Is Chocolate Good For Period Cramps

Foods You Dont Tolerate Well

Chocolate and Period Cramps: period pain relief

This might seem obvious, but its worth emphasizing: If you have food sensitivities, avoid those foods, especially during your period.

If youre lactose intolerant, you might occasionally treat yourself to a milkshake, regardless. But during your period, its especially important to avoid the foods that can trigger issues in your body.

Eating these foods can cause nausea, constipation, or diarrhea, which will only add to your discomfort when youre having a painful period.

Eating and avoiding certain foods isnt the only action you can take to ease the symptoms of your period. Try these, too:

  • Exercise. Some evidence suggests that exercise, such as light cardio and yoga, can reduce menstrual cramps.
  • Hot compresses. Hot water bottles or microwaveable hot compresses can soothe pain in your abdomen and back.
  • Over-the-counter medication. Ibuprofen and other OTC meds can reduce your cramps.
  • Massages. Massaging your stomach or your back can reduce menstrual pain. In a small

Does Chocolate Make Your Period Heavy

Chocolate has been exalted for its stress and pressure relieving qualities. But on the other hand, does chocolate make your period heavy?

Chocolate contain theobromine, a stimulant which could actually lead to more pain and discomfort.

It also makes you feel overly emotional when its positive effects begin to wear off. Remember those earnings about sugar increasing blood flow? Chocolate is a high level sugar food which increase blood flow during menstruation. If you check, your period flows heavier than normal whenever you rely on chocolate for cramp relief.

Does chocolate make your period heavy? Yes, it does. Chocolate are good but slightly responsible for increased blood glow during your period.

Healthy Food Options To Help With Menstrual Pain

You are on your period and all you really want is to eat a whole bar of chocolate while sitting on the couch? And if the cramps get too much and the hot-water bottle simply doesnt help any more, do you take a painkiller? Nice and good. Everything that makes us happy is allowed during menstruation! Unfortunately, it is unlikely that candy will help to relieve the pain, at least the physical one. But did you know that some food options can have a positive effect on your menstrual cramps?

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Happy Hormones Hopping In

When we eat chocolate, chemicals known as neurotransmitters are released into the brain and circulates our nervous system. Some of these neurotransmitters are:

  • Endorphins: Our bodys natural painkillers
  • Serotonin: Helps boost our mood
  • Dopamine: Gives us a sense of well-being and satisfaction.

Together, these chemicals are able to give us a boost both emotionally and physically to help fight those menstrual miseries!

Chocolate And Ice Cream

Dark chocolate for menstrual cramps

Sometimes all you want to do is curl up on the sofa with a tub of Ben and Jerrys. Yet this comfort food could actually be doing more harm than good, as Mina explains:

Foods such as these are really high in both saturated fat and sugar. When we eat excessive amounts of foods such as these, were putting ourselves at risk of weight gain, skin problems, diabetes and heart disease not to mention mood swings!

Wed recommend swapping milk and white chocolate for dark when the cravings kick in thanks to its high iron content. And any other sugary treats can be enjoyed though moderation is key.

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What Actually Causes Menstrual Cramps

The culprit of those awful cramps? Prostaglandins. They are a type of hormones released from the uterine walls during menstruation that causes inflammation and contractions. This is otherwise what we commonly come to know as menstrual cramps due to a high level of prostaglandins.

Find out more about menstrual cramps here.

More Tips For You To Deal With Menstrual Cramps

Does chocolate help cramps? You ask. Unfortunately, it does not, but there certainly are other foods and natural ways to deal with menstrual cramps. Here are a couple of things to try:

1. Apply Heat

You can apply heat to your lower abdomen to control menstrual cramps. Heat works because it relaxes the contracting uterine muscles. Here is what to do:

  • Get a heating pad and place it over your lower abdomen. Be sure to apply heat until you feel better.
  • Get a towel, soak it in water, wring out the excess water, and then put it in the microwave for a minute or two. Then place it directly on your lower abdomen. Repeat the same every few minutes until you feel better.
  • Consider taking a hot shower to help control your menstrual cramps.

2. Do Moderate Exercise

Simply stretching your abdominal muscles may help deal with cramps. You can try certain yoga poses or opt for other fitness routines to improve blood circulation to your pelvic region. Even a short walk will do the trick. It is a good idea to do moderate exercise because it releases endorphins that make you feel good and relaxed.

