Research is suggesting that women need more vitamin D and calcium in their diets, not only for their bone loss prevention, but also to help manage the symptoms of PMS.  We’ve been hearing how important it is for women to be getting enough of these two supplements, whether by pill or in our foods, during our later years to help keep our bones strong and healthy, but some professionals are now suggesting that with high intakes of calcium and vitamin D women have reduced their PMS risk.
 
One study followed women who ate about four servings of low-fat dairy products or yogurt a day or had fortified orange juice and it reduced their PMS risk by 40% compared to those who did not take in these products.  This equals about 400 International Units (IU) of vitamin D and 1,200 milligrams of calcium a day. 

Many doctors are saying that women need to be taking or getting more calcium and vitamin D in their diets long before menopausal years.  Much of a woman’s bone mineralization occurs between 18 and 30, making it very important to get these supplements during that time. 

You can take over-the-counter supplements or you can by sure to get enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet.  Some of the most calcium-rich foods are:  a cup of milk, ½ cup of spinach or broccoli, 8 oz of low-fat yogurt, 1.5 oz of cheddar cheese and 1 cup of calcium-fortified orange juice.  Vitamin D can also be found in the dairy products as well as fish like salmon and mackerel and fish oils, eggs and some vitamin D fortified dry cereals.

Getting enough vitamin D and calcium is not only good for our bones, but may help to reduce the risk of greater PMS symptoms.  So it is important to start at an early age as a women getting enough of each.  Women who are suffering from PMS may find help with taking in these supplements as well.  There is only one way to find out…try it. 

Here is an article that was submitted to our site from a nurse in Springfield, IL. While wanting to remain anonymous, we are very grateful. If you find it helpful, leave her a comment. Thank you

Many women suffer from stress and anxiety related to PMS, some have worse symptoms than others do. The most common symptom of PMS is, in fact, anxiety, which is a real problem for many women. At one time doctors thought that the anxiety was not at all related to PMS but this is no longer true. Doctors have come to realize that this is a real symptom of classic premenstrual syndrome.

There are also other reasons that can cause unneeded stress and anxiety but for many women the main cause is PMS. Some other reasons that could be the cause of your anxiety and stress could be work, family problems, mental health issues and lack of exercise. These can also increase your anxiety that has already been caused by the hormonal changes due to PMS.

The main reason you are experiencing anxiety with your other PMS symptoms is because of estrogen. However, if you find that the anxiety and stress is unbearable you could be suffering from PMDD, which is a severe and serious case of PMS. It basically takes all of the symptoms of classic PMS and multiplies them making your anxiety and other symptoms seem ten times worse.

PMDD occurs in one out of every ten woman of childbearing age in the United States. Those women who do have PMDD often have feelings and symptoms that are similar to the mental problem known as manic depression. Women with PMDD often say the feel overwhelmed happy one minute and sad the next and have a tendency to be overly sensitive to things that ordinarily would not bother them.

Many women are naturally sensitive all of the time but when it comes down to being "that time of the month" they can be almost unbearable to be around and most of all, live with. Stress and anxiety seem to be just a couple of the many problems that women have to deal with once a month. However, there are ways to get control of your anxiety and by gaining control of your stress you can have control over your life again.

Many doctors will suggest that you take B Vitamins, exercise regularly, meditate and have a balanced diet to help control your anxiety. Many women who have tried natural progesterone creams will attest that they are wonderful for helping with anxiety related to PMS. Taking a Kava Kava supplement is another good way to help treat your PMS related anxiety.

Always be sure to talk to your doctor and make sure that your stress and anxiety is related to your PMS before treating the problem yourself. Your doctor may be able to give you more treatment options than the ones listed above. Together, you and your doctor can decide on a treatment that is right for your symptoms and your body.

Every single month (if you're on schedule), most of us grown up girls end up dealing with the beloved - pre-menstrual syndrome. Of course, it comes a variety of symptoms, including bloating, moodiness, cramping, and skin breakouts. As if that wasn't enough Premenstrual Acne is extremely common among women and it usually comes from the change in hormones that comes around this time of the money. It is also known as hormonal acne, and no matter name you call it, women often find it extremely frustrating to deal with.

