Stay Away From Foods That Cause Gas
Yep, were looking at you, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. They may inspire your favorite healthy-eating Pinterest boards, but they also contain a complex sugar called raffinose. Humans lack the enzyme to help break it down properly, which leads to gas and bloat. Other dietary culprits in this category include beans, cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce, says Dr. Ross.
Reduce Salt And High Salt Content Foods
One of the ways to reduce period bloating is to avoid too many salty foods. The sodium in salt can lead to an increase in the amount of water your body retains. So avoiding salty foods will definitely decrease water retention thereby reducing bloating. According to the UKs NHS adults should eat no more than 6g of salt a day that’s around 1 teaspoon.
These are some of the high salt content food that you should avoid. To cut down on salt, eat them less often and have smaller amounts of foods such as anchovies, bacon, cheese, gravy granules, ham, olives, pickles, prawns, salami, salted and dry-roasted nuts, salt fish, smoked meat and fish, soy sauce, stock cubes, yeast extract.
Eating processed foods is one way to spike up your level of salt intake as these foods contain a lot of salt and other ingredients that not healthy.
Nix The Carbonated Or Sugary Drinks
Chugging fizzy beverages might make you feel better temporarily, but theyll leave you way more bloated than before, says Dr. Smith. The same goes for sugary drinks like Gatorade. Dont let brands that use artificial sweeteners fool youthey too cause you to puff up, says Dr. Smith.
Instead, rely on your good buddy water, and aim for eight glasses a day. Mix in some green, peppermint, or fennel tea to help eliminate inflammatory mediators, says Dr. Ross.
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When Does Period Bloating Occur
Youll likely experience bloating well before the start of your period. Bloating is considered a very common symptom of PMS. Symptoms of PMS can begin a week or two before your period starts. You may bloat every month, once in a while, or not at all. Relief from bloating may occur immediately after you start your period or a few days into it.
You may have other PMS symptoms. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists state that up to 85 percent of women report physical symptoms related to their period. Besides bloating, other common symptoms include:
You should talk to your doctor if your bloating:
- does not go away after your period
- is severe enough to affect your daily activities
Severe bloating may be a sign of a medical condition or may need to be treated differently.
Why Gas May Be Worse Before Your Period
As ovulation approachesroughly day 13 or 14 of your menstrual cyclelevels of the hormone progesterone begin to rise “in preparation for a possible pregnancy,” Texas-based ob-gyn Heather Bartos, MD, said. During pregnancy, progesterone contributes to a “lazy gut,” Dr. Bartos noted, resulting in constipation, burping, and morning sickness.
But if you don’t get pregnant and get your period, the GI floodgates open. “It’s not your imagination if you get diarrhea when your period first starts,” Dr. Bartos said. During PMS week, “everything was held in” by progesterone, Dr. Bartos noted, and now it’s exiting.
Compounds called prostaglandins are also released when you get your period they prompt the lining of the uterus to shed, Dr. Wain said. Prostaglandins cause period cramps and make smooth muscle “more motile,” Dr. Wain said.
In simpler terms, prostaglandins don’t just make you feel pain from uterine cramps they also get your colon movingleading to farts and loose stools.
“In the digestive tract, prostaglandins can cause smooth muscle contractions leading to enhanced gastrointestinal pain, distention, and sometimes diarrhea,” Dr. Tuyama said. When prostaglandin production goes up, bloating and farting do, too.
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Choose Iv Therapy For Hormonal Bloating Relief
Mobile IV Medics can help you get through your period and menstrual symptoms every month. We can help you make it through the day feeling your best. If youre looking for a convenient way to relieve cramps and bloating, youre in the right place. Our at-home IV treatments are a simple, practical treatment choice.
If youre interested in an at-home IV, you can contact us online, call us at 483-7477 or book an appointment for our HER treatment here. Help relieve your period symptoms today with our easy, in-home options.
How Oestrogen And Progesterone Can Cause Bloating And Weight Gain
An increase in oestrogen occurs in the days leading up to your period, which causes your body to retain more water and salt. The added water retention swells the cells in your body, and this sometimes results in some minor weight gain along with the feeling of being bloated and slightly puffy. Equally, a decrease in progesterone which occurs just before your period can also slow down your digestive system and cause bloating. Low progesterone can also cause diarrhoea this is another great example of how everyones body reacts differently, so its really just a matter of getting to know and understanding your own body!
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How Do I Debloat My Stomach
What can I drink to reduce bloating? What foods dont cause gas and bloating? If you want to know how to get rid of bloating in a day, then look no further. With this lengthy list of more than 50 tips, tricks, & advice, you can learn how to get rid of a bloated stomach in 24 hours. Every person is different, so your perfect belly bloat detox may be different than someone elses. Youll be surprised to know that there is an answer for how to stop bloating and constipation.
