The symptoms of PMS vary from woman to woman. While PMS is a nutritional deficiency syndrome and while sugar, cookies, cakes and candies generally makes it worse, chocolate can actually make it better. PMS symptoms generally start 7 to 14 days before the next menstrual periods. During this time women crave chocolate. And there is good reason for this.
We know that certain components in chocolate can actually reduce your PMS symptoms, while others can make it worse. The goal then is to find the right blend, the right chocolate product that can reduce PMS symptoms and not worsen them.
One of the components that helps to reduce mood changes is a mood-lifting chemicals which has a serotonin like effect on in the brain. Another and possibly more important ingredient in chocolate is magnesium. Many women have PMS because they have deficiency of magnesium in their body, hence eating chocolate helps to reduce this magnesium deficiency and improve PMS symptoms.
However, there is however, little hard evidence telling us what causes PMS and why PMS seems to get better when you eat chocolate. Since we know that PMS gets better when you eat th right type of chocolate we have a reasonably good idea why many women crave chocolate.
Some people have pointed out that women suffering from PMS do not also crave other foods high in magnesium. For these people the leap to chocolate is difficult. They insist that PMS must not be a deficiency syndrome, this is because they forget another aspect of chocolate that is important and another set of cravings that feed the chocolate cravings, that is cravings for sugar. They also ignore the fact that a diet high in sugar, which requires magnesium to metabolize the sugar, worsens PMS.
A recent study compared the value for reducing PMS symptoms using chocolate bars (made with lots of sugar) and cocoa capsules (with no sugar in them). The study found that only the chocolate bars actually reduced cravings. They, attributed this to “orosensory effect.” the way chocolate feels in your mouth. The fact is chocolate works because of the combination of chocolate, fat and sugar that exists in most commercial chocolate products.
Researchers across the country have created many double-blind studies to determine whether vitamin and mineral supplements help to alleviate the symptoms. None of these studies have shown any beneficial effects, although each study often states that, “Taking a vitamin supplement may help some women on an individual basis.”
The studies we reviewed each and everyone of them sued the wrong combinations of vitamins and minerals, and most did not include any real control over the overall diet. They were much like someone testing to find out why cars on the freeway travel over 80 miles an hour while only looking at the effects road conditions have on this process. If you do not look at the driver, his mind set and they capacity of the car to even go 80 miles an hour you could easily conclude that good road conditions are responsible for speeding. You would never really understand the role of the driver nor they ability of the car to reach 80 miles an hour.
Clearly, four to six candy bars a day during the midst of a PMS episode would not be the healthiest way to calm your cravings. If you want to cut back on the chocolate snacks, most doctors will tell you that be the best way is to simply apply will power. These are either not doctors who understand PMS or at least not ones that get goof results treating it. Willpower alone won't do it, you deal with a number of other factors:
- First and most important change your diet and lifestyle in the right direction to eliminate PMS symptoms
- Next take the right combination of supplements to get the job done correctly.
In the meantime until you start doing this here are a list of the common choices offered by most doctors:
- Eat small amounts of high quality dark chocolate rather than candy bars or milk chocolate (which may have extra ingredients, calories, and fat)
- Reduce the number of candy bars you eat during PMS gradually
- Substitute a healthier sweet, such as fruit or frozen yogurt, for some of the chocolate
- When you have a craving, wait 15-30 minutes to see if it passes. If it doesn't pass, see how long you can wait it out. If you really can't wait it out, have a small piece of dark chocolate.
We have no problem with these measures, however, if you look closely none of these measures are really doing anything about your PMS. None are eliminating your PMS. None are curing it and making it go away for ever. They are simply, as we have offered them stop gap measures while you make up your mind to do what is really needed. Change your lifestyle and your diet.
Remember also exercise is important components in controlling the severity of PMS symptoms for many women. While we could give you lists of things to do, generally these would simply be words on a page. We can say safely to eat healthy foods, whole grains, fruits, and lots of vegetables. Avoid sugar, salt, alcohol, and caffeine before, during and after your period. By all means, give a multi-vitamin a try. You can check with your health care provider but chances are unless he has a nutritional background or a successful practice treating PMS he will not know what you should be taking any more then you do. If your doctor tells you need psychotropic medications for your PMS, depression or anxiety, then clearly he or she does not know what they are doing and I would suggest finding someone who does. A regular exercise routine may help ease the symptoms of PMS, too.
Once you decide that eliminating your PMS is going to be a much smarter move for you than simply “managing your chocolate cravings” or “managing your PMS symptoms ,” then let us know and we will be glad to help you.
To read Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), click here.
To read PMS - An Introduction, click here.
To read PMS Fact Sheet, click here.
To get your PMS Self Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ), click here.
To read PMS and Your Diet, click here.
To read PMS and the Family, click here.
To read PMS and Emotions, click here.
To read PMS and Pregnancy, click here
To read PMS and Fibrocystic Breast Disease, click here.
To read PMS and Birth Control Pills, click here.
To get your book A Guide to Symptoms Relief, click here.
To purchase 30-Days to No More PMS, click here.
To read Personal PMS Diary, click here.
To read PMS Management Form click here.
Related Articles:
More articles by this author
|
Premenstrual Syndrome 
