Moyo Israel lay on the cozy blue rug in her living room, writhing in a fit of pain. The monthly period seemed much worse than usual for the 24-year-old.
“Did you eat a lot of sugary stuff this month?” Her mom’s concern was palpable as she hurried to the aid of her anguished daughter, suspecting a culprit: sugar. So much was the pain that Moyo had to call in sick at the school where she taught.
Menstruation, a natural phenomenon marking the monthly shedding of the uterine lining, often accompanies discomfort. Yet, for females like Moyo, the pain transcends normalcy, disrupting daily life. Could sugar be exacerbating this agony?
Monthly Period
Known as dysmenorrhea, menstrual pain can be debilitating, impacting emotional, psychological, and functional well-being. Primary dysmenorrhea, not linked to underlying conditions, plagues many menstruating individuals during their reproductive years. Secondary dysmenorrhea, associated with identifiable pathology, compounds the struggle.
The average length of a menstrual cycle is 28 days. Nonetheless, a cycle can vary in length from 21 days to about 35 days and still not be abnormal. The menstrual period is usually between three and seven days.
It is not unusual to experience some discomfort during your period. The bleeding process naturally accompanies pain. However, severe or intense pain that interferes with your life as a woman is not normal.
Dysmenorrhea, derived from Greek, translates to “painful monthly bleeding.” It can be categorized as either primary or secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea refers to recurring lower abdominal pain experienced during menstruation, not linked to other diseases or underlying conditions, and diagnosed through exclusionary means. Secondary dysmenorrhea, on the other hand, is associated with identifiable pathology. Dysmenorrhea is a prevalent issue among menstruating individuals during their reproductive years and can have notable adverse effects on their emotional, psychological, and functional well-being.
Approximately 90% of individuals who menstruate may encounter painful periods, known as primary dysmenorrhea, and about 15% of them endure severe symptoms that significantly disrupt their daily activities.
In this article, we would look at the possibility of food causing menstrual cramps.
The Sugar Conundrum: Myth or Reality?
Dr. Monica Christmas, cited in Medical News Today, posits that inflammatory foods, including refined sugar, may intensify menstrual pain by increasing prostaglandin release. Prostaglandins, hormones involved in inflammation and pain, constrict uterine blood vessels, leading to cramping.
While some anecdotal evidence supports sugar’s adverse effects, Adeife Ayeni, a community health specialist, notes a lack of scientific consensus. She dismisses the notion of sugar as a direct cause, urging caution against unsubstantiated claims.
In simple terms, research has identified a number of foods that make pain during menstruation worse. Meat, oil, sugars, and coffee were found to improve the cramps.
Adeife Ayeni, a specialist in community health, acknowledges sugar’s potential role but emphasizes individual variability in symptom manifestation. While excessive sugar intake can contribute to uterine contractions and pain, not all experience this correlation.
“There is no medical research that establishes or validates the fact that sugar causes menstrual cramps,” she told Prime Progress.
Undoubtedly, the strong craving for consuming large quantities of sugar during menstruation is a shared trait among many women. It is commonly believed that girls should avoid consuming cold food and drinks before and during their menstrual days. However, some women choose to abstain from sugar altogether, as it is believed to exacerbate heavy and painful periods.
A corresponding research study published in Nutrients in 2020 found that the Mediterranean diet, alcohol consumption, and consumption of typical foods from southern Spain may impact cycle length, menstrual flow, and menstrual pain. The local foods in Spain, such as ham, strawberries, and olive oil, were identified as influential factors.
Conducted as a cross-sectional study at the University of Huelva, Andalusia, the research involved 311 health science students and revealed that individuals who consumed less than two pieces of fruit per day and consumed pulses more than once a week were more likely to experience menstrual pain. The foods consumed were considered inflammatory because of their sugary nature.
Additionally, according to Ayeni, imbibing too much sugar contributes to menstrual cramps, usually in the lower abdomen. “The pain happens because the uterus, which is made of different muscles, has contraction that enforces the bleeding.”
A comprehensive and integrated academic healthcare platform, NewYork-Presbyterian ‘s Health Matters, supported Adeife’s assertion. It emphasised the importance for women to aim for a balanced intake of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in their diet. Omega-6 fatty acids, commonly found in vegetable oils such as soybean or corn oil, as well as in processed foods containing these oils and sugar , are linked to inflammation and may accumulate in uterine muscles and the endometrium, leading to increased pain. On the other hand, omega-3 fatty acids, present in fish and nuts, possess anti-inflammatory properties.
As individuals like Moyo navigate their menstrual journeys, informed choices pave the path towards greater comfort and well-being.
Moyo Israel, a 24-year-old woman, experienced severe menstrual pain that disrupted her daily routine, leading her mother to speculate about the influence of sugar on such pain. Menstrual pain, or dysmenorrhea, can be particularly debilitating, affecting emotional, psychological, and functional well-being. There are two types: primary, unrelated to other conditions, and secondary, linked to identifiable medical issues.
Approximately 90% of menstruating individuals suffer from primary dysmenorrhea, with 15% experiencing severe disruptions. Some believe dietary choices, particularly sugar intake, may exacerbate menstrual pain. Dr. Monica Christmas suggests that inflammatory foods, including sugar, could increase pain by triggering prostaglandin release, which is involved in inflammation and pain.
However, Adeife Ayeni, a community health specialist, notes the lack of scientific consensus on sugar as a direct cause of menstrual cramps. Research indicates that certain foods, such as meat, oils, sugars, and coffee, may worsen menstrual pain, while others, like those in the Mediterranean diet, can have a varying impact.
Consumption patterns play a role; individuals eating less fruit and more pulses reported more menstrual pain, attributed to the inflammatory nature of sugary foods. Excess sugar intake can contribute to uterine contractions and subsequent pain. Balance in omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, found in various oils and foods, is important for managing inflammation and pain.
Moyo and others navigating menstrual pain can benefit from informed dietary choices to improve comfort and well-being.
