Today I appeal to all the women who follow me and who have painful menstrual cycle problems. Many people suffer from pain before or during their period, and for these pains they usually take painkillers and wait patiently for the storm to pass. Well, there are two considerations for those who have a painful menstrual cycle, and maybe you don’t know them. I say maybe, because I guess you have already read everything. Here are two things I learned the hard way and would like to talk to you today. 

The first : the painful menstrual cycle is not a condition to which one must resign oneself. Period pain (some also claim some pregnancy symptoms) can be alleviated with diet, until symptoms almost disappear.
Low-calorie diets, restrictive diets of some foods, especially carbohydrates (both simple and complex) have harmful consequences on the female cycle. Consequences that can carry on for years.
But some studies have focused on menstrual symptoms and food, finding some randomness. 

In particular, cutting calories and carbohydrates makes a painful menstrual cycle worse . It is no coincidence that our body craves sweets: you will read that it is due to the need for a greater intake of magnesium, but this is an excruciating simplification. If you are craving carbohydrates, you need to eat carbohydrates. 
The drastic reduction of carbohydrates in the female diet is linked to painful periods, amenorrhea and fertility problems. Since a woman’s metabolism is higher before the period, a lot of personal trainers and some crafty nutritionists suggest going low carb before the cycle. Of course, we tend to lose more weight. However, just when the metabolism is faster it would be better to eat (without exaggerating) more carbohydrates, perhaps holding back at the end of the cycle, when the metabolism slows down. Not the other. 

Eating low carbohydrates in fact causes thyroid problems and a greater accumulation of stress: stress that worsens the painful menstrual cycle. If we don’t want to get fat, we can simply eat more potatoes instead of pasta and rice, more fake grains like quinoa and buckwheat . Sweet potatoes, with a lower glycemic index, are also great when we’re waiting for our period, or oats. Another thing to remember is to eat a little more cheese : the increase in calcium and vitamin D seems to reduce the symptoms of a painful menstrual cycle. And yes, some chocolate, and some foods that contain omega-3s, like salmon and chia seeds. We start eating these foods a week before our period comes.

The second. During the cycle, we take in more vitamin C: it is a miracle against menstrual pain, acting as a natural analgesic.
One citrus juice a day is enough, abundant without problems these days, perhaps making yourself a little water, lemon and honey even in the afternoon. If you can find it at the supermarket, buy some papaya or kiwifruit: they are rich in vitamin C.