Top 12 Foods to Avoid During Your Period

During your period, you might crave delicious fried or grilled dishes with meat and fish... But did you know that red meat contains high levels of saturated fats, which can worsen cramps, bloating, and acne? If you're craving meat, it's better to opt for lean meats like skinless chicken or fatty fish.

During menstruation, your body produces prostaglandins, compounds that help the uterus contract and expel the shedding lining, causing menstrual blood flow. However, high levels of prostaglandins can lead to cramps.

Red meat is a great source of iron but also contains high amounts of prostaglandins. If you need to eat red meat for iron, it's advisable to avoid it during your period.

Eating fatty foods like burgers, fries, and chips during your period can disrupt your hormones, leading to cramps and even dizziness. Poor food choices may also cause dehydration, making you feel irritable and uncomfortable.

Fried foods with high oil content, such as french fries, fried chicken, and donuts, should be avoided during menstruation. These foods contribute significant amounts of saturated fat, which can trigger pain and inflammation. Additionally, fats can increase estrogen levels in your body, intensifying menstrual pain.

Beverages like coffee, which are high in caffeine, should be avoided during this time. Caffeine raises blood pressure, potentially causes anxiety, dehydration, and disrupts your sleep cycle. If you're feeling tired and need a good night's rest, it's best to steer clear of these drinks. Lack of sleep will leave you feeling irritable and frustrated, which can affect your mood and appearance.

Caffeine can cause water retention and bloating. It may also worsen menstrual headaches. However, abruptly cutting out caffeine can trigger withdrawal headaches. Therefore, it's better to gradually reduce your coffee intake if you're used to drinking multiple cups a day. Coffee can also upset your digestive system. If you're prone to diarrhea during menstruation, reducing your coffee intake might help prevent this issue.

Consuming spicy foods during your period can trigger irritability, delay your cycle, and even worsen skin breakouts and acne. Additionally, spicy foods can upset your stomach and intestines, leading to acidity and menstrual cramps.

Spicy and hot foods like chili, ginger, black pepper, and cloves should only be used in small amounts. Overconsumption of spicy foods can lead to severe cramps and increased menstrual blood flow. Blood loss can result in headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and digestive issues, causing persistent abdominal pain that worsens menstrual cramps.

Sugar and high-sugar foods such as candies and sweet fruits are commonly craved during menstruation. Hormonal changes during this period cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate, making many women crave sweets.

However, consuming sugary foods can spike blood sugar levels, leading to mood swings and increased stress. It's important to limit your intake of sugary foods, as they can contribute to weight gain, obesity, and acne, further affecting your mood negatively. In the food pyramid, sugar is something the body needs the least, so it’s best to reduce sugar intake in your daily diet during this time.

Salt is an ingredient that the body doesn't need in excess. During menstruation, your body naturally retains water, so consuming too much salt can lead to bloating, discomfort, and a feeling of fullness. Therefore, it's best to avoid foods high in salt, such as pickled vegetables and salted stews.

High-salt foods like canned soups, bacon, and chips should be avoided during this time, as they contain high levels of salt. Overconsumption of salt causes the body to retain water, leading to bloating. To reduce this, avoid adding extra salt to your meals and steer clear of processed foods that are high in salt content.

Sour foods such as lemons, vinegar, and tangerines should be avoided during your period. Eating sour foods during menstruation can stimulate the autonomic nervous system, which intensifies uterine contractions and increases menstrual flow.

If you consume too many sour foods during your period, it could lead to prolonged bleeding. However, eating sour items like kimchi, pickled vegetables, or citrus fruits won't harm your health, so there's no need to worry or avoid them entirely.

You might be surprised to learn that the healthy drink green tea is actually one of the foods to avoid during your period. Women who consume green tea during menstruation may experience negative health effects. Specifically, the polyphenols in green tea prevent your body from absorbing iron. As a result, drinking too much green tea during this time can lead to dizziness and fainting caused by iron deficiency and anemia.

Green tea contains a significant amount of Tannic Acid, which forms complexes with iron in the body, depleting Vitamin B levels and hindering nutrient absorption. This can lead to fatigue and mood swings during your period.

Cold-natured foods, such as seafood, seaweed, pennywort, and Vietnamese coriander, can negatively affect blood circulation, causing irregular menstrual flow or even clotting during your period.

These foods can also cause internal coldness, leading to digestive disturbances and intensifying menstrual cramps. Some women may even experience diarrhea when consuming these types of foods during their cycle. Additionally, they can worsen blood circulation, making your period even more irregular.

You might be surprised to learn that dairy products like milk, ice cream, and cheese are best avoided during your menstrual cycle. These foods contain arachidonic acid, which can trigger menstrual cramps, causing significant discomfort during this time.

Milk can also cause stomach discomfort during menstruation, so it's recommended that women avoid dairy products such as cow's milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, and eggs. Drinking coffee during this period may lead to breast tenderness, further adding to feelings of anxiety and mood instability.

If you think that having a sip or two of alcohol during your period won't harm you, you're mistaken. In fact, drinking alcohol during menstruation can worsen the uncomfortable symptoms experienced during this time. Alcohol can have several negative effects on your body, intensifying menstrual discomfort.

For example, alcohol can cause dehydration, leading to headaches and bloating. It can also lead to digestive issues, such as diarrhea and nausea.

During your period, it's best to avoid or limit consumption of processed foods such as canned meals, deli meats, sausages, and hot dogs. These foods are often packed with a high amount of sodium to preserve shelf life.

To prevent water retention and bloating, reduce your intake of sodium-heavy processed foods. Canned foods, packaged sauces, deli meats, and cheeses can contain up to 200mg of sodium or more per serving. Consuming too much can leave you feeling uncomfortable with bloating and fullness.