Foods that are too fatty and sugary

Unsurprisingly, foods that are too high in sugars and fats – especially saturated fat – do not relieve a painful period. On the contrary, they would be the source of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. These allow the endometrium to evacuate by contracting the uterus and thus causing pain. It is therefore preferable to avoid too greedy snacks, cold meats, red meat, or trans fatty acids (hydrogenated fats) that can be found in certain margarines and vegetable oils.

Foods containing caffeine

Caffeine is a nervous stimulant. If it contributes to the vigilance of the one who consumes it, its effects on the body are more like those of stress, but stress intensifies the pain of the rules. It is therefore better to moderate your consumption of coffee, tea, chocolate, soda, and energy drinks.

The alcohol

Several studies^1,2 observed that alcohol is a risk factor for dysmenorrhea. The risk of suffering from period pain increases by 80% for people who drink alcohol frequently, compared to people who do not. Alcohol would actually tend to prolong the duration of pain and intensify it³.

M. Proctor, C. Farquhar, Diagnosis and management of dysmenorrhoea, BMJ, 2006 F. Parazzini, L. Tozzi, R. Mezzopane, et al., Cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and risk of primary dysmenorrhoea, Epidemiology, 1994 S.D. Harlow, M. Park, A longitudinal study of risk factors for the occurrence, duration and severity of menstrual cramps in a cohort of college women, Br J Obstet Gynaecol, 1996