Women with menstrual cramps should avoid sugary foods
Dr Arikawe Adeolu, a Medical Practitioner at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, said that women who avoided sugary foods before their menstruation would experience less menstrual cramps. Adeolu said this in an interview in Abuja.
He explained that research Demonstrated that glucose increased the degree of inflammation within the body thus increasing the generation of prostaglandin that was accountable for menstrual discomforts.
He explained that, inorder to decrease the seriousness of menstrual cramps through the menstrual cycle one have to control the excess production of prostaglandin within the torso.
“You will find Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID) which may hinder the production of prostaglandin like Ibuprofen and Diclofenac”
If you’re expecting your menstrual cycle in just 2 to 3days time, you may start taking anti inflammatory medication to stop the body from generating excessive amounts of prostaglandin.
Medication intake after the period has already started won’t have the impact they’d have had if you’d taken them few days’ prior to the menstruation. “After menstruation commences, this means that the prostaglandin has been generated and this will lead to contraction of the muscles of the uterus resulting in cramping,” Adeolu explained.
He explained that even though the medication can reduce distress during menstruation considerably one may have health complications from eating them if not correctly taken as prescribed by a doctor. He then advised that the medication should be taken with meals and not for more than 2 to 3days before the menstruation started.
He also noted that, there are individuals who do not have interest in taking drugs to influence their diet particularly during the cycle so as to cut the pain once the period begins. From what he said, processed foods made with sugar and flour ought to be avoided prior to the menstrual cycle and you can eat foods full of vitamins D, E and calcium.
Adeolu Stated that the Seriousness of menstrual pains experienced by women varies from one person to another, stating that the cramps decreased in strength as the ovulation progressed. “The cause of such cramps is the cyclical hormonal shift in ladies and this is what is responsible for the menstruation. “After your ovulation starts, oestrogen begins to build up.
At your mid cycle, you Ovulate and when this happens progesterone is generated. “The progesterone attempts to keep the uterus at a favourable condition inorder to be given a fertilised egg but if after about 9 days, the egg isn’t fertilised the ‘corpus luteum cyst’ which generates the progesterone shrinks and dies.
“If for any reason the Egg is fertilised, the egg generates some sign to keep the corpus luteum Cyst telling the uterus to maintain a condition of readiness for conception,” Adeolu said. He explained that when the progesterone production stopped, prostaglandin Starts being generated thus causing the muscles of your uterus to contract which will later result to cramping and shedding of endometrium. But, the specialist said Some people made more prostaglandin than many others, adding that these type of people often experienced serious menstrual cramps
