Calcium is very important for alleviating PMS symptoms, but as some people are sensitive to dairy products and in addition, other elements in milk may interfere with the absorption of Magnesium so fruits and vegetables containing good amounts of calcium are an important element of our diets and especially at ‘that time of the month’.
Magnesium has been proven to alleviate the cramps, fatigue and fluid retention as well as the emotional irritability and depression that sometimes also plague us.
Vitamin B6 is sometimes known as the ‘feel-good’ vitamin as it is important in the production in our brains of serotonin. Combined with Vitamin E, it is of most benefit for women whose PMS symptoms include depression, irritability, anxiousness and excessive tiredness. These vitamins are also effective in reducing headache, fluid retention and breast tenderness.
Vitamin and Mineral Supplements are great and can really help to support our bodies but they don’t give the feel good factor of doing something positive to help ourselves by choosing fruits that we know will actively rebalance our system and help to get us feeling great again. This is where a smoothie maker or blender will come into it’s own.
Choose one fruit from each of the following groups and have fun combining flavours for a delicious PMS-busting Smoothie, kick back and relax and let Mother Nature take over!
Fruits containing good levels of calcium
Blackberries , Blackcurrants , Dates , Grapefruit , Mulberries , Orange , Pomegranate , Prickly Pears
Fruits containing good levels of magnesium
Avocado, Banana, Blackberries , Blackcurrants, Dates , Guava , Kiwi , Loganberries , Mulberries , Passion Fruit , Pomegranate , Prickly Pear , Raspberries , Watermelon
Fruits containing good levels of Vitamin B6
Avocado, Banana , Dates , Gooseberries , Grapes, Guava, Lychee, Mango, Passion Fruit, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Watermelon
Fruits containing good levels of Vitamin E
Avocado, Blackberries, Black Currants, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cranberries, Guava, Kiwi, Loganberries, Mango, Mulberries, Nectarine, Papaya, Peach, Pomegranate, Raspberries
As you can see, Pomegranates really are superfruits for alleviating PMS symptoms, appearing in all four lists. Blackberries, Dates, Mulberries and Guava, are also great too, each appearing in three out of four lists! Enjoy!