Women have a few days each month that can be painful, but it varies from person to person, as menstrual pain is closely related to individual constitution. Some women are born with it. So what should women pay attention to in terms of diet during their menstrual period? What should they eat and what should they avoid? What can worsen menstrual pain? Today, let's take a look at what women should pay attention to in terms of diet during their menstrual period.
Foods to Avoid During Menstruation
1. Tea: After menstruation, women lose a large amount of iron and should consume more iron. However, tea contains over 30% tannic acid, which easily combines with iron ions in the intestines, causing precipitation and hindering the absorption of iron by the intestinal mucosa. It can also cause breast tenderness and deplete the body's vitamin B reserves, disrupting carbohydrate metabolism.
2. Carbonated Drinks: Many women who like to drink carbonated beverages may experience fatigue and low energy during their menstrual period, which is a sign of iron deficiency. This is because carbonated drinks and other beverages often contain phosphates, which react chemically with iron in the body, making it difficult for the body to absorb iron. In addition, drinking carbonated drinks can neutralize stomach acid, reducing digestive capacity and bactericidal effects, affecting appetite.
3. Sichuan Pepper, Cloves, Pepper: During menstruation, it is advisable to eat light, balanced, and nutritious foods, and not consume highly stimulating spicy foods to avoid causing early menstruation or excessive menstrual flow.
4. Persimmons: Persimmons contain tannic acid, which can combine with iron and hinder the body's absorption of iron from food. Since women lose a large amount of blood during their menstrual period and need to replenish iron, it is not advisable to eat persimmons.
5. Watermelon: Women should avoid eating watermelon during their menstrual period.
6. Bamboo Shoots: Bamboo shoots have a cold nature and should be avoided by women during their menstrual period.
7. Alcohol: Alcohol has a blood circulation-promoting effect, but drinking alcohol during menstruation can easily lead to excessive menstrual bleeding and prolonged menstrual periods, which is not good for health. It is advisable to avoid drinking alcohol during menstruation and say NO to alcohol.
8. Salt: Eating salty foods before menstruation is not good for menstrual health. If you consume a large amount of salty food before menstruation, excessive salt and water will accumulate in the body, leading to symptoms such as headaches, local swelling, restlessness, and irritability, causing trouble during menstruation. If you start eating a low-salt, light diet 10 days before menstruation, reducing the intake of salt and water, the above discomfort symptoms can be alleviated or eliminated.
9. Caffeinated Beverages: Caffeine can cause breast tenderness, anxiety, irritability, and unstable emotions. It also depletes the body's vitamin B reserves and disrupts carbohydrate metabolism.
Fruits to Eat More During Menstruation
During menstruation, it is suitable to eat fruits that are neutral in nature, such as apples, figs, strawberries, and tomatoes. Oranges, peaches, cherries, dates, lychees, longans, pineapples, pomegranates, and grapes are also suitable for consumption during menstruation as they are warm in nature. However, it is important not to eat too much at once.
During menstruation, it is recommended to eat more green onions, black fungus, peanuts, walnuts, jujubes, longans, and roses. If you accidentally eat cold food or cannot resist eating ice during menstruation, you can drink more ginger cooked in brown sugar to balance blood circulation and promote smooth blood flow.
Foods to Eat More
1. Apples: Apples contain unique malic acid, which can accelerate metabolism and reduce fat in the lower body. They also contain more calcium than other fruits, which can reduce the salt that causes lower body edema.
2. Papaya: Papaya contains unique protein-digesting enzymes, which can eliminate fat accumulated in the lower body due to meat consumption. The pectin in papaya is also an excellent laxative that can reduce waste accumulation in the lower body.
3. Grapefruit: Grapefruit is known to have low calories, so eating it in larger quantities will not cause weight gain. However, it is also rich in potassium, which helps reduce fat and water accumulation in the lower body.
4. Kiwi: In addition to being rich in vitamin C, kiwi is also high in fiber, which can increase the speed of fat breakdown and prevent excessive fat accumulation in the legs.
Female friends, pay attention! Don't think that this is a trivial matter. Sometimes eating these things during your period can be very harmful to yourself. Take care of yourself and start with small things.
