The new ad that the Got Milk campaign was targeting? Women with PMS, and the helpless men that have to put up with it. The campaign was named "Everything I Do is Wrong," and it received immediate backlash from both men and women. The ad was based on studies that showed that dietary calcium intake can reduce PMS symptoms. So was their science wrong? Personally I think that the message and the science was correct to a degree, but it isn't exactly something that I would be on board with and promote.
First of all, I think that for the most part PMS symptoms can be completely avoided with healthy dietary and lifestyle habits. Every time I have this conversation with someone, I get the look of death from the women, and a look of hope from their male partner. We seem to have been taught that PMS is just a normal monthly bump in the road that we have to learn to deal with, so when I say that those monthly symptoms can be simply avoided, I don't think many people believe me.
To take a look back at the claim made in the "Everything I do is Wrong" campaign, they are correct when they say that calcium intake has been shown to reduce PMS symptoms. But would I rush out and purchase a carton of milk every time it's that "time of the month?" No thank you, I think I will pass. I need to still write a blog on the merits of raw, unpasteurized milk, but until then here is the cliff note's version: The milk that we buy at the local grocery store, is usually full of extra hormones that our bodies don't need, and has been stripped of most of the healthy bacteria and nutrients that makes milk an important part of a healthy lifestyle. My suggestion to you is that if you decide to turn to milk to reduce your PMS symptoms, reach for real, raw, unpasteurized milk. This way it will provide your body not only with a good source of calcium, but also healthy bacteria, fats, and proteins. People who are lactose-intolerant have also noticed that they are able to consume raw milk with out any of the troubles that occur when they drink regular milk.
To take a look back at the claim made in the "Everything I do is Wrong" campaign, they are correct when they say that calcium intake has been shown to reduce PMS symptoms. But would I rush out and purchase a carton of milk every time it's that "time of the month?" No thank you, I think I will pass. I need to still write a blog on the merits of raw, unpasteurized milk, but until then here is the cliff note's version: The milk that we buy at the local grocery store, is usually full of extra hormones that our bodies don't need, and has been stripped of most of the healthy bacteria and nutrients that makes milk an important part of a healthy lifestyle. My suggestion to you is that if you decide to turn to milk to reduce your PMS symptoms, reach for real, raw, unpasteurized milk. This way it will provide your body not only with a good source of calcium, but also healthy bacteria, fats, and proteins. People who are lactose-intolerant have also noticed that they are able to consume raw milk with out any of the troubles that occur when they drink regular milk.
Decide to skip the milk, and still need to relieve PMS symptoms? Calcium supplements are always a great option. Others options may include:
- Vitamin D- which works with the body to help absorb calcium
- Chaste Tree Berries- although the possible side effects of this herb to me don't seem to justify the small amount of symptoms that it is said to help.
- Magnesium- although studies are still being conducted, preliminary studies have shown reduction in PMS symptoms. There are side effects as well with taking too much magnesium and certain individuals that should avoid it.
- Evening Primrose- although it is related to reduction of pain and inflammation in the body, studies have failed to show any connection in the reduction of PMS symptoms directly
"Researchers compared diet and supplement use in women aged 27 to 44 who developed PMS over a ten year span to that of women who didn't develop it. The researchers saw a 40 percent lower risk of developing PMS in women with high intakes of vitamin D and calcium." -CBS
So what then can you do to reduce or eliminate the monthly symptoms that so many women face? NUTRITION!!! Proper nutrition plays a vital in your monthly cycle. Reducing sugars, the majority of carbohydrates, caffeine, and foods that can mimic or that contain excess hormones will significantly help relieve your PMS symptoms. Also increasing your intake of calcium and vitamin D, either through diet or supplements, has been shown to be beneficial as well.
Exercise is also another great PMS buster, it is important to keep a regular workout schedule. During a workout, levels of chemicals called beta-endorphins rise. These chemicals positively impact mood and behavior.
According to Endocrinologist, Dr. Susan Thys-Jacobs: “PMS is not a disease or psychiatric condition, but a manifestation of a nutritional deficiency. PMS is a very healthy signal alerting young women of a mineral imbalance. If women don’t ingest enough dietary calcium and vitamin D, the hormones that regulate calcium react negatively with estrogen and progesterone and trigger PMS symptoms.”
Exercise is also another great PMS buster, it is important to keep a regular workout schedule. During a workout, levels of chemicals called beta-endorphins rise. These chemicals positively impact mood and behavior.
Pura Vida!
Alica Ryan, NTP
No comments:
Post a Comment