From cramping to mood swings and sore breasts, you frequently begin to experience a number of symptoms prior to the start of your period. But out of all the PMS issues, unexpected weight gain seems to be the one that women find the least acceptable. More than 90% of persons who menstruate do, in fact, experience PMS symptoms. Hence, in this article, let’s look at a few reasons why women gain weight during their period.
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Is Weight Gain During Your Period Normal?
Yes, gaining weight while on your period is normal. It is important to understand that experiencing bloating during your period, whether it be from water retention or hormonal changes, is common and only brief. However, understanding the potential causes may help you handle it better.
Why do you gain weight during your period?
There are a variety of reasons why you could put on weight during your period, and they are all related to the physical changes that women go through throughout menstruation.
- Changes to your hormones
Oestrogen and progesterone rapidly fall just before your period, alerting your body that it is time to begin menstruating. Your tissues retain more water when these hormone levels change because they also regulate how your body controls fluid. Water retention results in swelling or puffiness, which may happen in body parts like the stomach and breasts and raises your body weight but not your fat percentage.
- Cravings
Ever longed to gobble on your favourite food while on your period? Or how about a cheese pizza? Unfortunately, when you’re on your period, you don’t usually crave salad or vegetables; instead, you prefer to consume foods that are sweet and salty. Eating simple carbohydrates and salty foods might cause fluid retention and excess water weight.
- Constipation
Constipation can occur before and during your period because the hormone progesterone slows down your digestive tract when it builds up in your body prior to the onset of your period. This can be painful, and you risk retaining a small amount of weight that your body would typically lose.
- Bloating
Pre-period weight gain may result from your stomach feeling tight and puffy five days prior to your period and again a few days during menstruation. This is due to hormonal changes, which make you feel heavier by increasing gas in your digestive tract and causing bloating.
Is there any way to prevent this period weight gain?
Unfortunately, there is no foolproof way to avoid gaining weight while on your period. However, there are a few things you may take to lessen bloating and water retention. In order to prevent weight gain and water retention during your period, aim to practise these healthy behaviours throughout the month:
Exercise regularly – Regular exercise can help with period symptoms. Each day, try to get 30 minutes of exercise.
Stay hydrated – Consume plenty of water throughout the month. This inhibits your body’s ability to preserve fluids thus avoiding you on binge-eat.
Reduce salt intake – Excessive sodium consumption causes water retention. Limit or avoid processed foods to reduce your salt intake.
Skip caffeine and sugar – Sugary and caffeinated foods and beverages may make bloating worse. Two weeks before your menstruation, stay away from these foods.
Avoid foods that give you gas – Don’t simply avoid them while you have symptoms; refrain from eating them the entire month.
When weight gain is not normal?
If you have been gaining unusual amount of weight and having irregular periods, you may have underlying conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which is a hormonal imbalance that affects your metabolism. Other problems could be indicated by rapid or ongoing weight gain. If you are concerned, make sure you consult a doctor.
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