Bloating 2 Weeks Before Period

Premenstrual syndrome, often called PMS for short, feels like a monthly curse.  There are a multitude of symptoms which we’ll cover here.  One of the most common is bloating 2 weeks before period.

How common is PMS

This is a no-brainer.  It feels like every woman you talk to complains about PMS.  And, for some, the symptoms are really bad.  For others, they just have mild symptoms.  It’s a real thing – I mean, who wouldn’t feel crabby (i.e. moody) when they aren’t feeling well – hormone related, or otherwise?  But, still people (I’m talking about the men here) joke about it.  That doesn’t make us feel good or validated that are symptoms are actually real.

What causes PMS?

Did you know that premenstrual syndrome is determined by your diet, stress, digestive issues and blood sugar issues?  This is because it is a result of the high estrogen low progesterone issue we’ve talked about recently.  And, these hormones control the chemicals that make us feel ‘right’.

The good news is that if these are the things that are causing your PMS, learning how to control and manage things like diet and stress – which have an effect on digestion and blood sugar – could go a long way to managing PMS issues.  To me, that’s really good news!

Some PMS Symptoms

• Bloating 2 weeks before period
• Cramps
• Back pain, especially the lower back
• Pimples (anywhere on the body)
• Being hungry / craving food
• Digestive issues
• Inability to sleep and thus fatigue
• Migraines
• Anxiety / depression
• Forgetting things

For more information on symptoms by stage of life (teenager or adult), check out Hormonally challenged symptoms.

PMS Bloating Remedies

Now that we know the causes or contributing factors to PMS, there’s a lot we can do to help alleviate these symptoms.  Here are 3 things you can do today:

1. Keep your blood sugar in check.  This means you should watch your sugar intake AND you should also eat throughout the day.  I generally eat my 3 main meals of breakfast, lunch and dinner but then I also have a mid-morning snack (a healthy one) and then a mid-afternoon snack as well – again, choose a healthy non-sugary or high-carb option.  (Carbs turn into sugar.)

   

2. Digestive health – make sure you’re eating foods that help your tummy and digestion.  Foods high in fiber and probiotics are what we’re looking for here – things like kombucha or sauerkraut / kimchi.

   

3. Detox your liver.  There’s no need to do a de-tox diet.  But, you don’t need to drink an alcoholic beverage every day.  Nor should you eat processed foods.  If you’re looking for vitamins for period cramps, some of the best PMS supplements are Milk Thistle.  Check with your doctor on how much you can take.

Conclusion

So, if you’re noticing bloating 2 weeks before period or any of the PMS symptoms we talked about today, try to make some small, incremental lifestyle changes.  I’m not asking you to totally change your diet in one day.  I can’t expect that of you because I do know it’s hard.  But, what I think you’ll see happening is that once you make one change and notice the difference it made, you will decide to make another adjustment to your diet to continue achieving the results you’re looking for.

Good luck in your journey!!!  And, I hope you continue on the journey with me.