few days of your period. Gaining weight is a physical symptom of premenstrual syndrome also known as PMS. PMS is a phase when women undergo several physical, emotional, and behavioral changes that affect women approximately around two weeks before their period. All these changes take place due to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle. PMS is very normal among women who have not come to the menopause phase. More Than 90% of women experience PMS. Now we will discuss the basic reasons that can cause weight gain during periods.
Why do we Weight Gain during Period?
- Hormonal Changes
The female sex hormone estrogen increases during the end of your menstrual cycle, just before your period. Due to the high rise of estrogen, our body can retain fluid, which can make us feel bloated and this is one of the potential reasons for weight gain during period. Because of the retained water, there is the possibility that our body can gain a few pounds. The good part is estrogen levels start to drop as soon as your period starts. Another hormone that is responsible for weight gain during periods is progesterone. This hormone also remains at its peak during the end of the menstrual cycle leading to water retention.
- Drastic Change in Regular Diet
The rise in progesterone levels leading up to your period can also speed up your hunger and there are possibilities that you will find yourself consuming more calories than usual. During periods we don’t crave broccoli for sure, it’s the salty and sweet foods that we want the most. So now I guess you got the answer of why you gain weight during period? Eating salty chips or regular carbs like sweets or chocolates can cause water results, and as a result, you will put on a little extra weight. If you are craving for some cheesy pizza or ice cream then you will gain some weight which will be difficult to reduce even after your periods.
If you want to lose weight or control bloating, then keep yourself hydrated. Try to consume light proteins like Greek yogurt. And if you crave sugary items then eat fruits instead that contain natural sugar and will keep you hydrated.
Is Weight Gain During Your Period Normal?
- Body Doesn’t Feel to go to the Gym
During periods our body feels irritable and tired, and going to the gym comes as the last activity in our mind. But working out and letting some sweat come out of the body has been proven to be helpful during periods because sweating lets you shed extra water weight from your body that you are worried about. If you are not willing to go to the gym then there is nothing wrong with taking a day off. After your period is gone and if you are back to your regular diet and daily exercise routine then within no time you will shed the extra weight.
- Constipation
If you want to blame your cravings for weight gain during periods, then that is not the only cause behind bloating. According to the doctors, rising levels of progesterone hormone in our body before the menstrual cycle works as a smooth muscle relaxant, and slow down the functionality of the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, our digestive tract becomes jammed. A high level of progesterone can slow down the usual gut mobility which can lead to constipation, and that can be a major cause behind weight gain during periods. If you are constantly suffering from constipation during periods then you must consume some probiotic elements. probiotic elements might give you some relief.
What Causes the Weight Gain?
- Too Much Caffeine Consumption
During periods we get tempted towards caffeinated beverages as we feel too tired. A sudden increase of coffee in our regular diet plan can result in some gastrointestinal issues like bloating and discomfort. But coffee is not the only villain; anything that contains caffeine can cause some problems, especially carbonated drinks. Some women have the misconception that carbonated drinks keep our bodies hydrated, but that is not true. Since soft drinks contain a lot of sugar or artificial sweeteners. They can be more worse for bloating and undoubtedly can cause weight gain during periods.
One thing you need to remember is that during the period the gained weight is not any actual fat; it is just some extra water that your body is gaining because of high levels of the hormone. It is quite obvious that you will feel discomfort due to bloating. To get rid of that discomfort few things you need to keep in mind. first, you have to drink tons of water to keep you hydrated; second, don’t let periods make you idle, which means don’t miss your daily exercise routine.Â
How to prevent period weight gain
Drink a plenty of water daily: Drinking water meanings whole day happy, you can easily get rid of constipation problem etc.
Avoid Salty food: Always try to eat fresh and green good, avoid the consumption of much salty food or carbohydrates during periods.
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