Dysmenorrhea is a common disease among women. It is mainly caused by physical factors. Care needs to be taken in daily life to prevent dysmenorrhea from becoming more painful. So what foods can relieve dysmenorrhea? What foods should you eat regularly to solve the problem of dysmenorrhea? There are many foods that can relieve dysmenorrhea. Let’s learn more about what foods to eat to relieve dysmenorrhea.
1. Foods to relieve menstrual cramps
(1) Soy foods
Eating soybeans and peas with high fiber content can help reduce congestion symptoms in the uterus , thereby alleviating the suffering of dysmenorrhea. Because legumes can be digested, they can increase the water content in feces and feces. Once excreted, excess fluid is removed from the body, normalizing digestion and reducing constipation and diarrhea.
Beans are also rich in vitamin B. Vitamin B can effectively relieve menstrual cramps and menstrual fatigue. Although eating too many beans will cause you to fart, the embarrassment of farting can be avoided by eating small, frequent meals, eating slowly, gradually increasing the amount of food consumed, or taking some digestive enzymes after eating.
(2) Green vegetables
The calcium, magnesium, and potassium in green vegetables can reduce and prevent dysmenorrhea. These minerals can also relax people's mood and reduce feelings of irritability. Dark green vegetables are also rich in vitamin K. Vitamin K is one of the essential substances for blood clotting and preventing excessive bleeding.
(3) Omega-3 fatty acids
There is a substance in the human body called prostaglandin, which is similar to a hormone and is involved in the production of muscle contraction and dysmenorrhea symptoms. One effective way to block prostaglandin secretion is to eat salmon, walnuts and flax seeds. Because these foods contain large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. A 1995 study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that women who preferred omega-3 fatty acid foods in their diets had fewer menstrual cramps than women who did not regularly consume these foods.
(4) Pineapple
A report from the Human Nutrition Research Center of the United States Department of Agriculture found that young women with insufficient manganese intake had 50% more menstrual bleeding than women with normal intake. %. Researchers in the report suggest that women need to increase their manganese intake to alleviate menstrual discomfort. Fruits are high in manganese, with the richest manganese content being pineapples. Pineapples also contain high levels of bromelain. This enzyme helps relax muscles, thereby preventing menstrual cramps.
(5) Ginger tea, chamomile tea
Tea is another source of manganese. According to researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center, women should try to avoid tea containing caffeine. Because caffeine can make menstrual discomfort worse. However, ginger tea can help relieve nausea and bloating. Chamomile tea can also reduce anxiety during menstruation by eliminating muscle spasms and relieving tension.
(6) Water
Excessive fluid retention in the body is the main cause of uterine congestion and dysmenorrhea. Increasing your water intake is one of the best ways to effectively reduce water retention. This seems a bit paradoxical. Why increase water intake when you want to reduce fluid retention in the body? In fact, if we don’t drink enough water, our bodies may over-retain excess water. Drinking water can help excess water be excreted from the body.
(7) Whole grains
A study by British doctors found that 70% of women said that eating a small amount of carbohydrates every three hours during menstruation and resting in bed within an hour can improve their health. Effectively relieves symptoms of menstrual discomfort. Researchers say whole grains are rich in magnesium. Magnesium can reduce neuromuscular tension and relieve dysmenorrhea symptoms. In addition, whole grains are also rich in vitamin B complex and vitamin E, which can help eliminate fatigue and depression.
(8) Yogurt
Yoghurt contains active lactic acid bacteria and is also a good source of calcium. According to experts, the average amount of yogurt required by women is 600 mg. If reached during menstruation, 1,300 mg may help relieve menstrual discomfort. However, since meat and dairy products contain arachidonic acid (which aids in the production of prostaglandins, which, as mentioned earlier, is one of the causes of dysmenorrhea symptoms), women are better off choosing other calcium supplements. Foods such as broccoli, kale, canned salmon, and calcium-fortified foods such as cereals and juices.
