Many women experience constipation just before and during menstruation. The reasons for constipation before periods are numerous - but correctable.

Many women treat their premenstrual depression with chocolate and sweets. Sugar actually helps relieve depression, by helping transport the amino acid tryptophan into the brain, where it becomes the mood-lifting hormone serotonin.

Additional sugar in the diet, however, is a major cause of constipation before periods. If you can't do without the sugar, at least be sure to drink more water and to try to consume fiber-rich fruits and veggies or at least a fiber supplement.

Another cause of constipation before periods is irritable bowel syndrome. If you experience alternating constipation and diarrhea, it's possible you have a mild case of irritable bowel syndrome that is triggered by the hormonal changes surrounding your period. 

If this is the case, it's especially important to avoid caffeine and alcohol just before and during the period. And if cramping is a problem, it may be constipation before periods rather than menstrual cramps.

It's worth giving enteric coated peppermint oil a try. (The peppermint oil has to be in a capsule to survive the acids in the stomach and reach the intestine where it's needed.)

When constipation before periods is accompanied by bloating, there's a long-term cure.

Any kind of abs-strengthening exercise will reduce bloating the next time symptoms come around. It also helps to eat food that increase the rate of gastric emptying, that is, that accelerate the passage of food through your digestive tract.

Any food that contains the essential or n-3 fatty acids accelerates the passage of food through your colon and reduces bloating - provided it's eaten in moderation. A few nuts, a little bit of fish, small amounts of fruit and vegetables may be just what you need. Eating too much of these foods, however, will have the opposite effect.

Constipation before periods is a premenstrual symptom you can prevent, not just treat. For more information on dealing with other forms of constipation, click here.

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