7 Foods That Make Your Period Worse

 

Do your cramps make a root canal seem like NBD? Do you bloat more than a pufferfish that just guzzled a gallon of water? Do you mood swings make Mike Tyson seem chill? The foods you eat during your period may be to blame.

Being a woman is pretty darn great—just ask famous Saturday Night Live comedian Gilda Radner. "Women can cry, they can wear cute clothes, and they're the first to be rescued off sinking ships," she joked in one of her best-remembered monologs. Even so, you'd be hard pressed to find a woman who wouldn't trade in all those awesome perks the day her period rolls around. And that's because PMS side effects aren't just pesky; for many, they're downright debilitating—so much so that one British company recently announced their plans to create an official "period policy" where women staffers can take time off to nurse their cramps and relax without dipping into their sick or personal days. (PSA: If your cramps are crazy-extreme, though, you should consider speaking to your doctor. Excruciating cramps can be a sign of endometriosis.)

There is a silver lining, though. Experts have identified a number of things you should avoid because they can make symptoms like bloating and cramps worse. Aside from things like smoking and stress, consuming certain foods—many of which you likely crave during that time of the month—can make matters worse.

To help you better cope with the most painful and annoying aspect of your period, we checked in with the experts to find out which foods are most apt to leave women feeling miserable during Mother Nature's monthly visit. Read on to find out what they said—and discover some tasty swaps to quell your cravings, too! And after you learn

DAIRY

"You may have heard that calcium helps with cramps, but that's not the case when it comes from dairy," warns registered dietitian Isabel Smith. "Dairy naturally contains arachidonic acids, that stimulate prostaglandins (hormone-like substances) that can intensify menstrual cramps." So if Advil tends to be your BFF, ditch the yogurt and milk à la Khloe Kardashian and load up on other sources of the nutrient like edamame, greens, nuts, and chia seeds, suggests Smith.

Craving Crusher!

When you're craving milk in your smoothie or cereal...

Eat This! One cup fortified soymilk
Calcium content: 30% daily value

Not That!
One cup cow's milk
Calcium content: 30% daily value

And if your go-to PMS treat is something cold and sweet like ice cream, be sure to check out these 20 Dairy-Free Frozen Desserts!