Can women actually eat sweets during their menstrual period?

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　　Gossip: Eating chocolate or other sweets during a woman's menstrual period can cause… dysmenorrhea Like other types of discomfort, it is therefore advisable to avoid consuming these foods during menstruation.

　　The truth: This is a widely circulated guide regarding menstruation. Interestingly, the opposite claim—that eating chocolate or other sweets during menstruation can relieve cramps and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and improve mood—is also very popular, making it difficult to determine which version is true. Both of these claims are worth exploring in detail. To understand how sweets affect menstruation, it’s necessary to first consider the causes of menstrual cramps.

　　What is dysmenorrhea?

　　Dysmenorrhea refers to women The pain experienced during menstruation can be mainly categorized into two types: Primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea occurs when a woman begins to have regular menstrual periods, usually during the first or second day of her menstruation, and in most cases, it subsides on its own within two to three days. This type of pain is caused by an excessive secretion of prostaglandins during that period uterus It is caused by excessive contraction and vasospasm. Secondary dysmenorrhea usually occurs after a period of time during which a woman has not experienced dysmenorrhea, or when the initial discomfort associated with menstruation gradually becomes more pronounced Abdominal pain The pain usually begins one or two weeks before the onset of menstruation. This type of pain usually has a pathological basis, with common causes including endometriosis. In such cases, it is necessary to seek medical attention promptly.

　　The menstrual pains we will discuss next are all primary menstrual pains, meaning that their causes are not.. disease Rather, it is the changes in hormone levels within the body and the resulting intense contractions of the muscles.

　　What’s wrong with sweets?

　　A common characteristic of various sweets is their high sugar content. Relevant studies have indicated that sugar can affect the body's absorption and metabolism of vitamins and minerals. These two types of nutrients help to relieve muscle tension and reduce the intensity of uterine contractions, which can thus provide some relief from menstrual pain. For this reason, girls during their menstrual period should indeed reduce their intake of sugar.

　　However, it is important to mention that the consumption of carbohydrates increases the levels of a substance called serotonin, also known as 5-HT nerve The levels of neurotransmitters in the body. Research indicates that serotonin does have a certain effect in alleviating PMS symptoms. It seems that there is some truth to the belief that consuming sweets can help alleviate symptoms such as irritability associated with premenstrual syndrome and improve one's mood. However, while PMS symptoms have been alleviated, the same is not true for menstrual cramps. Serotonin promotes the synthesis of prostaglandin PGE2, which is the real culprit behind menstrual cramps. It seems that the impact of sugar on menstruation can be both positive and negative, making it difficult to simply say whether it should be consumed or avoided.

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