fatburningtips4women.com

Sorry men that read this blog, but this is something us women need to discuss. But it could benefit you men also, in helping you understand your wife/girlfriend during PMS…so keep reading…

Every month, I get the PMS cravings. For some reason, this month seems to be the worst it has been in a long time. This might be due to my life finally slowing down and now I have the TIME to think about how “I WANT CHOCOLATE, EVERY MINUTE, HOUR AND SECOND OF EVERY DAY!” Phew…glad to get that out of the way…

I have been saying the same thing over and over…”I will stop eating this _______ tomorrow!”, but tomorrow just never comes!

So I thought I would do some research and see what I could find that would maybe help me out…read on…

“Chocolate and chips are at the top of the list when women say they experience PMS food cravings. Food cravings associated with PMS are not the result of a nutritional deficiency, Wurtman says.

“It’s a brain deficiency,” she says. “It’s a real phenomenon, provoked by changes in the brain when one’s hormones are changing. The one chemical that drives all of this is serotonin. One way you can make serotonin is by eating carbohydrates. But you don’t have to eat chocolate or potato chips to do that any more than you need to drink champagne to satisfy your thirst.

This I know..but still have no control–it’s the chocolate for me! Hmm..interesting about the carbohydrates. My diet consists of hardly any carbs other than fibrous veggies. Guess I need to be more aware around PMS time and add some carbs accordingly. Maybe that will make a difference? Worth a try!

Marla Ahlgrimm, a registered pharmacist and co-author of the book Self-Help for Premenstrual Syndrome, notes that women typically reach for high-fat or sweet foods because they’re a quick way to raise serotonin and endorphin levels. “It’s not the only way or the best way,” she says. “A snack of complex carbohydrates will do the same thing and may also allow the hormone progesterone to be metabolized fully.”

It sounds counterintuitive but foods can help relieve PMS cravings, says Lark. When PMS cravings strike, she suggests fighting back with grains and beans, tuna on a piece of rye crisp or a rice cake.

“If you want to slow down absorption of the carbs, add a little oil like mayonnaise or almond butter,” Lark says. “That will really cut your craving.”

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers the following tips for controlling PMS:

• Eat complex carbohydrates, such as whole grain breads, pasta and cereals, fiber and protein. Cut back on sugar and fat.
• Avoid salt for the last few days before your period to reduce bloating and fluid retention.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
• Studies have shown that taking 1,200 mg of calcium a day can help reduce PMS symptoms.
• Your doctor may suggest that taking a magnesium supplement can help reduce bloating, breast tenderness and mood symptoms. There is also some evidence that vitamin B6 and vitamin E can help reduce PMS symptoms.
• Talking with others about how PMS affects you can help. Sharing what you are going through will enable the people around you to be more supportive.
• Get moving with aerobic exercise. Work up to exercising 30 minutes, four to six times a week.
• Try new ways to relax and relieve stress, such as yoga or massage.
• Get plenty of sleep – about eight hours a night.

Pasted from <http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/transform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/hc/wom/fitn/alert09112001.jsp>

I also found a blog called “The Cravings Coach“. Diana (blog owner) also had a ebook called Craving Secrets. Yes, I picked up a copy and also signed up for her newsletter. Haven’t had a chance to look at the book yet, but have lots of time to read through it tomorrow!

So what are your cravings during PMS and what do you do to control them? I am sure we could all use some tips!

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