1. Drink Enough Water
One of the most important parts of a belly boat detox is making sure you drink enough water. Keep bottled water on hand and make sure to keep yourself hydrated at all times. Your body will become used to it and stop retaining water as it regulates within your body.
2. Probiotics
Every health guru vouches for probiotics for a good reason. They are beneficial for your gut bacteria. Eating probiotics regularly will provide bloating relief and help cure uncomfortable gas.
3. Reduce Sodium Consumption
Salt is known to retain water, so when you eat too much salt it will cause your body to retain water a big cause of bloating. Make an effort to eat less salty foods. Not only will your body retain less water, your taste palate will adjust as well.
4. Include Potassium
Potassium is a vitamin well-known for its ability to reduce bloating. This is because it naturally regulates the sodium levels within the body.
5. Eat Fruits with High Water Content
6. Cut Out Artificial Sweeteners
7. Salmon
When Is Period Bloating A Sign Of Something More Serious
Symptoms of bloating should be short-lived, lasting only a few days, Dweck says. They usually resolve with onset of flow. But there are moments when bloating may warrant a trip to a doctor, especially if your symptoms are starting to interfere with your day-to-day activities.
Certain ovarian and gastrointestinal conditions can present with persistent bloating, and this should be evaluated by your doctor, Patrusky explains. And while these issues can be serious, Dweck says it’s best to avoid falling down a Google hole of anxiety, especially if you think your bloating symptoms are a sign of a potentially grave health issues.
Dr. Google will surely scare many readers about bloating and ovarian cancer, she explains. Ovarian cancer is rare, but difficult to diagnose early, and is often associated with vague GI symptoms. She does say, though, that any persistent, worsening or increased severity in bloating warrants a trip to your doctor. This also applies to PMS or menstrual bloating that doesnt resolve cyclically, Dweck says.
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Is There A Link Between Pms And Depression Or Anxiety
Some may mistake PMS or PMDD moodiness for underlying depression or anxiety, conditions which often worsen in the days leading up to ones period. If your anxious or depressive symptoms do not completely resolve when your period begins, you may actually have a depression or anxiety disorder. Charting your cycle can help you keep better track of when your anxious or depressive symptoms begin and end, and how they correlate with changes in your cycle.
Curious about the mental health benefits of fertility awareness methods? Read these articles:
Charting your fertility cycles through a fertility awareness method can help you track your PMS symptoms alongside your cycle. Mindfully tracking your cycle can also help you practice better self-care before and during your period.
Want some tips on how to practice self-care before, during, and after your period? Check out this article:
When Should I Be Worried About Abdominal Bloating
See your healthcare provider if your bloated stomach:
- Gets progressively worse.
- Persists for more than a week.
- Is persistently painful.
- Comes with symptoms of illness, such as fever, vomiting or bleeding.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
A bloated stomach is not a pleasant feeling. While its a common experience and usually temporary, you may become weary of the cycle. Spending a little focused attention on the problem to identify the cause can be well worthwhile. Try recording your symptoms and possible triggers in a journal. Note diet, hormonal and stress factors. When in doubt bring your notes to a specialist for professional guidance. The different factors that contribute to bloating can be complex and difficult to parse, but medical testing can help. As always, seek medical attention if your symptoms are persistent or severe.
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Why You Get Period Bloating
As Dr Penelope Law, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at HCA UK’s The Portland Hospital, explains: “The uterus contracts daily in a mild, almost imperceptible manner.”
“As you get closer to your period, these oscillating waves – usually from the fundus work their way down to the cervix – with a frequency of about every 40 minutes. During your period these are more intense – they originate from the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, and are responsible for the pain some women feel,” she explains.
Although menstrual bloating is linked to these ‘contractions’, the expert explained how it’s actually your digestive system, and not your reproductive system, that causes the swelling of your lower abdomen during your monthly bleed.
“During menstruation, the bowel works more slowly because the increased contractions, waves, of the uterus have an impact on how quickly food moves through the digestive system, known as peristalsis,” Dr Penelope said.
“This leads to the familiar swollen feeling many women experience whilst on their periods and can also be linked to why you can feel more constipated during menstruation.”
Interesting.
What Naturally Reduces Bloating
Here are additional suggestions to decrease bloating: Eat slowly, and consume smaller, more frequent meals. Chew your foods well. Drink beverages at room temperature. Have your dentures checked for a good fit. Increase physical activity during the day. Sit up straight after eating. Take a stroll after eating.