Dealing with acne, even when it is just acne PMS, can be devastating to women. Many women find themselves frustrated with their acne and it often can affect them psychologically as well. No one wants to deal with the appearance of pimples, even if it is only a few days each month. So, if you want to avoid dealing with premenstrual acne, here are a few tips that may help.

Tip #1 - Eat Plenty of Omega 3's - One thing that you can do to combat hormonal acne is to make sure that you are eating plenty of foods that contain Omega 3's especially during the time before you have your period. Some foods to try include salmon, rainbow trout, olive oil, mustard greens, and spinach. The Omega 3's that are contained in all these foods can to get rid of substances that can lead to acne and inflammation.

Tip #2 - Get Rid of Your Stress - Stress is a major factor when it comes to acne, so when you're going through PMS, you need to work extra hard to get rid of as much stress as possible. Taking the time to rest and relax will help you lower your stress levels, which helps in androgen reduction, leading to clearer skin.

This is why your face breaks out more during the holidays, final exams, and other stressful times when you're on your period.

Tip #3 - Try a Clay Mask - Using a clay mask during the days you have PMS is a great way to combat your premenstrual acne. These masks actually help you get rid of all the extra oil that tends to be secreted at this time. While they are fairly inexpensive and easy to use, don't go buy some cheapo mask.  It may make things a bit worse.  An all natural, name brand mask is probably best..

Tip #4 - Ask Your Doctor About Birth Control Pills - Today there are many women who have found great success with treating acne PMS with birth control pills. The pills actually help to balance out your hormones, and often women have found that it really clears up the problem. Of course you'll need to see your doctor to get a prescription for these pills, so take the time to visit your doctor if you're really have problems with acne PMS.

Of course, don't get the birth control pills just to prevent acne.  Maybe I'm old fashioned, but this is one of the benefits that is held for the young married woman.

Also, try not to pop those nasty things.  That makes things worse.  But, here's the good news - the fun part about this is… we get to do it all again next month.

Today there are thousands of women who end up dealing with irregular periods, and while for the most part, these types of problems are benign, in some cases, there can be some underlying problems that you may need to get checked out. When it comes to irregular menstrual cycles, some women may end up having their periods just a couple weeks apart, while others end up having them a few months apart, and this can vary from woman to woman. If you’re having problems with irregular periods, you may find it a bit worrisome, so let’s take a close look at what irregular periods are, what can cause it, any health risks, and what can be done about the problem.

What is an Irregular Menstrual Cycle?

asically an irregular menstrual cycle is having periods in a way that is irregular for you. Most women have their periods about every 28 days; however, many women are a bit different, having periods that come every 24 to 45 days, and this can be normal for them. If you have your periods every 28-30 days like clockwork, and then you start missing periods or having them every couple weeks instead, this is considered irregular for you.

Causes of Irregular Periods

here are so many different things that can end up causing you to have irregular periods. Many people end up having them after weight loss or weight gain has occurred. Exercising too much or not eating a healthy diet can also cause a problem with your periods. Other causes of irregular periods can include stress, smoking, too much caffeine, medications, breastfeeding, imbalances in your hormones, polycystic ovaries, too much alcohol, drug use, and eating disorders.

Are There Health Risks?

hile usually skipping a period now and then or having two in one month is not really something to worry about. In many cases this can be attributed to not ovulating that much or too much stress or something simple. However, there are times when irregular periods can be a sign of something more. In some cases this can be something that points to another problem such as polycystic ovaries, uterine fibroids, or even an infection in the ovaries. Also, women who end up having more periods than normal can end up dealing with anemia as well.

Solving the Problem

o, you may be wondering what you can do about your problems with irregular periods. The best thing to do is to see your doctor and have a total physical. Make sure you have a pelvic exam done as well. This way, your doctor can find out if there is anything more serious that is causing the problems you're dealing with. In many cases doctors prescribe birth control pills, which can help women get their cycle back on track. So, while there may be no significant problem, it's best to have a doctor check you out if you're having problems with an irregular menstrual cycle.