You Can Do Something About It

It is amazing how many women continue to think PMS is something normal, or just part of being a woman. Some researchers believe there may be a genetic connection, if your mother suffered you probably will too, we don't know exactly why yet, but indications are there may be a genetic component. More likely, PMS is an evironmental consequence of insufficient nutrition and stress factors. We learn eating and lifestyle habits from our parents through family traditions, these habits can be changed or improved with a little awareness and determination on your part.

There is also increasing evidence  indicating women who have  experienced  traumatic or on going emotional stress in life, may be more susceptible to PMS symptoms as well as the most severe form known as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). It is a fact that emotional stress takes a toll on our physiology as well as our psychology, commonly known as the body-mind connection. Pain signals  an alarm that something is wrong with us physically, this is also true of PMS symptoms. These symptoms are your signal that it is time to pay closer attention to what's happening in your body, life and lifestyle.

Misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed gluten intolerance is also turning up in many women who experience severe PMS or PMDD. If anyone in your family suffers from an autoimmune disease such as IBS, IBD, Crohns, Colitis, MS, Type 1 Diabetes, a wheat allergy, or has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis (RA); the probablity that you may also be developing an autoimmune condition is very possible.

If symptoms are bad enough to interfere with your job performance, career advancement, significant  relationships or self esteem, they should not be ignored.

If you believe you already have a healthy diet, you may only need to make a few adjustments to see improvement in your symptoms. Hit the diet history form and keep track of your dietary intake for 3 days. E-mail to the Cycle Diet Dietitian. There is a $45 charge for this service. You will also receive a 50 minute nutrition counseling session for an explanation of patterns with suggestions for improvements. Don't have time to do this? No problem, just contact us, we can do this over the phone with a general food frequency interview. You can e-mail us anytime too with your questions.

What Is PMS

 Premenstrual syndrome affects approximately 75% of women at sometime during their reproductive years (Barnhart et al, 1995).  Other studies show up to 80% affected. PMS has been characterized by more than 150 symptoms, ranging from mood swings to weight gain to acne. If you're reading through this web site, you probably already know what PMS symptoms you experience. The symptoms vary from woman to woman and cycle to cycle. For some women, the symptoms may be mild or moderate, and for others, they may be so severe as to be incapacitating. If this is your situation, please consult your physician or endocrinologist for a PMDD diagnosis.

Common symptoms:

Mood-related "affective" symptoms: depression, sadness, anxiety, anger, irritability, frequent and severe mood swings.

Mental process "cognitive: symptoms: decreased concentration, indecision

Pain: headache, breast tenderness, joint and muscle pain

Nervous System symptoms: insomnia -sleeplessness, Hypersomnia or sleeping for an abnormally long period of time, anorexia, food cravings, fatigue, lethargy, agitation, a change in sex drive, clumsiness, dizziness or vertigo, paresthesias (prickling or tingling sensation)

Gastrointestinal symptoms: nausea, diarrhea, palpitations (rapid fluttering of the heart), sweating

Fluid and electrolyte symptoms: bloating, weight gain, oliguria (reduced urination)

Skin symptoms: acne, oily skin, greasy or dry hair

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