Cramps during that time of the month can be debilitating — so much so that the last thing you want to do is hit the gym.
One thing you should know is that exercise can actually help relieve those painful cramps. Here's WebMD's explanation:
Exercise relieves cramps because it helps release beta-endorphins, which are internal opioids -- your own “human morphine,” according to Gustavo Rossi, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington. “It produces analgesia [pain relief] and helps to burn the prostaglandins -- chemicals released during menstruation that cause muscle contractions -- much faster.”
Human morphine? Too bad they can't bottle that. Should you hit the weights or the treadmill? The best form of exercise for PMS relief is aerobic exercise or anything that gets your blood flowing and heart pumping.
on Yahoo! |
This is so so true.