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With a few easy diet hacks, that time of the month could be your best (and prettiest!) ever. Here, experts reveal the miracle foods that are scientifically proven to reduce the symptoms of PMS.
Fill up on fruits and veggies
Water retention is usually exacerbated by dehydration, since your body then tries to hold on to what little water content it has. The best way to combat this, in addition to chugging as much H2O as possible, is to fill up on fruits and veggies with a high water and fiber content. Nutritionist Dana James, MS, CNS, CDN recommends cucumbers, "they're loaded with potassium and this acts as a natural diuretic to decrease bloating and swelling," she says. She also recommends citrus fruits like grapefruit and lemon. Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN also touts dandelion greens, which also act as a natural diuretic. Finally, keep salt intake to a minimum.
🍎apples are a good source of potassium.
Brown
Brown rice is an incredible source of Vitamin B, which also helps to reduce sugar cravings.
Apples
Potassium plays an important roe in keeping mood swings in check. This important mineral also reduces water retention decreasing bloating. Lack of adequate potassium causes muscle cramping which you need to avoid.🍎apples are a good source of potassium. Dark Leafy leaves
Studies have shown that magnesium can help reduce bloating. The darker green the vegetable the more magnesium it has. Dark green leafy veggies are a good source of vitamin A, which may help maintain a good complexion, and adequate hydration is critical for good skin any time of month, "says Rebecca Blake, MS, RD, CDN, and clinical director of nutrition at Mount Sinai in NYC. James suggests focusing on orange fruits in particular like papaya, apricot, and peaches." The yellow pigments in these summer fruits help to increase skin cell turnover to decrease breakouts caused by excess oiliness from hormonal changes" she says. Sprinkle that fruit with some cinnamon, which is a natural anti-inflammatory and can help stabilize blood sugar levels that might trigger breakouts. She also recommends artichokes, which can help keep your digestive flora in check. "A healthy microbiome means radiant, clean skin! best known as a notorious aphrodisiac, but Glassman notes that oysters can also put our skin in a good mood." The high zinc content decreases oxidative damage and may keep your skin clear of irritants," she says.
Brown 
🍚 Rice
Brown rice is an incredible source of Vitamin B, which also helps to reduce sugar cravings.Nuts, spinach, and eggs
"Nuts, spinach, and eggs are high in non-heme iron, which is found in anything other than animal meat, and can keep hormones at bay," says Glassman. Nuts are also rich in fatty acids, which Blake notes can also help improve mood. "Fatty acids can also help mitigate the irritability by flattening peaks and dips in blood sugar levels," she adds.James recommends spaghetti squash and blue potatoes. "Spaghetti squash mildly stimulates insulin which helps to transport tryptophan into the brain so that it can be converted to serotonin to boost the mood," she says." Potatoes help to activate serotonin in the brain, and the anthocyanins—aka the blue pigment— help protect the neurons from damage so that the brain can listen better to serotonin, making you feel less irritable.
Omega-3 rich fatty acids foods
Filling up on omega-3 fatty acids can also help reduce puffiness and inflammation, in addition to giving your mood a boost. Again, salmon and nuts are great sources, and avocado toast is also a tasty option if you're also looking for a carb fix. "Avocado is rich in vitamin E, which has been shown to reduce breast tenderness by decreasing the prostaglandins that exacerbate swelling," says James. Pumpkin seeds also have a similar effect. "They're abundant in both zinc and magnesium as well as anti-inflammatory omega-6s, which all help to regulate hormone levels that trigger breast tenderness," she adds.Finally, edamame is a great way to get your fill of unprocessed soy, which has been shown to help specifically with breast tenderness in premenstrual women.
