6 Foods That Kick PMS In The Butt

Bloating, mood swings, headaches, cramps – and don't forget the voracious urge to consume every last ounce of chocolate on the candy aisle. These are just a few of the wonderfully pleasant signs that you're experiencing PMS, otherwise known as every woman's nightmare.

Even if you don't experience all of these symptoms, suffering through just one can throw off your entire day. But you don't have to fall victim to unbearable PMS symptoms every single month without putting up a fight.

Food is medicine, and in this case, it's a medicine that can help ease the cruel effects of Mother Nature. There are a variety of foods that can supply your body with nourishing and healthy nutrients to help improve even the worst PMS symptoms.

Bananas
Rich in vitamin B6 and potassium, adding bananas to your diet during your time of the month can stop you from retaining water and help you to feel less bloated. Also, the potassium present in these powerful fruits can help with those miserable, debilitating cramps.

Yogurt
You might have been told to stay away from dairy when you're experiencing stomach problems; however, the probiotics and calcium found in yogurt are actually very helpful in fighting PMS symptoms. The calcium helps decrease cramps by relieving a natural calcium deficiency while calming bloat by reducing water retention.

Salmon
Fatty acids found in foods like salmon – or almonds and olive oil – have been proven to significantly reduce PMS symptoms, boost your mood and lessen those dreaded PMS blues. Furthermore, due to the B vitamins present in salmon, you'll receive a natural boost of energy to help fight fatigue.

Dark Chocolate
You're probably already eating chocolate anyway, so rest easy knowing that by noshing on the sweet stuff you're actually boosting your antioxidant and endorphin levels, as well as increasing blood flow to the brain and lifting the pesky brain fog associated with PMS.

Kale and Spinach
If you suffer from hormonal acne once a month, you can help combat this irritating side effect by consuming dark, leafy greens. These veggies are great sources of vitamin A, which helps to fight dry skin and acne and helps blocks UV radiation.

Pumpkin Seeds
Grab a handful of pumpkin seeds and benefit from their high levels of magnesium, which can help to lift your mood and fight water retention, which ultimately reduces bloating. These powerful seeds also contain manganese, which has been proven to lessen irritability and tension that comes along with PMS.