The Role Of Stress and PMS
The role of stress and PMS
See if you identify with this stress scenario:
You rely on caffeine (coffee, tea, cola drinks, energy drinks, capsules) to help you perform all through the day, then to “unwind” after all that stress in you day, you have an evening drink (wine, beer, alcoholic beverage). You’re too busy, and you don’t have any extra time, so exercise drops as a priority and you are eating on the run – perhaps relying on fast food or prepared foods for your meals. Then your partner tells you about an out-of-town trip, leaving you with all the family or home responsibilities for several days.
This is what I call the “perfect storm” for PMS! That’s because lots of daily stress forces your stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) to remain high all of the time, and this will deplete your adrenal reserves and cause fatigue. While the body can normally handle some stress, for a woman with PMS – handling even some stress becomes more difficult during the normal rise and fall of hormones during the menstrual cycle.
If you regularly experience PMS symptoms, your body is letting you know that something needs to change!
Stress on your body can happen in many ways – not getting enough sleep, a diet which is full of sugar, caffeine or too many carbohydrates, chronic stress without relief, too many responsibilities, additional weight and even environmental toxins can all affect your hormonal balance.
Quick start: four C’s to avoid
Here’s another message to listen to. I urge women to curb the four C’s: candy, coffee, cocktails, and couch time! If you want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, then you can minimize the four C’s to reduce PMS symptoms:
|
CANDY |
COFFEE |
COCKTAILS |
COUCH TIME |
| Reduce your intake of sugar in candy and carbohydrates. This is critical for health and hormone balance. | Cut down on or eliminate coffee. This decreases activation of the stress response and promotes more stable blood sugar and mood. | Say no to alcohol This will improve stamina, reduce cravings, and prevent irritability in most women. | Get off the couch by pursuing an exercise routine. This will burn off steam, trigger feel-good brain chemicals, reduce insulin resistance, and improve mood. |
You don’t have to live with PMS
I shared my story with you at the beginning of this article. You know I’ve been through this, and while it may seem difficult to believe that a simple, natural approach can have an important impact on the physical and emotional symptoms of your PMS – it can. Our bodies have a marvelous ability to heal and adapt. So let me encourage you – before you resign yourself to put up with uncomfortable symptoms and discomfort, please consider what you have learned from this article and do what you can do today to ease your PMS naturally. With the best possible diet, engaging exercise, and good nutritional supplements, you can reduce the frequency and severity of your PMS symptoms. You can even free yourself entirely for a “new normal!”.
[banner id=”pms-system-banner-1″]