GirlsGuideTo | What to Eat That Time of the Month

You can always tell when that time of the month is near. You start tearing up at Hallmark commercials and suddenly all that you’re craving is chocolate and carbs. It really is hard being a lady, especially when you’re dealing with the bloating and for-no-reason mood swings during your period. To help ease your symptoms, we’ve compiled some foods that fight PMS. Just add them to your diet the week before and during, and you’ll be back to your usual, awesome self in no time.

Sweet Potatoes

Those premenstrual out-of-whack mood swings and nonstop cravings are due to a lack of the brain chemical serotonin. Judith Wurtman, Ph.D., coauthor of The Serotonin Power Diet says "The only thing that helps—and it helps instantly—is to eat carbs, because that's the only way the brain makes new serotonin." Surprisingly, the serotonin boosters need to be eaten straight with no fat or protein. Instead of going carb-crazy, stick with healthy sweet potatoes.

Try this savory mashed recipe:

In a medium saucepan, combine 1-inch chunks of sweet potatoes and enough cold water to cover them. Cover the pan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender. Drain the potatoes in a colander and return them to the medium saucepan. A drizzle of honey, and a dash of cinnamon and pepper. Mash until smooth.

Wine

To lessen PMS, feel free to hit up happy hour the week before that time of the month and order a glass of wine. Studies recently linked moderate alcohol consumption (about one drink per day) to fewer pre-period mood changes and headaches.

Skim Milk

According to Mary Dallman, Ph.D., professor of physiology at the University of California, San Francisco, the calcium found in milk can reduce muscle spasms and soothe tension. Just one glass of skim or 1 percent milk can also reduce mood swings, anxiety, irritability, and other stressful PMS symptoms.

Ginkgo Biloba

The herb gingko biloba contains flavonoids, which ease bloating by reducing inflammation and increasing blood flow. A recent study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine revealed that women taking 40-milligram gingko tablets 3X a day during the last half of their menstrual cycle reported less severe PMS symptoms, including belly bloat.

Spinach

Spinach is the motherload for magnesium, a mighty mineral that almost 7 out of 10 of us don’t get enough of. Magnesium can help lower stress levels, as well as prevent fatigue and migraine headaches.

Just one leafy cup provides 40 percent of your daily value – so mix some into your next salad.

Or whip up a hot side of wilted spinach:

Heat a teaspoon of olive oil, a crushed garlic clove, and some black pepper in a nonstick skillet over medium heat, then toss in four handfuls of spinach leaves and turn them frequently for a minute or two.

What do you dine on during that time of the month? Share your PMS killers in the comments below!

{Source :Women's Health}