What To Do About PMS

Yesterday I was griping about something my husband did when he said, 'Man you're in a bad mood,' followed by, ' Ohhhh, I know why!' Those words only served to make me angrier but the truth of the matter is, there are days when I am PMSing and I am just plain irritable. (I just don't want it pointed out to me!)

So, what are we to do when we find ourselves moody, bloated, and cramping? Here are a few tips I found in the April 14, 2008 issue of Woman's World that I'm willing to try. Let me know if they help you too, or if you have any other suggestions.

If your problem is Moodiness:

• Try walking 30 minutes four times a week. Doing this was shown to help up to 80% of PMS sufferers erase their blues, irritability and other monthly mood problems.
• Boost your B. Make sure your multivitamin contains 100 mg. of vitamin B6. This nutrient revs production of the brain's mood-boosting chemical serotonin. A daily does of B6 has been shown to ease the emotional discomfort of PMS for up to 88% of woman. Foods rich in B6 include chicken, eggs, fish, peas and walnuts.

If your problem is Cramps:

• Use a heating pad or heat wrap. Heat improves blood flow to tender tissues, which, helps whisk away pain-triggering prostaglandins. And, it works more quickly and just as effectively as taking ibuprofen -- but without negative side effects.
• 2.5 grams of fish oil plus 400 IU of vitamin E taken daily soothes pain for up to 60% of women by blocking the production of hormones that cause inflammation.

If your problems is Bloating:

• Try 250 mg. of dandelion extract in capsule form or 20 drops of the tincture, three times daily. There's evidence that the natural hormone balancers in this herb quickly, yet safely, flush out excess fluids.
• Salt worsens the problem because it works hand-in-hand with aldosterone to trap water inside cells. So hide the salt shaker!

If you have Disrupted Sleep Cycles during PMS:

• One night just before your PMS normally strikes, go to bed at 9:00 p.m. and get up at 1:00 a.m. When researchers had PMS-prone women to try this odd trick, 80% said it erased their symptoms!

In addition, studies show a magnesium-rich diet can cut premenstrual bloating, anxiety, breast pain and headaches by almost 90%. Good sources include trail mix, (235 mg.) halibut, (182 mg.) spinach, (157 mg.) pumpkin seeds, (151 mg.) and Kellogg's All-Bran. (109 mg.)