Why PMS?
By Andrea Purcell, ND 

Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS) usually occurs in a woman’s cycle one to two weeks prior to menstruation. Many women complain that they have PMS all month long. PMS disrupts the lives of 15 million women in the United States. Common symptoms include breast tenderness, fatigue, irritability, depression, sugar cravings, abdominal bloating, weight gain, constipation, acne, and mood swings. 

Many women believe that their PMS is simply a benign condition and never really give it much thought unless a family member or co-worker begins to comment on their erratic behavior. Symptoms of PMS are a way for our body to tell us that something is out of balance, They are not to be ignored or suppressed.

Much of the research on PMS concludes that it is a situation of increased estrogen compared to the progesterone in the second half of the menstrual cycle. Left untreated hyperestrogenism in the body can lead to other not so benign gynecological conditions including fibroids, endometriosis, menstrual irregularities, and estrogen sensitive cancers.

There are three main contributors to Hyperestrogenism:

-Environmental exposures to chemicals found in pesticides and plastics that mimic estrogen in our bodies.

-High fat, salt, sugar, and processed foods contribute to the problem along with alcohol, nicotine, and food additives.

-The disruption of proper estrogen breakdown in the liver and large intestine due to a combination of the two above mentioned causes.

Most cases of PMS can be eliminated if lifestyle changes are made. One can begin by recognizing and eliminating stressors, exercising, and by making better food choices. Foods that aid in restoring health and hormone balance are fresh vegetables, beans, seeds, nuts, lean meats and fish. Specifically the cruciferous vegetables, (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, radish, Brussels sprout) aid in promoting liver detoxification of excess estrogen.