{"id":626853,"date":"2024-02-16T15:13:32","date_gmt":"2024-02-16T20:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=626853"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:08:43","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:08:43","slug":"foods-that-help-with-period-cramps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/foods-that-help-with-period-cramps\/","title":{"rendered":"Foods that help with period cramps and foods to avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"

Period cramps are a common symptom during a monthly menstrual cycle. The length and severity of period cramps varies from person to person based on <\/span>various factors, including diet. <\/span><\/p>\n

To shorten the severity of cramps, people can eat high-fiber foods, such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains, which can “decrease inflammation and aid the body in eliminating estrogens,” says <\/span>Kelsey Costa, MS<\/span><\/a>, a registered dietitian and nutrition consultant for the <\/span>National Coalition on Healthcare<\/span><\/a> based in Boston, Massachusetts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s a look at foods that help with period cramps.<\/span><\/p>\n

The connection between diet and menstrual cramps<\/span><\/h2>\n

What a person eats can influence the symptoms they experience during their menstrual cycles. A poor diet is one factor that may lead to more intense menstrual cramps, a condition known as dysmenorrhea.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dysmenorrhea is <\/span>pain during menstruation<\/span><\/a> that is strong enough to affect a person’s ability to do their normal activities. More than half of women experience some pain during their menstrual cycles for one to two days each month. But for people with dysmenorrhea, the pain is severe. According to research, people with dysmenorrhea may have <\/span>heightened estrogen levels<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Estrogen is a <\/span>group of steroid hormones<\/span><\/a> responsible for maintaining the female reproductive system. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Consuming a high quantity of food that stimulates estrogen production can cause the uterine lining to become abnormally thick,” Costa says. <\/span><\/p>\n

Excess <\/span>estrogen<\/span><\/a> exposure in females may be associated with:<\/span><\/p>\n