Omega-3′s aren’t just good for your brain – they can help regulate your periods. (image by MarcelNO103L, flickr)
Regulating your menstrual cycle will help you feel healthy and happy. These foods will help with irregular periods or amenorrhea (no periods at all).
Before we get into how nutrition affects your body, here’s something interesting about getting your period:
“When estrogen is high during their cycle, women are more at ease with themselves,” writes Rebecca Booth in The Venus Week. “They are more confident performing tasks and accomplishing goals and more socially agile and bale to articulate themselves more fully and clearly.”
But, if your period is irregular or nonexistent, you won’t benefit from the effects of high estrogen. The point of highest estrogen is your pre-ovulatory stage.
If you’re on a 28 day cycle, ovulation occurs from days 12-16 (though it varies, depending on your stress level, the foods you eat, the exercise you’re doing, etc). This means that pre-ovulation occurs on about days 8-11 (but again, it varies from woman to woman).
5 Foods That Make Your Menstrual Cycle Regular
Your first step in regulating your periods is figuring out what’s causing an irregular menstrual cycle. Once you determine the cause, you’ll be better able to find an effective treatment. Read 6 Things That Cause Irregular Periods.
Omega-3 fatty acids – salmon, sardines, etc
The blood vessels in your ovaries are tiny, which makes them vulnerable to damage and poor circulation. Smoking, obesity, and high cholesterol can negatively affect your ovarian blood vessels, which blocks hormones and blood flow. Fish oils enhance blood circulation, reduce damage from free radicals, fight the effects of aging, and increase dopamine (which improves your mood!).
Dr Booth recommends adding a fish oil supplement to your diet, instead of eating a high fish diet (because of the mercury in some tuna, swordfish, mackerel, etc).
Non-white foods
Most natural foods are not white, so you can assume that if a food is white, it is probably processed to the point of being unhealthy! To make your menstrual cycle regular, avoid white flour, sugar, white potatoes, white bread, white pasta, and white rice. They disrupt your menstrual cycle by creating insulin surges that result in fat storage. This excess fat storage negatively affects ovulation and your periods – and can cause irregular periods.
Protein – cottage cheese, lean meats, nuts
“Finding sources of balanced protein can be a challenge for busy women, but it is a must for hormonal balance, writes Dr Booth in The Venus Week. The more you balance your hormones, the more regular your menstrual cycle will be. Plant proteins are especially good for enhancing fertility and hormonal balance: almonds, walnuts, peanuts, cheese, hard boiled eggs, soy chips, hummus, canned sardines, and edamame.
Off topic a little: if you haven’t tried herbal tea to regulate your menstrual cycle, check out Yogi Woman’s Energy. It’s made with nettle leaf, which some say is good for regular periods.
Vitamin D – perhaps take a supplement
This vitamin improves communication between your cells, which stabilizes your hormones. Vitamin D is also vital in cancer protection – especially breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate cancers. “Vitamin D is a little hard to come by in food,” writes Dr Booth. Eat vitamin D-fortified milk products, tuna, egg yolks, salmon, sardines, and (yuck) cod liver oil.
To increase your vitamin D and make your menstrual cycle regular, make sure you getting enough sunlight. Where you live and the color of your skin determines how much time you should spend in the sun, but my research tells me that the average North American should spend about 10 minutes in the sun about 2-3 times per week.
Dark chocolate
“Chocolate contains flavenoids, which have estrogen-like activity and help improve circulation by reducing platelet clumping, writes Dr Booth in The Venus Week. Flavenoids also enhance microcirculation in the ovaries and endocrine glands, and increase dopamine (a “feel good” hormone).
Not just any old chocolate will do: eat dark chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa solids.
Your comments or questions on foods to regulate your menstrual cycle are welcome below. But, I can’t offer personal medical advice! Please talk to a gynecologist or your family doctor in person if you’re having problems with irregular periods.
hi,
im jove im not regular but im worried becoz untill now i dont have menstration for 4 months, started since february
it is normal ?… but im not pregnant, and having sex with my boyfriend..
Sometimes irregular periods for teens is regular! That is, their bodies and hormones haven’t adjusted to a normal monthly flow. Some women never have regular periods, which is annoying and even painfully frustrating when it comes time to try to get pregnant (as you can see from some of these reader comments).
Sometimes it’s normal to have irregular periods because your body is just “like that”, and sometimes there is something causing a problem. Fibroids or endometriosis can disrupt your cycle.
The bottom line is that you have to see a gynecologist or family doctor in person to learn why your body isn’t regular. It feels embarrassing to talk about it, but it’s better to be embarrassed in the short term instead of agonizing about irregular periods for months or even years!
