Sunshine and Calcium Knock Out PMS for Good

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http://www.mercola.com/2005/jul/5/sunshine_calcium_pms.htm

 

Sunshine and Calcium Knock Out PMS for Good

 

According to estimates, 8 percent to 20 percent of women may have

premenstrual syndrome (PMS), causing them to suffer from a host of

symptoms such as:

 

* Anxiety

* Loneliness

* Irritability

* Tearfulness

* Tension

 

However, researchers may have discovered a ray of hope in reducing a

woman's risk of PMS altogether: maintaining high levels of vitamin D

and calcium.

 

PMS Study

 

In the study, researchers compared the diets of some 1,050 women (ages

27-44) with PMS with almost 2,000 women who reported no symptoms for

over a decade. The only difference between the two groups was that

those who ate more than three servings of a dairy product a day were

less likely to develop symptoms commonly associated with PMS.

 

And while researchers explain the findings are too preliminary to

recommend dietary changes for women in general, and that further

studies are needed, the lead researcher did recommended vitamin D as

an alternative to stronger, potentially harmful medications for PMS.

 

Archives of Internal Medicine June 13, 2005;165(11):1246-1252

 

CNN June 14, 2005

 

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

 

Vitamin D plays a major role in your body's hormone system. One of the

most important health habits you can have is to make certain you have

sufficient levels of this incredibly important nutrient.

 

Folks, it is summer in the northern hemisphere and if you don't have a

tan yet I would encourage you to change your lifestyle so you can get one.

 

I get to work before 5 a.m. and leave around 2-3 p.m. so I can get

outside and read or exercise. Then I go back to work. Actually, I am

getting a bit tired of putting in 80- to 100-hour work weeks, which

I've been doing for the last 25 years, but hopefully will be able to

cut back soon (one of my goals for 2005).

 

Anyway, you should realize by now that regular sun exposure can not

only help prevent PMS, it may save your life.

 

As for calcium, it certainly has been given a prominent role in the

media. It clearly plays a valuable role in your health. What is

unfortunate, however, is that the wrong message is being dispensed

regarding the best sources of this important mineral.

 

Please be aware that pasteurized dairy and non-fermented soy products

are some of the worst foods you can eat, and are both exceedingly poor

choices for calcium sources. If your body can tolerate it, I believe

raw milk is the single best source of calcium you can get, and an

outstanding source of a variety of additional nutrients. Of course,

human breast milk would be best, but cow, sheep or goat milk will also

work well.

 

If you want to start drinking raw milk, I recommend finding an

authentic raw-milk source, where the cows are pasture-fed, in your

area. This will help ensure you are getting a clean source of milk,

with the highest nutrient levels it can have.

 

If you are unable to find a local dairy farmer in your area who sells

raw milk, I encourage you to visit the Real Milk site to locate a

source close to you.

 

Also, if you cannot tolerate milk in any form, dark green, leafy

vegetables are another excellent source of calcium to consider instead

of supplements. Before eating a lot of them, however, it is important

to figure out your metabolic type, as high amounts of green vegetables

can be detrimental to protein types.