PMS

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Permalink Reply by Raw by Default on December 17, 2007 at 3:06pm

I've been told my mood swings are better since going raw... but I didn't notice it myself. I did notice a difference in the cramping and stuff, though. It's all connected, so I'm guessing that the other symptoms will sort themselves out with time.

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Permalink Reply by Jess on December 19, 2007 at 10:26am

honestly, i feel like mine are worse right before my period... i don't know what your situation is, but i am on an antidepressant/mood stabilizer mixture, and i have been on it since way before going raw. i know that if you are on any sort of medication, changes to your body chemistry can affect their effectiveness-- with women, for example, it is reccomended that on certain types of mood stabilizers they are also on birth control to even out hormonal fluctuations.
i, personally, try to put as few manufactured substances into my body as i can... so i've always had somewhat of a fluctuation.

to answer your question though, yes, with about 3 months behind me since switcing to veganism and about a month since switching to raw food (3 years of veggie-ism tho) i've started to notice a pretty dramatic change.

i would suggest, if you feel that it really affects your daily life, talking to a doctor. if it hasn't been an issue for you in the past, i'd suggest trying an omega 3 supplement-- a natural mood stabilizer and anti inflammatory that would probably help with both PMS and cramps. (omega 3 is normally a fish derivative, but there is a company, or so i've heard, that extracts the omega 3 strait from the algae that the fish get it from. thus, a vegan source of omega 3.) according to studies, about 4mg of the stuff daily has put some of the most erratic mood swingers on an even keel.

that is all that i can really give you right now, but if you have any questions feel free to message me personally. this is, like, my major. haha. so i'm always enthusiastic about helping people with their stuff.
otherwise, goodluck.

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Permalink Reply by AwesomeUniverse!!! on December 19, 2007 at 10:45am

I read garbanzo beans are supposed to influence mood positively. They are great sprouted for a couple days. Also cayenne pepper and jalepenos. You can make hummus with garbanzos and cayenne, with a little onion and jalepeo, and red pepper- it's great! Red roobios tea is great. You can make it into a soup if you add cucumbers, celery, ginger etc. It is great for any kind of cramps or headache. Omega 3s are also great, and of course cacao. Starting the day off with something more substantial can really help. Like pecan and cherry "cookies" with some cacao "icing" on the top. I wouldn't recommend fruit smoothies because they can negatively affect blood sugar. Miso soup with garbanzo beans is good. Soaked walnuts with a cashew cream dressing with celery seed or salt can be very effective. I like to add fresh celery and raisins. The celery seed lowers blood pressure, lessens water retention and has a calming influence. Walnuts have the good kinds of fats in them. Cammomile tea (with a little added cinnamon) would also be good. Let me know if anything works! Another thing I like is cashews blended with water to make a thick soup and pour this over sliced tomatos. Spice with cayenne pepper, paprica- or whatever you like.

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Permalink Reply by Megan on December 19, 2007 at 5:10pm

I have noticed that my cramps are worse if I haven't been very regular with my yoga and other forms of exercise. Hope that helps. Also, if I am not careful about eating regularly during the days before my period and keeping my blood sugar really even I get super moody.
Btw, Liz, I make a concoction like yours with tahini, salt, and nutritional yeast over tomato slices. Its a great comfort food for me, I call it 'nachos'.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Myra on December 19, 2007 at 4:57pm

I have definitely noticed mine has diminished significantly. I am having a little maca every couple of days or so which I have read helps with pms. Hope this helps!

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Permalink Reply by Rande on December 19, 2007 at 5:11pm

i used to get so grouchy and sad right before my period and thats how i knew it was going to start...lol, now i never know its coming!

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Permalink Reply by Baladev & Cara Dove on December 21, 2007 at 11:24am

Great lot of ideas for me, omega 3, keep blood sugar steady and exercise! Went to chiropractor yesterday so now can exercise without suffering later! Local library got lots new raw food books so I have some new recipes to try! Thanks for all the replies!!!

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Permalink Reply by JR on December 21, 2007 at 11:47am

My PMS has changed a lot for the better, too, though I've noticed that every time I have made any dietary changes toward a cleaner diet I generally have one truly awful month of PMS mood swings, depression, and cramps before it gets better. The transitions while I was moving toward veggie and vegan were bad, but the month after I started eating high raw was my worst yet. So there may be an adjustment/detox period for you as well. I'm always a little wary of chalking symptoms up to detox, but I was seeing a naturopath for my PMS issues and the first thing she suggested was a liver cleanse, so I think that stirring up toxins for release has a pretty direct effect on the symptoms of PMS (at least for me). Lemon water is great for helping to move the detox process along.

I find my moods much more stable in general on raw, but it is especially noticeable during my cycle. Greens (especially juiced or in a smoothie) really help me to feel calm and balanced at any time of the month, but they are of particular help during PMS. Magnesium (either in supplement form or in cacao) really helps to soothe the angry or anxious stuff for me, too. And I also seem to benefit a lot from omega 3 sources like flaxseed oil and walnut. Walnut/cacao raw brownies really hit the spot at PMS time!

I am all too familiar with the whole "losing one week out of four" thing, and being raw has helped me so much with that. After about 9 months high raw, I'm down to about 3-4 days per month of mild discomfort instead of 8-10 days of complete misery, so that is an immense improvement! I hope you see similar results!

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