Why is my period so painful?

If you've been the women curling up into a ball, scrunching up your face in so much pain because of your period. You NEED to keep reading!

Menstrual pain is commonly associated with inflammation and hormone imbalances. These issues not only cause the sharp pains that you are feeling, but did you know they can also affect your ovulation?

We know that for some of you, the pain is too much to tolerate. So, we are here to help you understand and manage potential contributing factors in your life.

Inflammation can occur due to the overproduction of a certain type of prostaglandins (PGE2). These lipid (fat) molecules aren't always our enemy, but when they outweigh the good prostaglandins (PGE1), they in fact are!

The good prostaglandins function as anti-inflammatories, helping to reduce the inflammation and therefore pain from your uterus. These good guys are sourced from omega 3 fatty acids.

Then there are the bad guys, the bad prostaglandins, these contrarily act as an inflammatory. These are sources from omega 6 fatty acids.

So, when our omega 6 fatty acid consumption outweighs our omega 3 fatty acid consumption, our uterus lets us know about it! Too many omega 6 fatty acids, means too many of the bad guys (PGE2) are produced. Too many bad prostaglandins are linked to more uterine contractions and more uterine contractions means an inflamed uterus, therefore more uncomfortable period pain.

We can address the production of our prostaglandin levels through our diet in the form of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.

Try to avoid (or have in moderation)

• Inflammatory oils such as; sunflower oil, canola oil, rapeseed oil and peanut oil.
• Soy products such as; soy milk, soy sauce, tofu, tempeh, soybeans, edamame
• Margarine
• Some nuts and seeds such as; walnuts, sunflower seeds
• Eggs

You can source your omega 3s from:

• Wild caught fatty fish
• Sardines
• Mackerel
• Nuts and seeds such as; chia seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds

The goal is to try to optimise your omega 3: omega 6 consumption ratio. You shouldn't completely cut out omega 6 fatty acids from your diet, but rather be mindful of the ratio in your diet.

Did you know we can test your levels with a simple finger prick test? Ask us how at your next consult!

Magnesium which is a mineral, is also known to supplement period pain. It similarly aids in reducing the inflammatory prostaglandins.

These are just a few ways in which your diet can affect your period pain.

If your'e looking for a recipe to entice you to eat more omega 3 fatty acids, look no further! We have uploaded a recipe for Omega 3 - Crusted Salmon that we think you will love! So be sure to check it out here.