5 important things you should avoid during periods

Cramps, low mood, food cravings? Many people have unpleasant symptoms during their menstrual cycle. If that sounds like you, it might be worth looking at whether diet adjustments could help.

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health, and can help you feel your best, says the NHS website, but there may also be some foods or eating patterns which can affect you, for better or worse, throughout the stages of your menstrual cycle.

Before your period

The luteal phase is a stage of the menstrual cycle that occurs after ovulation (when your ovaries release an egg) and before your period starts.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is experienced by many during the later part of this phase and can have physical and emotional symptoms, such as mood swings, tiredness, irritability and food cravings. For some people these symptoms can be severe.

The precise cause is yet to be identified, but it is thought hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle are involved.

It's in this phase that many people exper

what do you bleed on your period

what do you get on your period