According to the Mayo Clinic, menstrual cramps are dull, throbbing or cramping pains in the lower abdomen. Many women experience menstrual cramps just before and during their menstrual periods. For some women, the discomfort is merely annoying. For others, it can be severe enough to interfere with everyday activities for a few days every month. While it is uncertain if menstrual cramps can be permanently cured there are a variety of foods that can alleviate the excruciating pain that some women feel during menstruation. A healthy diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains and low-fat dairy products along with regular exercise can relieve you of those "pesky" menstrual cramps, allowing you to return your normal daily activities.
Pineapples
According to the website Epigee, fresh pineapples and pineapple juice contain a large amount of bromelain, an enzyme that is thought to help with menstrual cramps by relaxing uterine muscles.
Broccoli
Broccoli contains a large amount of magnesium. Magnesium is good for menstrual cramps because it is a muscle relaxant. Magnesium can be found in spinach, flax seeds and coldwater salmon.
Raspberries
Raspberries are a good source of fiber. According to Revive, foods that are high in fiber help to alleviate menstrual cramps by helping the body maintain its hormonal balance. Fiber cleans out the digestive system and helps to eliminate waste products from the body. Once estrogen and progesterone have been used by the reproductive system they are processed by the liver and deposited into the bowels to be removed when a woman has a bowel movement. If a woman does not have daily bowel movements, then those hormones get reabsorbed into her body and begin to act on her ovaries, uterus and brain. This process disturbs the body's homeostasis causing a menstrual imbalance. Other foods that contain a healthy dose of fiber are whole wheat spaghetti, split peas, lentils and artichoke hearts.
Eggs
According to the website ObGyn, eggs are high in Omega-3 fats (lineolic acid). Lineolic acid, a healthy fatty acid helps to relax uterine muscles by functioning as an anti-inflammatory agent which is beneficial to women who suffer from menstrual cramps. Other foods that contain lineolic acid are salmon, tuna, romaine lettuce and walnuts.
Low-Fat Yogurt
The website Go Ask Alice states that low-fat yogurt is rich in calcium which can relieve menstrual cramps and pain. Calcium prevents menstrual cramping by assisting the body in maintaining a natural muscle tone. Calcium absorption fluctuates across the menstrual cycle causing a hormonal imbalance in some women. A calcium deficiency can cause water retention and menstrual cramps. Additional foods that contain calcium are milk, pinto beans, cheddar cheese and kale.