2. What are the causes of dysmenorrhea?
(1) Cervical stenosis is mainly caused by obstruction of menstrual outflow, causing dysmenorrhea.
(2) Uterine dysplasia. Poor uterine development can easily be combined with abnormal blood supply, causing uterine ischemia and hypoxia, leading to dysmenorrhea.
(3) Abnormal uterine position If a woman’s uterus is extremely backward or forward, it may affect the smooth flow of menstrual blood and cause dysmenorrhea.
(4) Mental and neurological factors make some women overly sensitive to pain.
(5) Genetic factors have a certain relationship between the daughter’s dysmenorrhea and the mother’s dysmenorrhea.
(6) Endocrine factors Abdominal pain during menstruation is related to the increase in progesterone in the luteal phase.
(7) The content of prostaglandin (PG) in the endometrium and menstrual blood increases. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) acts on the uterine muscle fibers to contract and cause dysmenorrhea. The prostaglandin content in the endometrial tissue of menstrual patients was significantly increased in normal women.
(8) Excessive contraction of the uterus. Although the uterine contraction pressure of patients with dysmenorrhea is basically the same as that of normal women (normal pressure is about 4.9Kpa), the uterine contraction lasts longer and is often difficult to completely relax, so dysmenorrhea caused by excessive uterine contraction occurs.
(9) Abnormal uterine contraction. Patients with dysmenorrhea often have abnormal uterine contractions, which often leads to ischemia of uterine smooth muscles. Ischemia of uterine muscles can cause spasmodic contractions of uterine muscles, resulting in pain and dysmenorrhea.
(10) Gynecological diseases such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, etc. Placing an IUD (commonly known as an IUD) in the uterus can also easily cause dysmenorrhea.
(11) Dysmenorrhea is caused by girls having menarche, high psychological pressure, poor blood circulation due to long periods of sitting, poor menstrual blood flow, and a tendency to eat cold foods.
(12) Strenuous exercise during menstruation, exposure to wind, cold, dampness, etc. can easily cause dysmenorrhea.
(13) The air is not irritated by certain industrial or chemical odors, such as gasoline, banana water, etc., which can cause dysmenorrhea.
3. What to do if you have frequent dysmenorrhea
1. Apply medicine on the navel
Use 50 grams each of frankincense and myrrh, and 3 grams of camphor, grind them into fine powder respectively. Take 50 grams each of angelica root, dogwood, and cinnamon, add water to boil twice, concentrate the liquid into a thick consistency, mix it with an appropriate amount of frankincense and myrrh that have been dissolved in alcohol (95%), dry it, and add camphor powder for later use. To use, take 3 grams of medicated powder, stir it into a paste with a few drops of rice wine, fill it in the belly button three days before menstruation, and seal it with Shangshi Pain Relief Ointment, twice a day, and it will heal after 2 to 5 days.
2. Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy
Treatment mainly adopts the principles of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis or warming the meridians and dispersing cold. Generally, Gexia Zhuyu Decoction can be used. This prescription is composed of Angelica sinensis, Chuanxiong rhizome, red peony root, peach kernel, safflower, Citrus aurantium, Corydalis corydalis, Wulingzhi, paeonol bark, Cyperus rotunda and licorice. If the abdominal pain is obvious and the coldness is obvious without red tongue The phenomenon of dry stools can be treated with Shaofu Zhuyu Decoction, which is composed of fennel, dried ginger, Corydalis, myrrh, angelica, Chuanxiong, cinnamon, red peony root, Puhuang, and Wulingzhi. Those whose condition is not very serious can also take Chinese patent medicines, such as dysmenorrhea pills and deshengdan. The best time for patients to take the medicine is from 3 to 7 days before menstruation. One dose per day, decoction twice, and take it in 2 divided doses until menstruation and abdominal pain are relieved. Patients with deficiency syndrome can also take several doses after menstruation. .