If you can’t go to your family doctor, call a teen help line or Planned Pregnancy. There are resources and experts available, but you have to dig them up and find the courage to call!
Remember that the pain of making the call and asking for help is short…please get in-person help today.
hi. is this still active?
i think my period irregularity is too serious. i am so worried about this but my mom’s like she doesn’t care -___-. i am turning 17 this year and i am not having my period about a year now. i had my first period when i was 12 and i never had it regularly. please help me and tell me what to do about this. just some tips or reasons why my period is like this. for me, this is embarrassing but i think you can really help me. pls reply.
Hi my name is priya I am 34 I just had a baby after that I don’t have my periods and I think because of that I am gaining weight and one more thing that I am breast feeding mom please help me I don’t want to gain weight
Hi
I am 24 yrs and i am married 6 month ago but after marriage my period are delaying for weeks.now it is delayed by 2 month.and i checked my pregnancy it showed negative. before my weight was 57kg, now it is 60kg. plzs kindly help me .i am worried, my family wannt me to give them a baby.
The best way to get health advice is by seeing a doctor in person. Your menstrual cycle is connected to your overall health, and you need a doctor to examine you in person before he or she can give you medical advice. I know it’s expensive, uncomfortable, and time-consuming to see a doctor! But, it’s the best way to get help.
Shreya, how long time you are taking medicine? Is there any other problem relating to period?
Which portion you are suffering back pain Neethu? Lower back region or upper?
i m having irregular periods. Last time I took medicine to have period and can i get pregnant with this irregularity i am worried pls help me to get out of this.
please mam my wife suffuring of irregular menestrual cycle and period times is come she is 1to 2 days takes pad what is the remedies of irreglar mc problem.
Hi,
Would you plzzz suggest me how to over come severe back pain which comes every month during periods, which makes me cry whole day…plzzz help me out…
Reena, it is a common problem. As a doctor, I can say u that better u go to any doctor for detailed discussion and physical checking. Ayurveda is a nice option in this regard. Also make a check regarding thyroid.
Hi
I am 24 yrs and i am married 12 month ago but after marriage my period are delaying for weeks.now it is delayed by 2 month.and i checked my pregnancy it showed negative. before my weight was 55kg, now it is 57kg. plzs kindly help me .i am worried, my family wannt me to give them a baby.
I want a heavy flow in periods it keeps me active and alert nowadys its slow i am 35 and ok with my weight only the vitamin D level is low rest ok
hii
im 23 yrs old i have less period problms. its came only for 1-2 days.. 1 use 2pads only.. how to increase it..??? plz help me..
I m 21yrs old and am nt virgin my last period was on jan 9th i know m nt pregenant but i have not got my periods till now and am sacred go to doc if dey get to know that am not virgin. so please help me what can i do for it. i am very much worried.
hi im 23yrs old.. from last month im not getting periods regular.. im not married.. sin gal.. pressure at work..ican u please help me
i have many responsiblities to do,i cant afford irregular periods nw..its destroyng my regular life n my study…
im 20 years old my height is 5’2″ my weight is 60.m under stress.doctors says it will be fine from mediciens,bt medicns didn’t effect me more than 2 to 3 months.wat cn i do now?????m fade up nw from mediciens its really vary irritatng
Dear Anonymous,
If your period is 2 or more weeks late and you are not pregnant, it could be your lifestyle that is affecting your hormones. Are you under stress? Are you overweight or underweight?
Eating certain foods can help regulate your menstrual cycle but if your lifestyle or health is affecting your hormones, then food alone will not help.
What did the doctor say, when you went in for a gynecological check up?
im 20 years old n i have a problm in my periods for 3 years i hav tried many mediciens or treatment bt its nt working more then 3 months.i hav secondry ammonerhea plz help meee
I’m 16 years old and I haven’t had my period in about 4 months now. I’m a virgin. My period is usually irregular, like it comes every other month. Can you help me? I’m worried something is wrong.
I didnt have my periods since 2 weeks, Im not pregnant cause i did pregnancy test twice & its negative.. what to do ?
The best way to make your menstrual cycle regular – other than eating healthy foods – is to go see a gynecologist or a naturopathic physician. I cannot tell you how to regulate your cycle, because I am not a doctor and I do not know anything about your body or lifestyle.
Getting general information about your health on the internet can be good, but this is not the place to get personal medical advice. Only a doctor who has seen you in person can help you with your health.
I am sorry I cannot be more helpful, and wish you all the best.
Blessings,
Laurie
I have not had periods for over 6 months and i started to have them when i was 12…im 15 right now and im very much worried…i know im not pregnant cause im a virgin…so can u help me by giving me some advice? please?
