Most months, PMT is a nightmare for me and I know many of my readers feel the same.
Thank goodness for Maryon Stewart, renowned healthcare expert specialising in PMS and Menopause for the guest post below.
Maryon is a pioneer in the field of non-drug medicine. Using her years of knowledge and expertise, she coaches women in understanding the information, tools and techniques required to get well, to the point that they’re able to be completely symptom-free.
Since setting up the The Women’s Nutritional Advisory Service, and subsequently, the Natural Health Advisory Service, she has helped tens of thousands of women all around the world improve their health and well-being. Published show that over 90 per cent of women struggling with PMS and menopause symptoms are symptom-free within four to six months.
Maryon has written 27 popular self-help books, co-authored a series of medical papers, written regular columns for numerous daily newspapers and magazines, had her own radio show, written scripts for and produced many films, as well as contributed to a variety of TV series including Channel Four’s Model Behaviour, where she was the nutritionist. Maryon also created and presented her own TV series, The Really Useful Health Show.
Following the tragic death of her youngest daughter Hester in 2009, a medical student who was given a legal high, she also set up the Angelus Foundation [http://www.angelusfoundation.org.uk/] to raise awareness about the dangers of legal highs.
Together with over 20 world class experts, a number of Lords and a member of the Royal Family, the Foundation campaigned for 6 years and managed to get the UK Government to take action. Maryon’s campaigning work payed off, and a Bill to ban legal highs and raise awareness, which had a high profile in the Queen’s Speech in June 2015 became law in May 2016, banning all legal highs and closing approximately 500 retail outlets, including 115 websites.
Over to Maryon..
WOMEN DON’T NEED TO SUFFER!
It breaks my heart to think that PMS is still ruining the lives of women and their families all over the world, especially as I know there is no need to suffer with PMS at all. The symptoms can be overcome naturally; without having to resort to drugs or hormones. Premenstrual symptoms are related to low levels of nutrients in the body and our lifestyle. According to findings of studies undertaken by the Women’s Nutritional Advisory Service, when we learn how to meet our needs and redress the balance in our body, symptoms completely disappear in over ninety per cent of cases.
Nevertheless, it is a very real condition and when left untreated can contribute greatly to the break-up of a marriage, and feelings of violence and aggression, which are often taken out on small children and partners or deep depression, prior to the onset of a period.
Although many people think that PMS is something that occurs for only a couple of days a month, it’s not uncommon for women to experience symptoms for up to two weeks a month prior to their period.
You would think with all the advancements in science, women with PMS wouldn’t still be fobbed off by their doctors with antidepressants or hormones that have been shown not to work. These days it’s not so easy to hide away at home at this vulnerable and challenging time of the month as many of us live a fast paced demanding lifestyle.
Common PMS symptoms reported are anxiety, irritability, mood swings, nervous tension, depression, crying and confusion but physical symptoms can be just as difficult to cope with. These include breast tenderness, weight gain, craving for sweet foods, abdominal bloating, headache, fatigue and clumsiness.
PMS DOESN’T RESPOND TO HORMONE TREATMENT!
Whilst the symptoms of PMS are obviously linked to the hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle, PMS is not actually due to a lack or excess of any one hormone. No consistent hormonal abnormality has been found in women with PMS. Sufferers seem more sensitive to the natural changes in hormones in the menstrual cycle, commonly influenced by diet, stress and nutrition. Antidepressants, which are doled out like candy, serve only as a Band Aid solution at best and for some only bring another set of symptoms known as ‘side effects’.
PMS IS RELATED TO NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES AND LIFESTYLE FACTORS
Despite the fact that most doctors can’t test levels of important nutrients, and without disrespect, probably wouldn’t know how to interpret most of the test anyway, the trace mineral Magnesium, plays a key role. It has been shown in three published medical studies that between 50 – 80 percent of women with PMS have low levels of magnesium in their red blood cells. Magnesium has a profound effect on brain chemistry and hormone function. Low levels are associated with many common PMS symptoms. Magnesium taken together with B vitamins, zinc, iron, essential fatty acids, calcium and other nutrients play an effective role in treating PMS and have been shown in clinical studies to positively influence both brain chemistry and hormone function.
It’s hard to be specific about the dose of vitamins and minerals as it depends on the person and their constitution. For example, magnesium is the most common deficiency and necessary for normal hormone function. Whilst you can take up to 900mg per day, most people couldn’t tolerate more than about half of that before they would get loose motions. Therefore, it is best to begin a specially formulated high strength multi vitamin and mineral preparation like Premtesse. There is a 10% discount for my group members when they enter the code midlifeswitch2017. Here is the link: http://www.revital.co.
Social substances including tea, coffee, alcohol, sugar and cigarettes all have an adverse effect upon the balance of essential vitamins and minerals. As a rule they either increase the bodies demand for them, reduce their absorption or prevent their utilization. Tea and coffee together with chocolate contain caffeine, which may produce excessive stimulation of the nervous system, aggravating anxiety, irritability and insomnia.
Five Tips to Beat PMS
- Avoid caffeine and use natural alternatives including Red Bush and other herb tea, and coffee substitutes that are caffeine free.
- Avoid salt and salty food as salt tends to drag fluid into our cells, and we already consume far more salt than our body actually needs in the form of hidden salt.
- Reduce your intake of animal fat, choosing lean cuts of meat, substitute sunflower and vegetable oil based spreads instead of butter, and avoid fried foods.
- Eat plenty of fruit, vegetables, salads and oily fish such as mackerel, herring, salmon, pilchards and sardines.
- And ensure you exercise at least 4 or 5 times a week to the point of breathlessness. This helps to release the brain chemicals known as endorphins which give us a sense of wellbeing.
Further details about how to overcome PMS can be found in her book ‘No More PMS’.
Join Maryon’s new group on Facebook for updates and additional information about self-help measures https://www.facebook.com/groups/NoMorePMS/
You can also sign up for webinars at www.maryonstewart.com
For one to one appointments please call her assistant Marie or email her at marie@maryonstewart.com
Buy my bestselling book in paperback or audio
My debut book is my guide to surviving and thriving at work and at home and offers insight into how to create a digital business or return to work with confidence.
Mumboss: The Honest Mum's Guide to Surviving and Thriving at Work and at Home
(UK 2nd Edition)
Available on Amazon or Audible
The Working Mom: Your Guide to Surviving and Thriving at Work and at Home
(US/Canada Edition)
Available September 8th 2020. Order now on Amazon