Tuesday, April 12, 2011

For women's eyes only...(just in case there are male lurkers around here!)

All right, ladies.  Let's address that question that none of us want to address.  How can we get rid of the bloating?  Whether it's your "time of the month" or just plain all the time, here are some things you can do to reduce bloating:

1.  Drink more water to reduce PMS bloating, as this encourages your body to release the water that it is storing. It may seem ironic, but the best way to counteract the effects of water retention that leads to bloating is to drink more water, not less.

2.  Reduce the amount of salt in your diet during the week before your period. Remember that processed and prepared foods typically have high sodium content. Salt is the largest contributor to water bloat.

3.  Avoid starches, sugars and refined carbohydrates when you are suffering from PMS, as these foods make it more difficult for your body to process estrogen. They also raise blood sugar levels, which encourages sodium retention and leads to bloating.

4.  Eat a high fiber diet with lots of fresh vegetable to help balance your hormones. Fiber binds to estrogen in our bodies, making it easier for us to eliminate the excess hormone.

5.  Have 6 small meals throughout the day rather than 3 larger ones. Eating smaller amounts more frequently helps to avoid that over-full feeling that frequently accompanies water bloating.

6.  Take calcium and magnesium supplements if your diet does not provide at least 1,200 mg of calcium daily. Studies have found a connection between increased calcium consumption and decreased bloating.

7.  Get plenty of exercise to combat PMS bloat. Although the last thing you may feel like doing when you are bloated is exercise, sitting and inactivity encourages water bloating.

Notice anything funny?  All of these things are what we should be doing to get and stay healthy and fit!  Interesting!

Source:  http://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-PMS-Bloating

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