Recommended Reading: Colostrum Gut Healing
Also Check: How To Stop Period With Birth Control
Can Birth Control Treat My Pms
No, birth control cannot treat PMS. While some women may experience relief from PMS symptoms while on birth control, birth control does not actually treat PMS. Rather, hormonal birth control functions to suppress a womans cycle, so that she neither ovulates nor menstruatesno period, no PMS, right? Unfortunately, suppressing your cycle comes at a cost, and birth control may replace your monthly PMS symptoms with a host of other unsavory effects.
If youd rather not replace your PMS symptoms with birth control side effects, consider some of the following alternative ways to relieve your PMS:
Period Bloating: What It Is And How You Can Make It Stop
It can be bad enough having a period every month many of us get a range of PMS or premenstrual syndrome symptoms like menstrual cramps, irritability and mood swings, but period bloating is another level of challenge: do we really have to go through that as well?
If youre feeling bloated, youre not alone. According to Diana Bitner, M.D., an obstetrician-gynecologist based in Michigan, about 70 percent of women experience bloating as a PMS symptom too. Feeling bloated can make you very uncomfortable and also negatively affect your self-confidence it can make you feel like you’ve gained weight with a swollen stomach. However, the good news is that there are things you can do to help. You may want to try our WUKA High Waist, with a 45% stretch around your waist. Super comfortable, especially on those bloated days.
We have our very own WUKA ambasaador who happened to be a doctor. Each month we ask her a question related to our blog and get an expertise opinion. So we asked Dr Larisa Corda one question that really bugged us. Is menstrual bloating same as pregnancy bloating? Her anwers is right at the bottom of this article…
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Cut Back On Caffeine And Alcohol
Pre-menstrually, alcohol can enhance PMS symptoms like breast tenderness, mood swings, and bloating, says Dr. Bitner. And coffee can overstimulate the digestive tract and irritate the bowels, not to mention dehydrate you, which causes you to retain water. Hey, you’ll save some serious $$ by bypassing your morning latte too.
The Link Between Hormones Digestion And Emotions
Hormones and digestion are inextricably linked. It’s possibly even a chicken and egg sort of scenario, which came first? Yes as we saw above, hormone levels naturally fluctuate during our menstrual cycle. But when our digestion is suffering, for any number of reasons, this too can cause our hormones to go even more out of balance, causing even more bloating!
There is also a huge connection between our digestion and our emotions, which is backed up by science and also by the butterflies we get right there in our tummies when we are nervous/excited.
Of course, premenstrual syndrome shows up for many women in the form of emotional upheaval, outbursts of anger, irritability, dishes thrown across the room and then collapsing in tears under a pile of laundry So of course the emotions associated with PMS can add to the digestive discomforts like bloating that many experiences before and during menstruation.
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How Do You Get Rid Of Lower Belly Pooch Fast
6 Simple Ways to Lose Belly Fat, Based on ScienceAvoid sugar and sugar-sweetened drinks. Foods with added sugars are bad for your health. Eat more protein. Protein may be the most important macronutrient for weight loss. Eat fewer carbohydrates. Eat fiber-rich foods. Exercise regularly. Track your food intake.Nov 25, 2019
When To See A Doctor
For most women, period bloating is unpleasant but does not stop them from being able to get on with their day.
However, if period bloating affects a womans daily life, it is a good idea for her to speak to her doctor.
If bloating does not go away after a period, it is also a good idea to talk to a doctor. Bloating can sometimes be a sign of a more serious health condition.
11 sourcescollapsed
- Berenson, A. B., Odom, S. D., Breitkopf, C. R., & Rahman, M. . Physiologic and psychologic symptoms associated with use of injectable contraception and 20 µg oral contraceptive pills. American Journals of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 199
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Stay Away From Refined Carbohydrates
Refined carbohydrates such as white flour, bread and pastries are not only hard to digest but they also spike your insulin levels, which causes the body to retain more water. Try swapping out refined carbohydrates for unrefined ones such as quinoa, beans and whole grain rice in the days leading up to your period. We know unrefined carbohydrates may seem like the more boring option, but you can always get creative by trying new recipes and cooking techniques!
Is Bloating A Sign Of Period Or Pregnancy
Bloating could be a symptom of either PMS or early pregnancy. Bloating before and during a period is triggered by changes in the levels of estrogen and progesterone. Hormonal changes in early pregnancy also cause a feeling of bloating, similar to common symptoms just before the start of your period. Bloating in early pregnancy makes some people feel more snug than usual in their clothes.
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When To Visit The Doctor`s Office
Period bloating is an unpleasant situation for most women, but this doesn`t stop them from being able to get on with their daily activities.
Still, if this affects the daily life of a woman, it may be best if she would speak with a physician. â Find out more!
If bloating doesn`t disappear after period, it`s also best to visit the doctor`s office. Bloating can often be a symptom of a more severe medical condition.