3. Honey milk
Drinking a cup of hot milk with a spoonful of honey before going to bed every night can relieve or even eliminate the pain of dysmenorrhea. Milk contains a lot of potassium, while honey is a "rich mineral" of magnesium. Potassium is extremely important for the conduction of nerve impulses, the coagulation process of blood, and the function of all cells in the human body. It can ease emotions, suppress pain, prevent infection, and reduce menstrual blood loss; magnesium can help the conduction of nerve impulses in the central brain and has neurohormonal properties. The active substances acting are maintained at normal levels. In the late menstrual period, magnesium can also play a psychological regulatory role, helping the body relax, eliminate tension, and reduce stress.
4. Pressing acupoints
Pressing acupoints can also be widely used to treat dysmenorrhea, and the analgesic effect is rapid. Generally, Guanyuan, Zhongji, Sanyinjiao, Hegu and other points are suitable; for vomiting, Neiguan and Zusanli are recommended.
Conclusion: The above is what the editor introduces to you about several foods that can solve women’s dysmenorrhea. Friends who have dysmenorrhea every month can eat more of these foods on a daily basis. There are many causes of dysmenorrhea. We must find out the problem and solve the problem according to our own situation.
4. Dietary therapy for dysmenorrhea
1. Ginger, jujube and brown sugar water
Ingredients: 30 grams each of ginger, jujube and brown sugar.
Method: Wash the first two ingredients, mince the dried ginger, remove the cores of the jujubes, add brown sugar to fry, drink the soup, and eat the jujubes.
Efficacy: It has the effect of warming the meridians and dispersing cold. Suitable for cold dysmenorrhea and chloasma.
2. Hawthorn, Guizhi and Brown Sugar Soup
Ingredients: 15 grams of hawthorn meat, 5 grams of cinnamon twigs, and 30 grams of brown sugar.
Method: Put hawthorn meat and cinnamon twigs into a clay pot, add 2 bowls of water, fry over slow fire until it reaches 1 bowl, add brown sugar, mix well, and boil.
Efficacy: It has the effects of warming the meridians, unblocking the meridians, resolving blood stasis and relieving pain. It is suitable for women with cold dysmenorrhea and dull complexion.
3. Leek juice and brown sugar drink
Ingredients: 300 grams of fresh leeks, 100 grams of brown sugar.
Method: Wash the fresh leeks, drain the water, chop them into small pieces and mash them to extract the juice. Put the brown sugar into an aluminum pot, add a little water and boil until the sugar dissolves, then add it to the leek juice and you can drink it.
Efficacy: It has the effects of warming the menstruation and replenishing qi. It is suitable for dysmenorrhea due to Qi and blood deficiency, and can make the skin rosy and smooth.
4. Ginger juice and coix seed porridge
Ingredients: 10 grams of dried ginger, 10 grams of moxa leaves, and 30 grams of coix seed.
Method: Decoct the first two flavors in water to extract the juice, cook the coix kernels into porridge until cooked, add ginger and mugwort juice and cook until cooked.
Efficacy: It has the effects of warming the menstruation, removing blood stasis, dispersing cold, dehumidifying and moisturizing. It is suitable for dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness and stagnation.
5. Rose tea
Materials: Rose flowers picked in summer or autumn, with purple-red semi-open buds, firm petals, and fragrant smell are suitable. They can be brewed instead of tea. .
Efficacy: It has the effects of promoting qi, activating blood circulation and moisturizing the skin. It is suitable for irregular menstruation and dysmenorrhea.
6. Black fungus and red dates drink
Ingredients: 30 grams of black fungus and 20 red dates.
Method: Wash the black fungus and red dates. Remove the pits from the red dates, boil the two flavors with water, remove the residue and take it.
Efficacy: It has the effects of replenishing vital energy, nourishing blood and stopping bleeding, and beautifying the skin. Suitable for those with menorrhagia, anemia and physical weakness.