DrSugar Answers: Running and Menstrual Cramps?


Updated 10/14/11 11:48 AM · Posted by DrSugar · 5 comments

A Doctor Answers a Reader's Question about Menstrual Cramps and Running

DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions. Dear DrSugar, I have been a regular runner for a few years now, logging in 15 to 20 miles per week. However, in the past few months an unpleasant thing has been happening: a day or two before my period when I'm about a mile into my run I vomit. The run starts out fine, but as I near the end of that first mile I start cramping up (I normally Read more

Another Reason to Love Omega-3s: May Reduce Menstrual Pain


Updated 10/26/08 12:59 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 3 comments

Another Reason to Love Omega-3s:  May Reduce Menstrual Pain

There are so many reasons to love omega-3 fatty acids. They have anti-inflammatory and mood stabilizing properties, and they have been found to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure. New studies reveal that Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly the kind found in fatty fish, seem to block the production of prostaglandins, too! Prostaglandins are Read more

How to Deal With PMS Symptoms and Still Work Out


Updated 04/10/12 3:00 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

Fitness Tips For PMS Symptoms

From pimples to bloating, cramps to spontaneously bursting into tears, PMS and period symptoms not only have the ability to ruin your day, but they can also put a damper on working out. Since exercise actually alleviates many of these uncomfortable feelings, here are some of the best ways to handle common PMS symptoms while working out. Bloating: Swelling in your lower abdomen doesn't always Read more

Menstrual Cramps: Painful For the Body and the Brain


Updated 10/14/11 11:50 AM · Posted by FitSugar · 0 comments

New Period Cramps Research

Oh, great. Not only are menstrual cramps uncomfortably painful, they also cause actual changes in the brain. According to new research, period cramps cause structural changes in areas of the brain associated with pain and emotion. The study followed 32 women with an average of 10 years of painful cramping associated with their periods and 32 who did not. Researchers found no difference in total Read more

PMS — Why Do My Boobs Hurt?


Updated 02/19/12 4:02 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 36 comments

Why Breasts Hurt During PMS

PMS is a party and a half, isn't it ladies? We break out, have crazy mood swings, crave sweet and salty treats, become exhausted, get major menstrual cramps, have headaches and backaches, and one of my personal favorites — bloating. Some women experience sore breasts too, but why is that? A week or so before Aunt Flo arrives, your body begins producing oodles of estrogen and progesterone. Read more

Healthy Nibbles For Holiday Snacking


Updated 12/19/11 10:55 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

Healthy Holiday Snacks

It's inevitable that the snack table is one of the most popular socializing zones in the house during the holiday season. Due to their close proximity to the television, treat-filled coffee tables are prime targets for unconscious nibbling — and who doesn't like snacking while watching a sporting event or a favorite Christmas movie? This year, try removing the bowls of candies and chocolates Read more

DrSugar Discusses Birth Control: IUDs


Updated 04/02/12 12:14 PM · Posted by DrSugar · 13 comments

The Pros and Cons of IUDs For Birth Control: Paragard vs. Mirena

DrSugar is in the house! This week she explains the pros and cons of using IUDs for birth control. To continue our ongoing series of gynecological topics, I have decided to write about intrauterine devices (IUDs) as a form of birth control. Even though I learned about IUDs through many outlets (sex ed in school, medical school), I decided to research them more thoroughly since the birth control Read more

A Breakdown of Common OTC Pain Meds


Updated 05/06/11 1:25 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

The Difference Between OTC Painkillers Like Tyenol and Advil

Do you know what's in your medicine cabinet? A recent report in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine found that while over-the-counter medicine use is prevalent, many people don't know much about the active ingredients in popular painkillers like Advil and Tylenol. When asked about the difference between common pain relief brands, most of the study's participants didn't know what was in Read more

6 Smells That Boost Your Health In Surprising Ways


Updated 11/28/11 4:15 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

Scents That Boost Your Health In Surprising Ways

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar! Certain scents can help memory, mood, energy, and libido By: Sarah Mahoney, Prevention Did you know that the human sense of smell can identify thousands of aromas and is 10,000 times more precise than our sense of taste? We have millions of smell receptors in our noses. When they detect a scent, they shoot the Read more

10 Women-Only Comedy Moments in Bridesmaids


Updated 05/13/11 10:37 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

Best Bridesmaids Movie Moments

We saw Bridesmaids this week, and we laughed at the raunchy jokes, teared up at the tender friendship moments, and aww-ed at the too-cute love interest enough to give this flick two thumbs up. Cowritten and starring one of our favorite SNL funny ladies Kristen Wiig, the comedy centers around Kristen's downtrodden character, Annie, and the upcoming nuptials of her best friend, Lillian (played by Read more