Many women suffer from painful cramps during menstruation, which is relatively normal, but many also refuse to take pain killers and medication, due to their potential negative side effects. If you’re one of these ladies, these tips are for you.
Drink up
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Water is the answer to pretty much everything. Drinking more water reduces water retention, enhances the blood circulation, and eases the bloating, and hence, lessens the painful cramps.
Warm Water
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Either it’s a warm water pad or a warm bathtub, heat is really helpful in relaxing the muscles and hence reducing cramps.
Pro tip: add Epsom salt to the warm water in your bathtub, it’ll multiply the relaxation.
Switch to menstrual cup
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Menstrual pads and tampons contain way many chemicals, that are not only harmful to our bodies, but also don’t help with the cramps. Based on the experience of many women who switched from pads and tampons to menstrual cups, they’ve experienced fewer period cramps.
Exercise releases endorphins, which not only boost your feeling-good state, but will also relieve pain. In addition, a study showed that Cobra, Cat, and Fish yoga poses reduce period pain.
Reduce your caffeine intake
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Caffeine will make you tense and thus, won’t help with cramps. Replace your regular tea or coffee with herbal teas. Swap your morning coffee with turmeric latte. You can sip all day on fennel, ginger, ginseng, chamomile, and/or lavender teas.
Maintain a healthy diet
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Your diet greatly affects how your body reacts to menstruation, as food can change hormones. Make sure you are getting all the vitamins and elements from your food. Deficiency in calcium and magnesium will result in worse cramps. Make sure you include them in your diet, as well as foods rich in vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Consider some me-time
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Period days are laidback days. Treating yourself with a cup of hot chocolate and a nice movie will not only give you a good feeling, but will also distract you from the pain.
Lessen the salty food
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Sodium-rich foods cause water retention, and that won’t help with cramps and your overall health.
Breathe
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Deep-breathing helps make you more relaxed. Find a breathing exercise online, and breathe for five minutes. Try to do this once daily, and not only on menstruation days.
Sleep well
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Getting an adequate amount of sleep every night is great for your overall health and will keep you refreshed and relaxed. When everything else fails, we sleep.
If you have other tips that you opt for that reduce your period pain, share them with us. Please note, that extremely painful cramps, especially those accompanied by heavy bleeding can indicate an underlying health issue. If you experience that, pay your ob/GYN a visit, just to make sure that you’re all healthy and sound.
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