A Carrot a Day Can Keep Period Cramps Away

We often hear how important it is to eat our vegetables, but did you know that it can also improve your menstrual cycles and relieve hormonal imbalance?

What you eat directly impacts your digestion-and your menstrual health.

If you want to improve your gut microbiome, hormones, and menstruation, then it is important to pay attention to eating the best foods for women’s wellness.

A raw carrot a day is one of the simplest, easiest, and most affordable nutritional choices that can help everyone have healthy digestion and hormones.

Eating a fiber-rich diet from vegetables and legumes is one of the best ways to support a healthy gut microbiome and prevent PMS. The fiber acts as a sponge in the gut helping to remove excess estrogen from the body. Fiber also helps to increase peristalsis, the movement of food through the digestive tract.

Carrots are believed to have unique qualities to their fiber that is especially suited for helping the body process and eliminate excess estrogen. The research of Dr. Ray Peat, a biologist who specializes in hormones and nutrition, led him to promote the use of carrots for this purpose and encourage a raw carrot salad each day.

High levels of estrogen contribute to increased inflammation which may cause heavy and irregular menstrual cycles, cramping, irritability, and PMS.

Many factors can cause high estrogen levels including phytoestrogens from increasingly common foods such as soy and flax, as well as xenoestrogens that mimic estrogen in the body, from pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic chemicals.

Raw carrots can be consumed daily in a raw carrot salad that includes:

• grated or julienned raw carrots
• a splash of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
• a drizzle of organic olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil
• and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

I also like to add finely chopped celery, parsley, cilantro, garlic, or red onion for extra flavor, color, and nutrients.

You can also simply eat a raw carrot whole as an easy afternoon snack. My favorite way is to spread a little grass-fed butter on my raw carrot and then sprinkle it with salt. The fat and salt help to enhance the flavor and digestibility.

Avoid baby carrots as they are not as nutrient-dense as whole carrots.

Eating a carrot a day can help keep cramps, PMS, and inflammation away.

Plus, carrots have a whole bunch of other nutritional qualities that support our eyesight, teeth, heart, brain, skin, and hair! So, it’s an excellent healthy snack for everyone to enjoy.

Originally published at https://wellnessblessing.com on February 2, 2021.