Question for the ladies--sure, the men can read this if they're curious :)

[RawSinger]

Yeah, I just wanted to know if you all had significantly less extreme PMS symptoms after being raw for a while?

I was diagnosed with PMDD (Premenstral Disphoric Disorder) which feels like regular PMS X100. I can always tell without a doubt when I'm getting my period because I feel terribly depressed, rediculously lethargic, super irritable, bloated, and crampy. For those of you who experienced these things, have they improved since you've been raw?? Please share...

[Eva]

Yes, actually they're without almost any issues at ALL -- but my breasts still get sore. :o

That sounds AWFUL! You are so lucky to have discovered raw -- I've heard so many others talk about easier periods. Although I have also heard of there being a month or two for some where it is actually worse, sort of like period detox -- then BAM it's way better.

[RawSinger]

Well that's definitely encouraging!! I'm sorry you still have trouble with breast soreness. Mine don't get sore but they get sensitive--not in a good way.

Yes, 'tis awful. It's like, about a week before my period, everything shifts. I have all the symptoms I described. Everything and everyone start to piss me off. I spoke to my mom on the phone yesterday and I was screaming and cursing at her! Granted, my mom is infuriating but she's my mom and she's ill and I'm usually able to control myself a lot better than that. But I just didn't care. I think everyone should just have a soundproof room in their home where they can just go and scream!! Primal screaming!!! I felt bad for taking my frustrations out on her. I should never pick up the phone this time of the month when I see her name! I really only enjoy half of the month because for about a week, I'm PMDDing. Then for about a week, my aunt flo is visiting :o Just felt like complaining.

Anyhoo, on a more pleasant note, it's really nice to see your face, Eva! (I'm assuming that's you in your avatar) You're sooo preeeeettttty :)

[Rawmommie]

Oh yes, yes, yes!

My whole life I was plagued with severe pain, clots, and cramping during my period. They also lasted 7-10 days too. Ugh.

Raw makes them lighter and very little cramping! And, the times I have slipped and eaten cooked...the pain and clots come right back!

[Raw Yogini]

I haven't been raw very long but my last period was the first pain (cramping) free period I've had since my post pregnancy hormone shifts 10 years ago. In the past two years the cramping and low back pain has gotten increasingly worse. I was only about a month 95%+ raw and had absolutely no cramps! I get my period about every six weeks so I haven't had another one but I'm anxious to see how this one goes. Best of luck!

[queenfluff]

Raw doesn't help mine. The only thing that does is lots of exercise - meaning I have to be doing lke 2 hours each day all the time and than my periods are a breezy - no cramps or anything. That is the only time I noticed I didn't have any problems - when I was getting lots of exercise.

Does anyone know if there are any certain raw foods I can eat more of before or during my period that will help?

I can't get in 2 hours of exercise everyday.

I took some herbs once and they kinda helped but you had be taking them all the time and it got very expensive.

[rawviveyourself]

Yes.....definitely a huge difference for me with......sometimes still slight breast tenderness, but cramping/clotting is non-existant if I am eating raw and used to be horrible B.R. (before raw). Good luck with it!

[April22]

Rawsinger: I could have written your post. I went raw only a few weeks ago, and honestly, my symptoms have worsened considerably to the point where I have no motivation to do anything among other horrible symptoms. I never had stronger cravings for sugar than I have the last couple of weeks. Suffice it to say, my raw way of life is shot at this point. Arguably, this is due to detox. Detox or not, PMDD is harder than anyone who hasn't experienced PMDD could possibly imagine. It is not just "PMS" like the sort that everyone gets. Hang in there, and do not put this on the back on your mind once your luteal phase is over and you begin to feel better for a couple weeks in the folicular phase.

This is what I have found to help:
-get massive amounts of calcium
-and magnessium
-and vitamin D3

I am not outright recommending that you take supplements and I am not specifically advocating them either. I suppose you could eat massive amounts of foods containing calcium and magnessium, which would undoubtably help you ... and spend time in the sun.

