Beat PMS! 5 Ways To Get Rid Of Bloating, Mood Swings & Food Cravings

As women, three out of every four weeks of the month, we're our regular selves and then ... that monthly time creeps up on us again. It can be extremely difficult to maintain self-control with not only eating habits, but also with our emotions. What if there were natural remedies (that we likely already have easy access to) that could help?

Luckily, there are! Here are a few natural ways to curb these unfortunate side affects while maintaining a healthful-positive mood. Stay motivated and on track with these five tips and watch as the “PMS monster” dissipates before your very eyes!

1. Vitamin C

Ah, vitamin C! So simple and loved, but not commonly associate with curbing sugary, fatty cravings due to PMS. This fabulous flavonoid is a simple trick you can use to avoid overeating during your monthly cycle. Simply purchase a vegan vitamin C supplement made without magnesium stearate. Take up to 1,000 milligrams throughout the day or in between meals to stay balanced and cut cravings.

2. Raw cocoa

It’s no surprise that our cravings lead us to chocolate bars in the days before our menses. In the days before our period, our bodies crave magnesium because our hormone levels fluctuate dramatically! When our bodies create more estrogen, causing cravings and increased breast tenderness, our levels of magnesium drop significantly. This is where the raw cocoa comes in!

Cocoa is loaded with magnesium and can positively impact our mental and emotional states, helping to relieve common PMS symptoms. During this time, I love eating raw cocoa nibs with goji berries for a sweet treat, or I mix two scoops of raw cocoa powder with chia, protein and hemp milk for a yummy pudding treat!

3. Omega-3 fatty acids

Say bye-bye to crazy! Omega-3 fatty acids rock when it comes to balancing your mood during PMS. You can take fish oil capsules to get a strong dose of omega-3. Not only will it help with brain chemistry for improved mental clarity but fish oil is used by naturopaths worldwide for dealing with depression and “mood-swing” disorders.

What’s more this will help you with maintaining a healthy weight and also provides the body with anti-inflammatory protection (ciao, cramps!). When I begin to feel emotional leading up to my cycle, I take two to three gel capsules and feel the effects quite quickly. Be sure to purchase a high quality, pharmaceutical-grade omega-3 supplement and watch your mood swings become a thing of the past!

4. Avocado

Avocados are incredible! The next time you are about to impulsively pig out at night try this little trick. Within the days leading up to your period, be sure to keep some organic, creamy avocados close by. Slice them in half and enjoy with a sprinkle of sea salt. Follow with a few sips of water and then wait about 15 minutes. Still starving? I didn’t think so!

The healthy fats in an avocado are able to fill us up, leaving less room for the other junk we might be craving.

5. High-intensity movement

My ex-boyfriend, a former athlete, swore by quick, high-intensity movements for allover mood improvement and well-being. I must admit, I am not one for monotonous workouts so when I realized I could improve my mood in just 15 minutes, I was down to try it out!

Moves like jumping jacks, hill sprints and lifting heavy weights in short repetitions definitely do the trick. Doing this will not only improve your mood significantly by elevating endorphins, but it will also help to eliminate cramps, bloating and food cravings. Blast your favorite music and get moving! In addition, you may even want to consider purchasing a small trampoline. Jumping drains the excess fluids from the body by stimulating the lymphatic system: bloating-be-gone!

I know that the above five tips are very effective and have helped many others get through horrible PMS symptoms. Above all else, please remember to stay positive! The mind has the power to alter our emotional state at the drop of a dime!