Nutritionist Pui Ting Wong and Professor of Public Health Lauren Ball from the University of Queensland in Australia said Conversation that eating high-calorie, fatty foods rich in omega-3 acids, limiting the amount of alcohol and caffeine helps reduce the severity of abdominal pain during menstruation.
Highly processed foods tend to be high in calories and low in nutritional value. These include chips, cookies, baked goods, processed meats and fast food. Studies have not shown a link between sugar consumption and painful periods. However, some scientific articles suggest that women who consume more processed foods may experience more severe menstrual pain.
Additionally, foods high in caffeine, such as coffee, energy drinks, and specialty bars, can increase pain during menstruation. The exact mechanism underlying this action is not yet understood. It is believed that caffeine can constrict blood vessels. This leads to reduced blood flow throughout the body and more severe cramps.
Alcohol consumption is not a known risk factor for painful periods. But drinking too much regularly reduces magnesium levels in the blood. Magnesium helps muscles relax and helps maintain normal blood flow.
Eating a healthy diet can help people with painful periods. Pui Tin Wong recommends consulting a nutritionist to create an individual diet. General recommendations include consuming foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These include salmon, herring, sardines, mackerel, oysters, walnuts, flaxseeds and seaweed. Omega-3 fatty acids regulate signaling pathways associated with inflammation and pain in the body. A study by Australian scientists from Deakin University found that increasing the amount of omega-3-rich foods in the diet can reduce abdominal pain during menstruation after two to three months of dieting.
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