make the temporary switch from coffee to tea, you might want to also skip out on the honey. While honey is a soothing sweetener that tastes delicious in many beverages and foods, it causes the internal heat of your body. This means that it may cause your period to be heavier than it normally is. Try some coconut sugar or agave nectar.

3. Milk Chocolate: I know. This is quite a hard pill to swallow. However, it’s important to acknowledge that milk chocolate is overloaded with butter and sugar, which can worsen bloating. Even though milk chocolate may be off the table for you during your cycle, that doesn’t mean all chocolates are completely off the table. Dark chocolate is a healthier option that’s easier on your stomach. It’s made with heavier amounts of the healthy cocoa bean that is high in magnesium, potassium and iron. Not to mention that it contains almost half of the calories of milk chocolate.

4. Red Meat: While red meat is jam-packed with the iron we need during our cycle, it also contains high levels of prostaglandins. Unfortunately, these groups of lipids cause cramps. You can switch out red meat for fish, spinach or beans to make sure you keep your iron up.

5. Spicy Food: As a spicy food lover myself, this is definitely a bummer. However, it is understandable because spicy foods are known to give people upset stomachs. If you already feel tired and going through cramps, eating spicy foods add gas and bloating to your ongoing list of symptoms. While it’s probably best to pass up on spicy foods altogether, fresh chilis would be a good alternative if you can’t seem to fully say goodbye.

During your cycle, it could be beneficial for you to pay attention to the foods you are eating and how you feel afterward. They could be contributing to your symptoms and making them worse.

Sources:

· Bustle. (2020). 7 Foods to Avoid If You’re on Your Period.

https://www.bustle.com/p/7-foods-that-may-make-your-period-worse-6907368

· Times of India. (2019). Watch Out! Your diet can make your periods heavier.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/watch-out-your-diet-can-make-your-periods-heavier/articleshow/67434819.cms

· Health Shots. (2020). 10 foods that can legit make your period worse, according to a gynecologist.

https://www.healthshots.com/intimate-health/menstruation/10-foods-that-can-legit-make-your-period-worse-according-to-a-gynaecologist/

· India Today. (2017). 5 chocolates that work wonders for period cramps.

https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/story/5-chocolates-that-are-good-for-you-when-you-are-on-your-period-lifest-953195-2017-01-04#:~:text=In%20milk%20chocolate%2C%20on%20the,a%20day)%20during%20your%20period.

· Healthline. (2019). 16 Foods to Eat (and Some to Avoid) During Your Period.

https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/what-to-eat-during-period

· Flo Health. What Foods to Eat and Avoid on Your Period.