To my utter surprise, I have also found a rapid improvement (within 2 hours) after eating the following foods, seasonings, and herbs (which I found conveniently packaged together):
-saw palmetto
-damiana
-dong quai
-blessed thistle
-slippery elm bark
-hops
-yellow dock
-wild yam root
-althea root
-fennel seed

I figure you probably are looking for relief as soon as you can get it because PMDD is just hell. Since I am also trying to figure my way out of it, I will keep you apprized of anything I find out.

Stay positive and thank you for posting about your PMDD.

Love,

April22

[RawSinger]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I enjoy sharing mine, as I like to let people know that they are not alone and I enjoy getting feedback. April22, thank you for the list of items, and I'm so sorry you haven't experienced relief yet. I hope that comes soon. queenfluff, I wish this for you as well, and anyone else experiencing any level of discomfort once a month. Take care, sistahs :)

[RawHeaven]

----------------------

[RawSinger]

RawHeaven: this is very encouraging :) I appreciate your honesty. Glad you don't have to go through hell every month anymore, sweetie.

Now another question for anyone: is it true that menstrual bleeding is actually unnatural? Is it true that it's actually something that evolved because of poor diet in humans or perhaps from another cause? This issue has intrigued me for a while.

[RawHeaven]

ah it's been awhile since the cycle was that bad...20 years ago. i just wanted to demonstrate how closely tied the diet is related to womb health. when i was eating junk and in my teens it was horrendous, now that i'm raw it's miraculous.

nope i don't think menstrual bleeding is unnatural, otherwise we would be too. ;) our cycles provide life by cleansing the womb every month and keeps our hormones in check. and not to mention, our creativity is tied to it. the ultimate creativity too, the creation of life itself! how can that be considered "unnatural"? just my opinion and belief.

signing off now.

cheers!

[Bechtel]

My fiancee has been raw food eater for over three years now. Before she had terrible PMSes (I was staying away from her ,-))), cramps and very heavy flow. Last couple years she even does not notice when period comes. Very little discharge and very short - 2 days max. Very pleasant change ,-))))

[April22]

I think heavy, painful bleeding is unnatural, but even women in the wilderness (what is left of wildernesses) bleed and have bled for as long as their have been anthropologists to study them. I think even in the old testament of the Bible (not that I consider it a most reliable source or that I am even relaying the story acurately) there is a story of a woman who was sitting on a household idol so that her husband would not find it and kill her. When he asked her to stand up so that he could look in the box she was sitting on, she said she couldn't because she was on her period. Come to think of it, her period saved her life! That would have happened some 5,000 years ago, so obviously people knew about periods back then and women had them. The world was also likely much less toxic as plastic had not been invented yet, no one used hydrogenated oils, etc., etc.

Personally, however, I am hopeful that it is a normal thing for at least some women to stop bleeding yet not be in menopause. I hope to be one of those women someday. I have a friend who has had 2 periods in her life and doctors cannot find anything wrong with her. She even got pregnant without even trying, and had her baby without drugs and without complications. She does not eat raw food, but she is a vegetarian. I imagine her health could only improve to a greater extent if she went raw as well.

[queenfluff]

Rawsinger: I could have written your post. I went raw only a few weeks ago, and honestly, my symptoms have worsened considerably to the point where I have no motivation to do anything among other horrible symptoms. I never had stronger cravings for sugar than I have the last couple of weeks. Suffice it to say, my raw way of life is shot at this point. Arguably, this is due to detox. Detox or not, PMDD is harder than anyone who hasn't experienced PMDD could possibly imagine. It is not just "PMS" like the sort that everyone gets. Hang in there, and do not put this on the back on your mind once your luteal phase is over and you begin to feel better for a couple weeks in the folicular phase.

This is what I have found to help:
-get massive amounts of calcium
-and magnessium
-and vitamin D3

I am not outright recommending that you take supplements and I am not specifically advocating them either. I suppose you could eat massive amounts of foods containing calcium and magnessium, which would undoubtably help you ... and spend time in the sun.

To my utter surprise, I have also found a rapid improvement (within 2 hours) after eating the following foods, seasonings, and herbs (which I found conveniently packaged together):
-saw palmetto
-damiana
-dong quai
-blessed thistle
-slippery elm bark
-hops
-yellow dock
-wild yam root
-althea root
-fennel seed

I figure you probably are looking for relief as soon as you can get it because PMDD is just hell. Since I am also trying to figure my way out of it, I will keep you apprized of anything I find out.

