During the battle days of the menstrual cycle, women are armored with pain killers and heating bags for the physical battle of cramps and body pain. For uplifting mood swings and sadness, there is the ammunition of Netflix and comfort Food. But, somewhere there is the problem of having that discomfort feeling around the pelvic region. This is bloating. This bloating feeling not only causes discomfort but also makes you look heavy.
The main cause of bloating during the menstrual cycle is the hormonal fluctuations that take place. During periods, the progesterone levels go down and estrogen levels increases. With the increase in the estrogen level, water retention takes place, hence the bloating. But other than the hormonal fluctuations, other factors contribute to bloating during periods. What we eat matters and can cause bloating. Here is the list of Food Items that causes bloating:
# Alcohol
Chugging beer or sipping wine sounds comforting during periods but is the cause of bloating and discomfort. It increases the bloating as it is diuretic in nature which causes the estrogen levels to rise.
# Spicy food
Well, spicy food is comfort for your taste buds but not for your body. Consuming spicy food can lead to acidity and indigestion during periods. It is one of the main reasons for bloating as it causes gas leading to pelvic discomfort.
# Fries and chips
A McDonald’s large fries appear to be comforting, but it contains a heavy amount of trans fat and vegetable oil that is hydrogenated. Deep-fried food items must be avoided as it shoots up the estrogen level and causes constipation.
# Carbs and grains
Carbs such as bread and pasta are a big no during periods. These food items have a high GI Index. During periods these food items are difficult to digest and they cause constipation and bloating.
# Fatty foods
Food items containing high amounts of fat also lead to bloating. The body during the menstrual cycle goes through hormonal imbalance. Fatty foods make it worse as it leaves you dehydrated and increases body water retention.
# Kidney beans
Proteins such as kidney beans and chickpeas increase body heat during periods. These protein food items also become difficult to digest during periods. It leads to gas and irritable bowels.
# Sugary drinks
You might feel relaxed after a bottle of coke, but in the long run, it leaves you crashed and burned. The sugary food items cause a disruption in the hormones. It adds to water retention. It is better to just have water or plain lemon juice to avoid bloating,
# Salt
Salted food items are the biggest cause of bloating. Munching on salty snacks must be avoided during periods as it increases the water retention to the next level. Only camels have such amount of water retention in their body. Salted food leads to high blood pressure along with bloating and is big no during periods
If we see clearly, periods are not so bad. What we eat and what we do on a daily basis, affects our menstrual cycle heavily. If we stop eating these food items, bloating and discomfort would be gone. These food items may be appealing but are not at all healthy during periods.
The post Foods That Make You Bloat During Periods appeared first on Bolte Raho.
