Pre-Menstrual Syndrome

Before you start

The gut’s ability to absorb nutrients, whether it is from food or from the foodstate supplements, will be significantly improved if the body has first been cleansed of harmful toxins, and the intestinal tract replenished with healthy flora.

It is of particular benefit in today’s environment with our increased exposure to harmful toxins from so many sources. It is our recommendation to pre-empt any dietary/nutritional program with a cleanse, and to repeat it twice per year.

To this extent we recommend that before you start on your required formula you undertake our Detox Formula which involves 3 products that provide a very effective cleanse program that will enhance your health and wellbeing.

Click here to view the Detox Formula

Introduction

Sometimes this common experience for many women can last for more than half of the monthly cycle. However, despite its prevalence it is far from inevitable, and there are positive actions that can be taken to improve quality of life.

Symptoms can be varied, and the renowned American gynaecologist Guy Abraham identified four separate patterns:

PMT-A: Anxiety & nervous tension with raised oestrogen & low progesterone
PMT-D: Depression, confusion and forgetfulness with raised progesterone, or lead toxicity
PMT-C: Headache, cravings & hypoglycaemia with low RBC Magnesium & low PGE1
PMT-H: Fluid weight gain and bloating due to salt & water retention

More recently there has also been added:

PMT-P: Pain – cramps, low back pain, nausea & vomiting.

The suggestions offered below are designed to be of help with all the above definitions of PMT.

Supplements

The following supplements are known to be helpful:

Table of Beneficial Nutritional Supplements

This information is offered as an introduction to supplements, herbs, foods and substances that are known to help with Pre-Menstrual Syndrome. This information is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and it is suggested that sound advice is taken by an appropriately qualified practitioner.

If you experience Mastalgia (painful breasts), you may wish to add Vitamin E, which is known to alleviate this condition.

Dietary Recommendations

Positive Foods

Cereal grains oats, short-grain brown rice and other whole grains
Vegetables broccoli, spinach, celery leaves
Fruits apples, ripe bananas, avocado,
Legumes soya bean tofu
Teas, Herbs & Spices camomile tea, ginseng, feverfew
Nuts & Seeds soaked flax seeds, walnuts
Fungi Shitake mushrooms
Fish tuna, halibut & organic salmon
Meats organic chicken, organic liver,
Dairy three to four potions of organic live yoghurt per week
Additional Foods organic honey

Negative Foods

Refined carbohydrates, hydrogenated fats, battery chicken & hens’ eggs, white sugar (sucrose), artificial sweeteners, coffee, chocolate, alcohol, cheese, salami, pickled foods, most nuts, foods with additives

Dairy foods (except organic yoghurt), all pork products

Possible irritants include high intake of dietary fats, caffeine drinks, alcohol, chocolate, eggs, cheese, red meat and salty foods.

Coffee, tea, tobacco and alcohol all tend to aggravate symptoms.

Additional Comment

It is important that attention is paid to the balance between acid-forming and alkali-forming foods. The optimum balance is around 60% alkali-formingto acid-forming. See Acid Forming and Alkali Forming guidelines.

Take plenty of fresh water. Good quality still mineral water from a glass container is the superior form; though a good tap filter is also satisfactory.

Homeopathy has been found to be of value with PMS.

MSM supplements are claimed to help reduce headaches associated with some forms of PMS according to several anecdotal reports.

Candida Albicans is a proliferation of undesirable intestinal fungal yeast, and is known to exacerbate PMS. It is estimated that over 30% of people consuming a western diet experience over-proliferation of candida albicans.

Additional Help & Support

Women who lead active lives and exercise regularly experience less PMS than those who lead sedentary lifestyles. Therefore, increasing the level of physical activity may help.

Plenty of natural sunlight and fresh air can also be beneficial; couple this with exercise and start walking two or three times a week.