PMS Relief

Do you dread the week or two prior to your monthly cycle? You know that time when you feel yourself changing from Dr. Jekyll into Ms. Hyde. There's the irritability, the bloating, the gnawing food cravings, breast tenderness, crying spells, depression and headaches-just to name a few of the most common complaints women experience.

The following have been identified as possible underlying causes of PMS/PMT:

* Excessive estrogen levels from diet, personal care products and stress
* Deficiency in progesterone from diet, personal care products and stress
* Elevated prolactin levels
* Poor nutrition
* Hypoglycemia
* Psychological issues

Since PMS encompasses as many as 150 different symptoms and a myriad of possible causes the problem can be complex, confusing and, at times, difficult to correct. However, it is not necessary to suffer in silence as there are many Natural Choices which have been shown to effectively treat your PMS symptoms.....first:

Change Your Diet

The easiest thing you can do to help alleviate your PMS symptoms is to improve your eating habits. Food can play a large role in how you feel when your hormones are raging. Here are some suggestions for simple adjustments you can make to your diet:

1.Eat a Plant Based Diet - Vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, herbs, nuts and seeds are the main components of a plant-based diet. Studies have shown that women who are vegetarian have much less circulating free estrogen in their blood than non-vegetarian women.

One way vegetarians avoid consuming free estrogen is by not eating meat-most farmers inject livestock with hormones that we ingest when we eat non-organic chicken, beef or pork. Since xeno-estrogens interfere with natural hormone production and function, it makes sense to take steps to prevent the introduction of synthetic hormones into your body's natural chemistry.

However, you don't have to become a full-fledged vegetarian to reap the benefits. By simply increasing your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables and shopping for hormone and antibiotic-free meats, you will improve your overall health.

Eat at least three servings per week of cold water fish high in omega 3 fatty acids-halibut, salmon, cod.

2.Consume More Dietary Fiber - Many studies suggest that a high fiber diet reduces PMS symptoms by binding excess estrogens in the gut and keeping them out of circulation.

3. Reduce Saturated Fats - 40 percent of the average American diet contains saturated fats. This number should be reduced to, at the most, 25 percent. A diet low in saturated fat (found primarily in dairy and animal products such as fatty meats and lard) can help reduce estrogen levels because fat cells trigger estrogen production.