Recommended Foods and Beverages for PMS

Why do we crave so much to eat, shop, sleep, and work before menstruation?

I think it’s like the behavior of a squirrel preparing for winter, doing everything possible before having to “hibernate.”

Now, PMS. It’s quite troublesome, isn’t it? Even someone as laid-back as I am finds myself thinking, “I’m useless!” during this time.

It’s like a temporary panic disorder that lasts until about four days into menstruation.

Enduring it with a bit of patience, trying to boost iron levels by eating liver or komatsuna, often brings a return to normalcy the next day.

The usual peace of mind returns.

I remember realizing, “Could it be the iron that helped?” and feeling significantly relieved.

Recommended Foods

Foods that Build Blood:

Carrots
Spinach
Peanuts (limit: 90g, in powdered form)
Longan fruit (limit: 12g, in powdered form)
Grapes
Raisins (limit: 6-9g; may cause digestive issues if overconsumed)
Lychee
Various animal livers
Pork heart
Pork feet
Squid
Ark shell
Dong quai (limit: 6-15g)
Komatsuna
Chicken
Beef
Pork
Lamb
Honey
Royal jelly
Shiitake mushrooms
Chestnuts
Cabbage
Cauliflower/Broccoli
Potatoes
Pumpkin
Sweet potatoes
Shark
Cod
Sardines
Bonito
Catfish
Swordfish
Eel
Pond eel
Peaches
Black soybeans (limit: 60g; cooked only)

Foods that Warm the Body:

Garlic (limit: 30g)
Garlic sprouts
Ginger (limit: 3-9g)
Green onions (limit: 3-9g)
Cilantro (limit: 3-6g)
Mitsuba
Myoga
Cinnamon (limit: 10g)
Cassia cinnamon (limit: 1.5-5g; if not in powdered form, limit to 5g)
Perilla (limit: 12g)
Chives (limit: 100g)
Chili peppers (limit: 1-6g; adjust based on tolerance)
Bell peppers
Black pepper (limit: 0.6g; avoid if prone to high blood pressure)
Sichuan pepper (limit: 6g)
Cloves (limit: 1g)
Fennel (limit: 3-9g; avoid if trying to conceive)
Osmanthus (limit: 3g)
Brown sugar
Salmon
Horse mackerel
Trout
Onions
Pickled shallots (limit: 12g)
Mandarins
Kumquats
Oranges (limit: 3-9g, though some suggest up to 30g; adjust based on condition)
Buddha’s hand (limit: 3-9g)
Jasmine (limit: 1-6g; avoid during meals)
Edible rose petals (limit: 3-9g; avoid during meals)
Green skin (limit: 3-9g)
Lychee seeds (limit: 5-9g)
Walnuts
Shrimp
Sea cucumber
Char
Venison
Bear meat

Foods that Promote Blood Circulation:

Bok choy (use sparingly)
Beet (use sparingly; recommended if experiencing excessive bleeding)
Peach kernels (limit: 6-9g)
Vinegar (avoid if digestive issues are present)
Turmeric (limit: 9g)
Chuanxiong (limit: 9g)
Turmeric (limit: 9g; avoid if feeling cold)
Galangal (limit: 9g)
Danshen (limit: 15g)
Yakumo (limit: 30g; avoid if feeling cold)
Safflower (limit: 9g)
China rose (limit: 6g)
Allamanda (limit: 9g; avoid if feeling cold)
Hawthorn (limit: 9-15g)
Mugwort (limit: 10g)

Recommended Drinks:

Cocoa
Black tea (Ginger tea, cinnamon tea, honey soy milk tea, and rose tea with Maikaika enhance effects)
Pu-erh tea
Jasmine tea

You may have noticed that the recommendations are similar to those for menstruation.

Particularly recommended is Maikaika (edible rose).

Maikaika (edible rose) is particularly recommended.

It is used in herbal teas for its beautiful appearance and aroma. Maikaika is thought to help clear and stimulate the body. If you’ve experienced discomfort and tenderness in your breasts before menstruation, Maikaika may be beneficial. Some people notice effects within a few hours.

For optimal results, ensure your body is warm and your blood circulation is good. Prepare meals with the foods mentioned earlier or choose them to eat, and enjoy a graceful tea time with rose tea. A tablespoon a day is sufficient, and it’s suitable for daily consumption. It is also rich in vitamins, making it excellent for those concerned with beauty.

Though it briefly gained attention as an edible flower due to its striking appearance and fragrance, Maikaika should be integrated into daily life for health and beauty. Its appeal is more than skin deep, and women are instinctively drawn to roses.

Maikaika is effective when feeling irritable or unsettled. Choose those with pleasant aromas, such as those from Japan, Pakistan, or France.

Since Maikaika contains tannins, which inhibit iron absorption, it is best consumed during tea time rather than with meals. It’s also beneficial to eat before sleeping. If you feel unmotivated, limit its intake.

Headaches and body stiffness can often be related to low blood levels. There’s a theory that mental instability, including severe PMS, may be linked to insufficient serotonin levels in the brain due to low blood. Consider iron supplementation if you’re experiencing mood difficulties. Consult a doctor if concerned.

To purify the blood, vitamins are essential. PMS is thought to be caused by an imbalance in female hormones. To stabilize female hormones, it’s crucial to include isoflavones, equol, and vitamins C and E in your diet.

Soy milk is well-known for providing these nutrients. Additionally, fennel helps increase estrogen levels. Jasmine tea combines both vitamin-rich benefits and is also recommended.

It’s important to maintain balance in female hormones, so be mindful of incorporating vitamins, isoflavones, and equol into your diet.

Since Maikaika is an edible rose, similar effects are likely achievable with other roses, such as Rose Red. Instead of focusing solely on Maikaika, pay attention to roses that can be used as herbal tea or edible flowers.