5 Crazy, I Mean Totally Normal, Foods That Are Natural Relief For PMS

As we’ve said plenty of times before, hormonal imbalances tend to be the root of a lot of symptoms associated with the ‘normal’ period. (Here, you can read why it’s not really normal.) While the symptoms of PMS do seem common, they can easily be minimized with a few diet changes, including the introduction of these five awesome foods.

Honeydew Melon

Bloating can be caused by the retention of water, which is greatly helped out when you drink more water or have more foods primarily made of water. For this reason, honeydew (as well as cantaloupe and watermelon) helps reduce bloating by cueing the kidneys to release the excess water in your body.

Honeydew is also high in potassium, which can help with a variety of PMS symptoms, much like the similarly helpful bananas.

Lean Meats

Eating lean meats, like chicken, turkey, and lean red meat, can help increase the iron in your body to make up for the iron you’re losing each month. The protein in the meat will help you to feel more energized, while the presence of Vitamin B12 will give you another burst of energy to fight the common lethargic feeling associated with your period. Eating protein snacks also helps to stabilize blood sugar between meals, helping make sure that your emotions stay balanced and stable as well.

Popcorn

Full of carbohydrates that heighten serotonin levels to better your mood, popcorn is a whole grain (healthier carb source, woohoo!) with nutrients hidden within. While you may be moody or grumpy while on your period, this snack offers a quick and easy mood boost while also giving you more energy to make it through the day without the down in the dumps feeling you may be used to.

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds have been proven to have quite a few benefits when it comes to dealing with PMS. Rich in magnesium, they’re known for easing your moodiness and your aching muscles (sounds like the ideal 2 in 1 deal, am I right?). They also have a helpful dose of manganese, which is an added bonus for your mood while PMS-ing.

Beans

Beans seem to be a superfood when it comes to being on your period. From the benefits of the high levels of magnesium, with increased serotonin and less bloating, it seems like a PMS cure-all - stabilizing moods and your body at the same time.

No matter what your PMS symptoms may be, there’s definitely a food (or two or three) out there to help you to combat the struggles you’re facing before your period. With so many foods out there helping a whole bunch of symptoms at once, you’re sure to find a few small diet changes hugely helpful in making your PMS come with a lot less stress.