Marla Ahlgrimm: Not necessarily. Many over-the-counter medications that contain mood altering or pain relieving compounds may do more harm than good. Many studies have shown that the use of certain vitamins and minerals may help manage PMS symptoms without the use of medications.
Q: What are the benefits of magnesium in alleviating PMS symptoms?
Marla Ahlgrimm: An adequate level of magnesium in the body helps regulate muscle relaxation, promote restful sleep, and helps blood sugar levels remain steady. Magnesium additionally plays a role in heart health and may help prevent migraines.
Q: What is evening primrose oil?
Marla Ahlgrimm: Evening primrose oil is extracted from the flower of the same name. The oil contains linoleic acid, a substance that has been proven to boost the body’s output of prostaglandin. This hormone-like substance is believed to lower other hormone levels that can aggravate PMS symptoms, especially breast tenderness. Evening primrose oil is most effectively absorbed when taken in conjunction with a B vitamin complex.
Q: What vitamins are effective in combating PMS symptoms?
Marla Ahlgrimm: B and C vitamins along with magnesium and a number of other vitamins and minerals may help the body manage PMS symptoms including headaches, muscle cramps, cravings for sweets and chocolate, fluid retention, fatigue or mood swings.
Q: What is a PMS self-help plan?
Marla Ahlgrimm: A PMS self-help plan may include diet and exercise, relaxation, meditation or a number of other non-pharmaceutical steps that a woman can take to find relief from PMS symptoms. When used in conjunction with hormone replacement therapy or other over-the-counter PMS relieving products, a self-help plan can be an extremely effective tool in managing symptoms. Implementing a diet low in refined carbohydrates and sweets along with a regular exercise program may also help to reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.