Menstruators who suffer from painful periods and cramps often turn to over-the-counter drugs as a way to alleviate their pain but did you know that chocolate is a delicious treat that can also be a healthy diet for women? In fact, according to a study published in the medical journal Clinical Nursing Research, up to 75% of people report using medications for menstrual pain. But is there another solution?
Surprisingly, chocolate has properties that are beneficial to the female reproductive system. So don’t give up on your favorite dessert just yet!
For those who experience period pain and cramps, chocolate might be the perfect healthy treat to make your day a little bit brighter. The chemicals in chocolate that produce the “happy” effect also happen to counteract the chemical that signals pain and inflammation. Menstruators who suffer from severe menstrual cramps and pain can find relief in chocolate. Chocolate, which contains natural pain relievers, such as the brain chemical serotonin, can counteract the pain of periods for many women.
Are chocolates really the healthy diet for women for painful periods?
Menstruators who suffer from severe menstrual cramps and pain can find relief in chocolate. Chocolate, which contains natural pain relievers, such as the brain chemical serotonin, can counteract the pain of periods for many women. Period pain can affect women’s health in both physical and mental aspects.
Painful periods are a real monthly issue for many menstruators. The pain can last days and is often accompanied by bleeding between periods, discomfort after sex, pelvic cramps, and mood swings. Period onsets seem to be getting earlier for younger menstruators as well. Painful menstrual cycles are a reality for many, but some dark chocolate could be the key to relieving the symptoms of painful periods.
What causes period pain?
It’s not always possible to pinpoint the cause of menstrual pain. A variety of factors can influence how painful a period can be for a menstruator and also other underlying problems may be the cause.
Period pain is typically caused by contractions of the uterus as it expels blood and tissue from the body. The uterus’s contractions can cause cramps and pain. This is more commonly experienced before and during menstruation. The most common symptoms of period pain are abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting, diarrhea or constipation and fatigue. When contractions of the uterus cause nausea and vomiting, some women may feel as though they are going to vomit. While this is not always the case, it does happen more often than not.
What are some other treatments and possible solutions for period pain?
There are numerous herbal supplements that can be prescribed by a naturopathic doctor to help treat period cramps. The main ingredients in these herbs include B-vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids, ginger, and chamomile, which can help to relieve cramps by increasing blood flow. In addition to the supplements mentioned, menstruators can also take magnesium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, fish oil, and l-arginine. However, it’s important to speak with your doctor before taking any of these supplements. The pain associated with period cramps can be excruciating, but there are plenty of natural remedies that can help to alleviate the pain.
There are many possible solutions to this problem. Menstruators can try drinking cups of chamomile tea for menstrual pain, taking a hot bath with Epsom salts, eating foods rich in magnesium, eating cheese before bedtime, eating pasture-raised eggs, or bone broth. I have personally tried the magnesium bath, and I find it very soothing.
Is eating chocolate the new, healthy diet for women for pain and cramps?
Chocolate can be a healthy diet for women and menstruators during their periods because it is a healthier and more natural way to treat pain.
The study, which focused on women over 40, found that women with chronic pain were more likely to eat chocolate than those without chronic pain. The study also found that women who ate chocolate had lower levels of inflammatory markers— particularly C-reactive protein—which can be a sign of other health problems. In fact, the only thing the researchers could find that might have explained chocolate’s health benefits was the antioxidants in the chocolate.
“The positive effects of chocolate are thought to be due to its high levels of antioxidant flavonoids,” said one of the study’s authors. “We found that this was indeed the key factor since it reversed some of the negative effects There are various myths surrounding chocolate and its supposedly healthy properties. For instance, many people believe that eating chocolate can help with menstrual cramps and pain. But does it actually work? The answer is not simple, but it is encouraging. Eating a small amount of dark chocolate can improve mood due to the serotonin released into the brain. However, there is no evidence suggesting that this can reduce cramps or pain.
What is chocolate’s effect on your menstrual cycle?
Processed chocolate bar or sweetened desserts are full of sugar, dairy, fats, and cocoa butter. A single bar has around six grams of sugar, which is the same amount that might be found in a serving of white pasta (remember, half an ounce). More importantly, the wrong chocolate or an unhealthy chocolate dessert can actually make your menstrual cramps worse for this reason. The theobromine, which is found in chocolate, acts as a muscle relaxant to reduce pain. So another problem with this is that it can also cause you to lose muscle tone in the uterus and pelvic floor.
Better than salt and pepper: how does it work?
The chocolate-as-panacea narrative is old, but it’s no less popular. It’s likely to be upsetting for women with painful periods who have been told since they were children that chocolate is good or bad for them depending on the time of the month. Chocolate has its benefits, but it also carries some risks, primarily in the form of weight gain and tooth decay. An excess of anything is always bad. Moderation is key and dark chocolate which has a higher percentage of cocoa is the better alternative and not the milk-based sugary ones.
For more on menstrual health and a healthy diet for women by Infano, click here.
