Menstrual cramps are the painful sensations that most women feel in their lower abdomens during menstruation.
These cramps occur as the uterus contracts to remove its lining. This pain can range from mild, where you can still move around and do some chores and other activities, to severe, where you are scrunched up in the corner of the room, unable to move, which can interfere with everyday activities, creating discomfort and difficulties.
For years, many women have believed that eating sugary foods might aggravate these cramps. So, in this article, we want to find out if there’s actually a link between eating sugar and having worse cramps.
What’s The Connection Between Sugar and Inflammation?
During menstruation, your body produces a substance called prostaglandins. These chemicals cause the uterus to contract, which results in cramping. In some circumstances, if there’s an excess release of prostaglandins, the cramp intensifies.
Consuming too much sugar may trigger inflammation in your body. Sugary foods and drinks can raise blood sugar levels, causing the body to release inflammatory chemicals. This inflammation could worsen pre existing pain, such as menstrual cramps. Processed foods, which are high in sugar and other unhealthy ingredients, can further aggravate inflammation and cramps.
What’s The Relationship Between Sugar and Hormonal Balance?
The connection between the two is quite similar to that of sugar and inflammation. During your menstrual cycle, hormone levels change, particularly estrogen and progesterone. These hormonal changes can affect the severity of your cramps.
Consuming sugary foods can cause fluctuations in your blood sugar levels, disrupting your hormonal balance, particularly insulin, which is responsible for blood sugar regulation. When insulin levels fluctuate, it could affect other hormones involved in your menstrual cycle.
How Do You Manage Menstrual Cramps?
In actuality, the majority of women rely on painkillers to get them through their days. I watch a few of my friends use ibuprofen or other similar medicines when their period arrives, hoping it will make them feel better on the first day of their period. For most of my friends, ibuprofen doesn’t always work, so before you know it, they’re taking yet another medication.
But here’s something you probably didn’t know about these pain relievers: long-term use of ibuprofen can increase your chance of developing ulcers. Instead of relying on medicines to treat period cramps, consider other options such as improving your diet. Because, let’s be honest, if you hadn’t had so many sugary foods, you wouldn’t be cramping so badly. Or perhaps you would, but not as badly as you would after eating sugar.
Consider including anti-inflammatory foods high in omega-3 fatty acids in your diet (fatty fish and flaxseeds). These may help relieve cramping.
You can also try exploring other pain management methods like applying heat, mild massage, or contacting your doctor about natural therapies that may be suitable for you.
Conclusion
To summarize, the connection between sugar consumption and menstrual cramps is complex, involving hormone balance and inflammation. Hormonal fluctuation during the menstrual cycle can affect the severity of cramps, and eating too much sugar can disturb hormone balance, namely insulin levels.
This fluctuation can worsen premenstrual symptoms and menstrual cramps. You may be able to relieve menstrual discomfort and PMS by limiting your sugar intake and eating more balanced meals.
