What changes can I make to my lifestyle?
It is helpful to have a healthy diet. To get results, doctors recommend making dietary changes 14 days before your period starts.
These dietary changes include:
- Add fiber to your diet by eating more fruit, vegetables and whole grains.
- Eat foods with vitamin K such as leafy vegetables, cheese, liver, and asparagus.
- Try to avoid soy products, alcohol, saturated fats, and junk food.
- To help prevent anemia, increase the amount of iron and vitamin C in your diet.
Foods that contain iron include clams, oysters, beef, pork, poultry, and fish. Smaller amounts of iron can be found in dried beans and peas, iron-fortified cereals, bread, pasta, dark green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, seeds, and some multi-vitamins. Consult your doctor before consuming large amounts of iron.
Some women have also found that yoga, exercise, and acupuncture can help to reduce bleeding.
Be sure to talk to your doctor before changing your diet or starting an exercise program.
The content of this website has been reviewed by an advisory board of physicians that includes: Ted L. Anderson, MD, PhD, FACOG; John D. Bertrand, MD, FACOG; Maria M. Gilpin, MD, FACOG; Christian S. Pope, DO; Thomas F. Purdon, MD, FACOG; Ellen E. Sheets, MD, FACOG, and Dr. Danee S. Young, MD, CEO, FACOG.
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