5 Natural Remedies for Menstrual Cramps

Menstrual cramps are something that half the population has no clue about and the other half can spend hours talking about. They’re caused by the contraction of the uterus at the end of the reproductive cycle.

Some women suffer more pain than others and it's thought that this is because of hormone levels.

asian woman feel pain menstrual cramp natural remedies menstrual crampsWhether your cramps are mild or awful, the monthly ordeal of menstruation is never fun.

The good news is that through the years, women have found and shared many ways to handle them. For most women who struggle with menstrual cramps, there is no need to take drugs.

5 Powerful Natural Remedies for Menstrual Cramps

1. Working Out

woman in bikini swimming exercise avoid period cramp natural remedies menstrual crampsExercise may be the last thing you want to do when you’re having cramps, but it has been shown to help a lot.

Though walking works as well, one of the best exercises during your period is to swim. Any exercises you do will release the body’s natural painkiller.

2. Hot Water Bottle or Heating Pad

Warmth is always comforting, and holding a hot water bottle or heating pad to your abdomen can bring a lot of relief. Another good “warmth” tip is to drink a nice cup of hot herbal tea.

3. Get Plenty of Calcium (and magnesium too)

Studies show that when women take in about 1,200 mg of calcium per day, their level of pain from menstrual cramps decreases.

This may be due to the fact that it cuts back on bloating. It also may be because when you’re low in calcium your muscles are more likely to spasm.

There are plenty of healthy foods that are high in calcium, including Greek yogurt.  Remember to add magnesium to your diet, as it helps you absorb calcium. Foods high in magnesium include shrimp, nuts, and beans.

4. Avoid Certain Foods

brown white refined sugar table natural remedies menstrual crampsThere are some foods that can make your period pain much worse. Most on this list you should avoid no matter what time of the month it is. These include:

5. Drink Ginger Tea

If you haven’t been drinking ginger tea during your period, you don’t know what you’re missing.

Ginger is a well-known cure for nausea and stomach upset, and it's been shown to decrease menstrual pain as well.

One study showed that women given a ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger 3 times a day for the first 3 days of their period experienced a 50% drop in their pain. It also cut down on the amount of time that they actually felt pain.

If you want to try ginger, do yourself a favor and grab some the fresh knobs from the produce aisle. Try making this lovely Honey Ginger tea. You’ll feel better and love every sip.

Danette May Recipe Honey Ginger Tea

Here are 8 more painkilling foods. They're probably all in your kitchen right now too!

Yours in health and happiness,

Danette

P.S. Please share this with your girlfriends and I'd love to hear from you in the comments below. Do you have a go-to remedy that relieves discomfort during “that time of the month?”