pms.....oh joy:)

I know I know it has been way too long since I have updated my health blog.... I'm having a fun filled busy summer. One thing I have been thinking alot about is that very special time of the month where I am ornery for a few days and forget my healthy eating habits. I feel like i usually lose a few pounds during the month then my period comes and it all goes out the window. Does this happen to anyone else? The good news is that there are ways to tame PMS naturally. Try these five tips:

Exercise! You may not want to, but it really does work to relieve cramps and moodiness. Helps serotonin, a mood-lifting thing in our bodies.

Chillax. Adequate sleep and less stress will put you in a better hormonal position to handle the imbalance that PMS brings.

Cut out caffeine and salt. Reducing caffeine may minimize irritability, and cutting salt can reduce bloat.

Minimize simple sugars. Ideally, you're doing this all the time, but it's especially important before your period. Simple sugars may make cramps feel worse. Eating regular meals and snacks with fiber and protein will help keep your blood sugar stable, which is a lot better for those raw nerves than blood-sugar swings.

Consider supplements. Calcium may reduce symptoms of PMS, so shoot for at least 1,200 mg a day. Magnesium is also helpful, as are B complex vitamins. To reduce cramps and breast tenderness, try a primrose-oil supplement; it's a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory that may work in ways similar to ibuprofen.

{I got much of this info from good ol Jillian Micheals}