Bloating During Period

Bloating is basically a feeling of fullness and swelling in the belly region which some women have before or during their menstruation. The condition is often accompanied by some other menstrual symptoms like pain, cramps, restlessness, mood swings, etc. Though bloating during a period is not a serious health concern, the condition can be very annoying or irritating and may lead to severe discomfort and uneasiness. However, the good part is that it is very common and can be cured by just following some simple preventive measures. But what are those measures and how effective are they in reducing menstrual bloating, we will know in the following sections.

Causes of Bloating During Period

Studies show that one of the major reasons for severe menstrual bloating which is nothing but fluid retention in the body, due to the hormonal changes that the body undergoes during menstruation. Normally an average menstrual cycle is 28 days, during which, the female body undergoes various hormonal changes. Like if the body is expecting pregnancy or the egg gets fertilized, the hormone levels increase while if the egg is not fertilized, the hormone levels drop and the body again starts preparing itself for having the next period. Hence, every month during menstruation, the uterus produces a chemical called prostaglandin which causes contraction of uterus walls in order to get rid of its lining. This result in fluid retention or bloating in the body, cramping, back pain, weight gain, irritability and swelling in some parts of the body. Besides this, women who have smoking and drinking problems or unhealthy eating habits are also prone to suffer from severe bloating.

Preventive Measures

Bloating before and during period is not mandatory to occur in all women and can also be avoided by following some simple preventive measures.

• If you wish to know how to reduce bloating, then the first step is to avoid junk or fast foods or foods that are high in salt as they lead to fluid retention in the body and menstrual cramping. Incorporating fresh vegetables and fruits in your daily diet and consuming fish or chicken, preferably grilled rather than deep-fry, can also help in minimizing the risks of menstrual bloating.
• If you're still wondering how to relieve bloating, then you need to stay clear of caffeine. Having excess of coffee, tea or even chocolate during those days can also trigger fluid retention in the body. This is because too much of caffeine in the body can lead to bloating in the stomach and intestines, resulting in menstrual pain and cramping in the lower abdominal region during menstruation.
• Another useful remedy is consuming aloe vera pills. These pills help the body to process water more efficiently during menstruation and are easily available in nearly all medical stores. Increase your vitamin consumption by having vitamin supplements and eating foods rich in vitamin A and B6. You should also increase the amount of calcium and magnesium intake to stay fit.
• You can also try some digestive bitters and carminative herbs like peppermint, ginger, chamomile, fennel, and lemon balm as they are good for the digestive system and have a mild diuretic effect that can avoid problems related to digestive system, like gas or bloating during menstruation.

Apart from these effective bloating remedies during period, another useful way to reduce bloating is to sweat to get rid of excess water. Hence, some healthy dietary changes and practicing some simple exercises can help in preventing fluid retention in the body.