Stay positive and thank you for posting about your PMDD.

Love,

April22

For the herbs, what you mean by "rapid improvement" - did it get rid of your cramps? Also, where did you find thes "all packaged" together? I would rather try first than buy all the herbs separate to make a tea or something.

thanks!

[RawLoveBaby]

yes! Definitely less symptoms. When I was 100% raw and on a detox diet I had no cramping or bloating. I'm not 100% anymore, probably only 60-70% and my cramps have come back a little, but I can get through them without painkillers now.

[Theogirl]

I found a really great site yesterday that might help with menstrual issues in general. Try this:
http://manymoonsalternatives.com/relief.php

[April22]

You asked: For the herbs, what you mean by "rapid improvement" - did it get rid of your cramps? Also, where did you find thes "all packaged" together? I would rather try first than buy all the herbs separate to make a tea or something.

First, I apologize for taking so long to get back to you. I have been out of town for over a week.

What I meant by rapid improvement is that my insatiable pre-menstral cravings for sugar and carbs decreased within a couple hours of taking the herbs. From what I hear, the herbs also help with cramps and irritability. I got a bottle of the herbs from a master herbalist in the town where I live. The name of her shop is Herbally Grounded. I imagine something like it would be available at Whole Foods.

[rawforthesoul]

I've had less cramps. It could be because going raw has given me more energy to move around. Oh well, I don't know the science behind it, but I'm definitely happy with whatever's going on in my body! My breasts still get sore right before my period though, but I'm actually glad they do because it let's me know when I'm going to start so that I don't have to keep track of it on a calendar or wear those annoying pantiliners.

[domestic goddess]

The other thing you may want to consider, if you are using tampons...stop. The chemicals used tin the bleaching process(along with other chemicals) has been shown to cause all sorts of menstrual issues. I found my pms/moontime was better with raw, but improved tenfold when I switched to cloth pads/diva cup. I went from a massive motrin taker so I could get out of bed the cramps were so bad, to NOTHING. It took about 2 months but now I have to wonder when my moon will come I get so few symptoms. I get a wee bit bloated, but that is all. Oh, and my flow is MUCH less now that I have switched to cloth. :D

[domestic goddess]

Here are some links:
http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/tampon.asp

http://thehealthycookie.com/2007/02/02/you-put-that-stick-of-death-where/

[Theogirl]

I just invested in cloth menstrual pads and can't wait to try them! I'm looking forward to gentler periods without the irritation I get from the commercial plastic-y pads.
One caveat: My sister has begged me not to hang them out on my clothesline to dry! :D

[smoothiegirl]

Mine are definately better! All the preservatives in foods lead to an acidic body and that makes the monthly cycles worse. PMS symptons are related to diet. Use to have horrid, violent cramps-no more. Just a little cramping maybe. I drink lots of Kangen water which alkalizes the body and does away with the acid condition. You can find out more about it it www.Kangnwwatergirl.info (www.Kangnwwatergirl.info)

[smoothiegirl]

[QUOTE=smoothiegirl;429857]Mine are definately better! All the preservatives in foods lead to an acidic body and that makes the monthly cycles worse. PMS symptons are related to diet. Use to have horrid, violent cramps-no more. Just a little cramping maybe. I drink lots of Kangen water which alkalizes the body and does away with the acid condition. You can find out more about it atwww.Kangenwatergirl.info (www.Kangenwatergirl.info)

[rawstrength]

My periods are much better on raw. No cramps and very little PMS. I also started using the diva cup, which I love.
You can read my testimony here:
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=39389&highlight=period

[RawSinger]

My periods are much better on raw. No cramps and very little PMS. I also started using the diva cup, which I love.
You can read my testimony here:
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=39389&highlight=period

Coolness!! Good for you, rawstrength! I'm definitely going to purchase the diva cup at some point but I just have one question: have you had any problems playing sports with it or is it reliable even in the most active of situations?

[MangoMadness]

I also get pmdd and am anxiously awaiting the month it goes away. Its reassuring to hear that it can get worse before it gets better because I just had my 5th period since going raw and it was worse than ever. It seemed to be improving before that, so I am hoping this is like a final massive detox.
I will let you know how the 6th one goes.

