Healthy, Happy Eaters
A Nutrition Talk about the little ones: 6 months – 2 years
Thurs, July 30, 2009. 7:00-8:00pm
Video at 7:00pm followed by information session and Q&A
By donation (recommended donation of $20)
Please RSVP
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common condition experienced by women in the 2 weeks prior to menstruating. Symptoms of PMS include bloating, weight gain, tender breasts, headaches, back or abdominal pain, food cravings, and a lack of energy. Other signs include irritability, anxiety, tension, aggression, and feelings of being unable to cope or loss of control.
Vitamin B 6 (pyridoxine) may be beneficial to women with PMS. Results from a study examining nine published trials representing 940 patients with PMS showed that doses of Vitamin B 6 up to 100 mg/day as a supplement may be of benefit in treating premenstrual symptoms and premenstrual depression. The recommended intake for Vitamin B 6 for premenopausal women is 1.3 mg/day. It's important not to exceed the safe upper limit for Vitamin B 6 which is 100 mg/day for non-pregnant women. High doses of Vitamin B 6 can cause neurological symptoms such as sensory neuropathy (e.g. tingling or numbness in hand or feet).
Many other types of dietary supplements including magnesium, and Vitamin E have been advocated for the reduction of certain symptoms of PMS but further research is needed in this area. Calcium supplements (1000-1200 mg/d) have demonstrated significant benefit in a large, rigorous, double blind, placebo-controlled trial but more studies are required. The efficacy of various herbal supplements including evening primrose oil for PMS is uncertain because of a lack of consistent data from scientific studies.
The general recommendation for PMS is to eat well, keep active, manage stress, and get plenty of rest.
Source: Dietitians of Canada. 2003 National Nutrition Month Campaign. Healthy Eating...Tasty and Easy. Finding Solutions to Women's Nutrition and Healthy Eating Challenges. Resource Manual for Health Professionals p.32.
