We know reaching for the biscuit tin can seem like the only solution when you’re on your period and the cravings strike. But what you put into your body during your period can affect a number of things including your mood, energy levels, cramps and bloating!
It’s good to enjoy a bit of what you crave from time to time but try to top up your body with some of these mood-enhancing, energy-boosting, bloating reducing heroes too.
We’ve put together this simple guide to help you out when choosing what food to eat, and what to avoid!
Food to enjoy
The cramp killers
- Yoghurt
- Salmon
- Nuts and seeds
The mood enhancers
- Dark chocolate
- Oranges
- Blueberries
The bloat busters
- Watermelon
- Water
- Cucumber
- Herbal teas
The energy boosters
- Spinach
- Bananas
- Sweet potato
Food to avoid
Salty and processed food
Food such as takeaway, pizza, chips, chicken nuggets will only make you more bloated, which can make cramps more painful because they’re harder for your stomach to digest!
Sugar
We get it. You’re tired, a bit snappy, and reallllly crave the sugary goodness…but trust us, long term it won’t be good. Too much sugar from drinks, biscuits or sweet treats can cause you to sugar-crash, leaving you feeling even more tired and agitated, so maybe just go for the one chocolate bar, not the family pack.
Dairy
Eating too much dairy while on your period can cause you to bloat up, and even upset your stomach. So maybe have a little less cheese or try to stay away from ice-cream and milkshakes as they can leave you feeling washed out and can make cramps feel worse. If you find dairy does make your cramps worse, you could always try some of the great dairy-free alternatives available in most supermarkets.
Fizzy drinks
Another go-to for a little energy boost are fizzy drinks, but all that sugar and fizz can really bloat you, again making your cramps worse, not to mention the sugar-crash which could also follow.