[tanishamarshall]

Yes Maam especially with PCOS right before going raw I started having horrible pain which I never ever had my entire life, I never had cramps but right before raw I was in severe pain since eating raw I don't have any pain and honestly if I didn't keep track of my monthly I wouldn't even know what it was about to arrive..

I also use to deal with not being very nice, bloated but not anymore, knock on wood.

[MangoMadness]

So how long does it generally take to improve? I suppose its a silly question as everyone is different. I didn't expect it to get so bad again and am now nervous about next month.

[tanishamarshall]

Well after going raw I'd say my next menstrual cycle was pain free and mood free. lol It didn't take long at all but everyone's body is different so it may take longer or less time for you. And to be honest with you I was high raw when I was relieved of the pain not even 100% raw and it got better but I was sure not to include Meat as non-organic meat has hormones which cause our hormones to be off track especially women with PCOS.

[cibra]

Yeah, I just wanted to know if you all had significantly less extreme PMS symptoms after being raw for a while?

I was diagnosed with PMDD (Premenstral Disphoric Disorder) which feels like regular PMS X100. I can always tell without a doubt when I'm getting my period because I feel terribly depressed, rediculously lethargic, super irritable, bloated, and crampy. For those of you who experienced these things, have they improved since you've been raw?? Please share...

I am very interested in this. I get SSI because of PMDD. This is also the reason I am raw ... hoping for big changes. I never tell anyone I get SSI for PMDD of all things PMS times 1000

[Vaclare79]

Mine are definately better! All the preservatives in foods lead to an acidic body and that makes the monthly cycles worse. PMS symptons are related to diet. Use to have horrid, violent cramps-no more. Just a little cramping maybe. I drink lots of Kangen water which alkalizes the body and does away with the acid condition. You can find out more about it it www.Kangnwwatergirl.info (www.Kangnwwatergirl.info)

You drink kangenwater.. Ok, I can't afford to buy a machine like that but what about the evamor water that is ph 9 I think it's available at health food stores.. have you tried that before?? I'm just wondering if anyone has tried it because I want to try it and am thinking about getting it so that I can help myself by drinking better quality water for my acid reflux.

[MangoMadness]

Thanks Doc. Its been an ongoing problem so I suppose it may take abit longer. I never ate meat and gave up dairy about 3 years ago. Yes PMDD is like a whole other disease than PMS, but I dont know what SSI is :confused:

[Theogirl]

I just invested in cloth menstrual pads and can't wait to try them! I'm looking forward to gentler periods without the irritation I get from the commercial plastic-y pads.
One caveat: My sister has begged me not to hang them out on my clothesline to dry! :D

Just an update on periods since going raw. My first was so easy I hardly even knew I had it. My second was not bad, but really grouchy beforehand and then kind of achey-pressure in the abdomen. The third was super-super bad cramps and grouchy beforehand.
This fourth one a few weeks ago was only mildly irritable beforehand, much less than before. I was very excited to try out my new cloth pads too. THIS WAS THE EASIEST PERIOD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE and lasted only four days instead of 7! I don't know if it's the raw thing, or my new pads or my shift in attitude but I'll take it!
To explain the pad thing, I've been reading that commercial tampons are made with pesticide soaked cotton and actually cause tiny lacerations in your vagina. Apparently any plastics and chemicals placed near such an intimate part of your body get sucked into your system and can cause terrible cramping and actually PROLONG your period!
So when I tried out my new pads, to put that soft, silky flannel next to my skin felt like a real treat. I felt like I was nurturing my own self and giving my body the best! It was so funny, that feeling sort of changed my whole attitude. Instead of tensing up when the flow would change, I deliberately relaxed and thanked my body for taking such good care of me. Absolutely no cramps! My flow was very heavy but was done in four days. Wow.
Note: I found the pads were really easy to clean, and way less odor than plastic pads. They were slightly bulkier than plastic, but very comfortable. I did soak right through a couple times (mine are homemade by a lady, and don't have a rubber liner like some do) but next time, I think I'll just double them up or remember to change a little sooner.