Healthy happy you.
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
Menstrual cramps are no fun, but for some women, the pain can be so unbearable that it prevents them from going to work, or even getting out of bed. Instead of popping pain meds, new research from Germany shows that acupuncture treatments may be beneficial in helping to ease menstrual pain. The study tested 201 women with dysmenorrhea, a condition that causes achy and throbbing cramps. The women Read more
When Aunt Ruby comes for her monthly visit don't let your menstrual cramps get you down or cramp your style. Here are five ways to deal with the pain and general malaise of cramps. Apply heat to your belly or back to increase blood flow and ease the pain. Using a heating pad is much easier than drawing a hot bath. Get your fill of foods rich in Omega-3s. They can help block the production of Read more
It is being reported that a new study suggests that Chinese herbs might be more effective in relieving menstrual cramps than drugs, acupuncture or heat compression. Not only did the research find that the herbs helped to relieve pain, but it was also found that they reduced the recurrence of the condition over three months. The herbs said to work were Chinese angelica root (danggui), Szechuan Read more
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
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
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 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
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
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