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Why Do We Get Cramps

Before we can understand whether or not chocolate helps us get rid of cramps, we need to understand why we get them in the first place. Cramps are different for everyone, but almost every person who has a period will experience them from time to time.

Each month that we have a period, our bodies release hormones that help the muscular walls of the uterus contract. These contracts help the uterus shed its lining and prepare for your next monthly cycle. The shedding of the uterine lining is what gives you your monthly period.

Prostaglandins are the hormones responsible for causing the uterine contractions that cause your period. Unfortunately, those contractions can sometimes be really painful, resulting in cramping that can be so uncomfortable you miss work or school.

Im On My Period And Craving Chocolatebut Why

3 foods that help reduce MENSTRUAL CRAMPS!

Its a common experience for menstruators to crave chocolate whilst on their periods. As a society, we inevitably often associate PMS to eating mounds of chocolate, whether this stereotype is depicted in movies and shows or in mainstream memes.

But theres truth to it. I personally can attest that theres nothing more I love than a good dark chocolate bar when experiencing cramps. Is this craving because the media has taught us periods = craving chocolate, or is there a scientific correlation between menstruation and craving chocolate? As someone who has worked in the period space for years, its time that I delve into the science behind one of the most common myths surrounding menstruation: does eating chocolate improve PMS symptoms?

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Reasons Why Reaching For That Chocolate Bar Is Practically Irresistible

According to nutritionists, your body isnt really craving chocolate. Rather, your body craves the combination of calcium, sugar, and carbs that are found within chocolate.

One of the top ingredients in chocolate is high amounts of sugar. As nutritionist Emma Thornton writes, Our bodies often crave sugar during our period because we often feel tired, lethargic, and grumpy. Sugar is more easily broken down than starch, so it gives us a quick boost of energy. The immediacy of this effect may be why we crave chocolate rather than more energy efficient foods like complex carbohydrates.

We tend to crave chocolate early in our cycles because of the higher levels of hormones circulating through our bodies. Another reason we love reaching for those delicious chocolatey goods? Eating chocolate stimulates the release of endorphins like serotonin, the happiness hormone that regulates our mood. During menstruation we often feel low, irritable, or anxious, and serotonin helps reduce these feelings.

Is Chocolate Good For Periods

– Stress Buster

In simple terms, dark chocolate reduces the levels of stress hormone in your body, and increases the levels of happy hormones . And since stress can have a negative impact on your period cycle, there is an added advantage to indulge in one.

– Relieves menstrual cramps

Dark chocolate contains vitamin A, B1, C, D and E. In addition, it also contains antioxidants of phenol and flavonoids, rich in minerals such as potassium, calcium, iron, a little omega 3 and 6, and high magnesium which can reduce menstrual and premenstrual pain in women. Plus, the potassium in dark chocolates relieves you from retaining water and feeling bloated.

– Helps with mood swings

If PMS sends you on the dark path of mood swings, beat it with some chocolate. Since dark chocolate helps stimulate the production of endorphins and serotonin, it can help elevate your mood and manage mood-swings. Although, it is not advisable to make a habit of finding comfort in food and consuming dark chocolate every time you feel low.

– Gives you a boost in energy

Pick up a dark chocolate when you are feeling low on energy and just want to curl up in bed . It is a natural energy elevator that contains caffeine, and will increase your endorphins to give you a quick boost. The energizing and mood-boosting powers of dark chocolate come from the caffeine present in it and other stimulants, including theobromine and tryptophan which is a precursor to serotonin, a compound that helps you to feel calm.

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Dark Chocolate On The Other Hand Can Absolutely Soothe Your Emotional Stress As Well As Provide Some Physical Health Benefits

Finally, somegood news on the chocolate front â if you eat dark chocolate with over 70 percent cocoa, that is. This type of chocolate will relax your muscles, and it also contains magnesium, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids. These will all help to boost your mood without giving you that deceptive sugar high followed by the resulting crash. Oh, and dark chocolate makes you live longer, too, so there’s that.

