What Are Your Favorite PMS Foods?
And we don’t mean Cheetos, though we love them as much as the next guy. We mean like actual, beneficial (or at least slightly less sinful) snacks. If you’ve read our book, you know we have a whole chapter on nutrition, because we believe that food and lifestyle choices are as important as products in how we feel and look (big duhs). So we want to hear from you—what do you eat when you need to calm the monsters that sometimes pop out of your brain (and mouth and face) the week leading up to your period?
We’ve tried a bunch of things, from doubling our doses of evening primrose oil, B12 and omega 3s in an effort to keep our hormones in check, to going raw or vegan for the seven days before. Have you tried anything that works? And what’s your perfect PMS dinner?
Here, I’ll go first. My perfect dinner is olive oil drenched oven potatoes (basically fries, but like, not) with a greek-yogurt-sriracha mix for dipping, spinach and salmon salad loaded with veggies, a side of asparagus and then coconut sorbet if I want dessert. Asparagus is a diuretic, salmon is great for skin and hormones, veggies are just plain good and anything from the fry family is my favorite thing to eat ever. So that satisfies my very strong desire for fats (the good kind!) and salt (the good kind! just kidding) and crunchiness—without making me feel worse.
Y tu?
Street art image from (cc) Flickr user Bluejake
We love us some homemade sweet potato fries (baked, of course) for our salt craving (plus lots of beta carotene and fiber), fresh fruits (especially apples and blueberries) to help get rid of that icky, bloated, constipated feeling and a square or two of some really good, organic chocolate from Green and Black because, well, let’s be honest: it’s chocolate.
Mmm, yours sounds delicious as an anytime meal! I am a fan of savory & sour – especially at PMS time. I make a simple arugula salad with a bit of olive oil, a ton of lemon, and a sprinkle of parmesan flakes. It’s very refreshing, and I actually crave it for breakfast. Big fan.
Yum, I love a good salad too—especially when I’m PMS and can’t stop eating. All day. But yes to dark chocolate and more dark chocolate too.
I see I am not the only one with dark chocolate cravings during those days.
But I think there is a reason for that:
dark chocolate is a source of iron and a good source of magnesium which relieves PMS.
Also, chocolate contains natural endorphins that makes you feel better, and during those tough days we sure need endorphins.
So… thumbs up for dark chocolate (organic and fair trade one, of course) ^-^
another vote of confidence for dark chocolate!
also, my mom always told me to avoid cold foods (like ice cream) while you are on your period – so i tend to drink a lot of hot tea. I’m not sure how true this is but the hot tea definitely helps
I try to take various pms teas to help ease into period time. Food-wise I go for salty foods like chips. On a more healthy front I enjoy vegan versions of Shepard’s Pie and anything with miso gravy (usually broccoli and baked potatoes).
i like spicy food like jalapenos, chips and salsa mmm mmm mm… i also like just fatty foods such as pizza or pasta just about anything hot. I am a bottomless pit when it comes to pms