Jessica,
I do not know you are from which country, but definitely there must be doctor and you go to doctor if you have any problem.Consult with doctor and if needed you undergo physical checking.Only this will help you.As a doctor I can advise that.Because understanding of your physical condition only helps you for cure.
Hello,
For the last 5-6 months my period flow is very less. Their is no heavy flow or a medium flow. Its non existent after the first 3 days. I am trying to follow good diet and get some exercise. But because of the less flow I am putting on weight despite me not a heavy eater. Please help.
Hi, need a bit of advice.
I’m 14 and have had my period since I was 12, but this month it’s late by 6 days and I’m a bit worried. I’m not pregnant cause I’m a virgin but has this ever happened to any of you! I’m quite worried and I’ve eaten cheese, fish and drank lots of water but nothing!
Help!
The best way to regulate your menstrual cycle is to get examined in person by a gynecologist. It’s a guessing game when you look for a diagnosis or treatment on the internet. It’s good to get general information about health, etc online — but you need in-person advice when you’re trying to figure out what’s going on with your own body.
Another thing to remember is that our bodies change constantly! Hormone levels fluctuate, which changes our periods, flow, feelings, etc. Especially as we age. I’m 42, and my periods change almost every month. It’s just part of being a woman.
The best thing to do if you have an irregular cycle and you’re concerned about it is to see a doctor in person, as soon as possible. Don’t put it off!
i have PCOS mildly hypo poly cystic , and even thyroid problem..
i want to take IUI treatment using donor sperm because my hubby
is azzoospermic..
does it success in first to third attempt or not
my doctor is giving me metoformin, meftol and while follicular study she will be giving hcg harmone injection..
I am 41yrs old have endometriosis and recently removed cervical polyps. For the past three to four months my menstrual flow has been stopping and restarting during my periods. I would like to know what is the cause of this?
Ok i sware by these regimens. Im 18 i got my period today when i was supposed to go to a. Two hr zumba party what did i do i ate the good periodsfoods stayed clear of sweets and drank a lot of water ha d peanut butter tea mixture of rasberry camoille and green tea, bananas, oranges salad with. Onions avacado tomatoes lettuce. Lima beans in that 7 hr period before the party sand omgosh it did wonders. For me i get cramps but itonly last one day but it happebs in less than an hr when i get my period. Today in 15 mins i felt great. I only took tylenol to keep the pain away for good as safety precaution but i felt great and did zumba for 2 straight hrs. On the first day of my period!
Amazing what foods and herbs in nature can do for you
i am suffering from hypothyroidism n missing my period first time.plz help me out from this thank u im just 22years old
Hi madam this is santhoahi can you help me I am not getting period from one month I am working for nite shift is it effected with that plz help out with that na mam how to my periods regular
I have to second Dr Mandal’s advice: it’s vital to see a doctor in person if you want to make your menstrual cycle regular. Eating healthy foods is important, but seeing a gynecologist in person is more important!
Hello Heena,
It is my advice that you better go to any ayurvedic doctor.IN AYURVEDA THERE ARE SEVERAL MEDICINES FOR HORMONE DISORDER AND GYNAE PROBLEMS. BETTER FREELY TALK WITH DOCTOR REGARDING YOUR PROBLEMS.
hay mam i m heena my age 22 years old i have a problem with my period. It start when I was 16 years. 3-4 times it came but than after it suddenly stopped i went to the gynecological doctor but i haven’t reslut.than last 1 years i m went to a doctor in amedabad he said that i have a hormonal problam.
My body isn’t creating hormones, so my period cycle is irregular or stopped. when i eat medicine then start my period, I stop take medicine then my period stops. why? i m tired of taking medicine. please tell me how to get my period regular naturally. Give me some tips i m very much worried about this.
Hello,
I know how frustrating it is not to have a regular menstrual cycle – and I’m sorry if you’re worried about your health! I wish I could help you, but I can’t give personal or medical advice. In fact, you shouldn’t seek personal health advice on the internet about your menstrual cycle or any other aspect of your health.
The only health advice you should take is from a doctor who has examined you in person. If you take advice from anyone who doesn’t know your medical history – even if it’s “just” how to make your menstrual cycle regular – you run the risk of damaging your health permanently.
Please go see a doctor in person.
Blessings,
Laurie
Hello Mam,
I have irregular periods
& i feel my body become a heavy.
So please tell me solution
Dear Ms. Laurie
I am 38 years of age having a little daughter of 3 years old. Since I need to conceive another baby but I don’t get menstruation since last 3 years when my baby born.
Please advice me about this. I am very much worried about this.
Kind regards