With all of this said, there’s nothing wrong with giving in to indulgence when you’re feeling crappy. A lot of our cravings may be chemical, but they’re also cultural, meaning that we’ve been raised to think that chocolate is what you eat when you’re sad, so this “learned information” turns itself into a craving that feels instinctual, but really isn’t.

What Else Is Going On

Someone Invented A Chocolate Bar That Relieves Period ...

In addition to the prostaglandins squeezing your uterus, your hormone levels begin to fluctuate just before your period. Estrogen and progesterone levels are highest just before you start. The rise in these hormones can affect another hormone in your body, called insulin.

Insulin regulates your blood sugar levels, so it can affect the way you feel when insulin falls or rises. Lower insulin may make your blood sugar level rise, while higher insulin levels can make your blood sugar level tank.

The rise or fall in your blood sugar levels can lead to specific food cravings , so if you find yourself heading for pasta or candy, the reason is probably that your hormones are fluctuating.

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If Youve Just Got To Satisfy A Sweet Tooth

Tempting as it may be to eat an entire bag of Oreos when your sweet tooth is begging for satisfaction, too much sugar usually leads to a pretty unpleasant crash.

Go ahead and have a cookie or two if you feel inclined. However, there are other ways to satisfy a sugar craving. Some sweet and healthy ideas:

common foods craved by people before their periods. Lucky for me er you, there are benefits to chocolate.

Stick to dark chocolate if you want to reap the health benefits of this craving. Dark chocolates high in antioxidants and minerals and just a square or two of high-quality dark chocolate can often do the trick.

Can I Drink Milk During My Period

Dairy isnt a smart choice. Dairy is a major part of a well-balanced diet, but eating too much cheese or consuming too many milk-based products on your period can cause your period cramps to worsen. In fact, dairy can lead to bloating, gas, and diarrhea, according to Healthline. So, play it safe and skip the ice cream.

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Ways Chocolate Can Help Ease Your Period Symptoms

Many women rely on chocolate when cravings and cramps hit each month but could there be more to this sugary snack? In this blog I have a look at whether or not chocolate could actually help when youre on your period. Of course, even if it is beneficial theres a limit to how much chocolate we can consume and so here Ive also included some other foods that can help during menstruation as well!

Emma Thornton

Why Is Chocolate Good For Period Pain

Here’s Why You Crave Chips and Chocolate Before Your Period

Our bodies are great at telling us what they need. An obvious example is feeling thirsty when were dehydrated. Sometimes, however, we dont exactly know why we crave the things we crave. Why do pregnant women crave all kinds of strange foods? They usually dont even know, but in all likelihood it is their bodies trying to increase their intake of a specific vitamin or mineral.

This is one reason why many people say that indulging your chocolate cravings during your period is not a bad thing, as there must be something in it that your body is craving. But what?

Firstly, most of the chocolate we eat contains sugar, and our bodies crave this during our period because we often feel tired, lethargic and grumpy. Sugar is more easily broken down than starch, so it gives us a quick boost of energy. The immediacy of this effect may be why we crave chocolate rather than more energy efficient foods like complex carbohydrates.

Secondly, research has also revealed that chocolate also stimulates the release of serotonin a hormone that makes us feel happy. During menstruation we often feel low, irritable or anxious, and serotonin helps reduce these feelings.

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Is Dark Chocolate Good For Periods

  • What to eat if periods are not coming?
  • Studies say eating dark chocolate with a slightly lower count in sugars but higher in cacao beans can improve your mood swings, cramp and iron levels throughout the duration of your period.

    These will help boost your mood and energy levels, similar to a coffee or sugar high without the crappy come down.

    But In Reality Eating The Chocolate You Crave Might Lead To More Physical Pain Even If It Alleviates Your Emotional Distress

    Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine, which can occasionally lead to increased pain and discomfort, not less. And, more specifically, super sweet chocolate can actually make you feel more emotional because of all the sugar, caffeine, and theobromine contents inside.

    Instead of eating chocolate, LIVESTRONG advises you to take a calcium supplement instead, which gives you all of the nutritional benefits without any of the aggravation found within some of chocolate’s ingredients.

    Although, I have to say, taking a calcium pill surely won’t provide the same sense of satisfaction as strolling down the candy aisle of a gas station after you pulled the car over in a PMS-induced, crave-driven moment of desire.

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