Skip to content
Close (esc)

SAVE 15% ON YOUR FIRST ORDER !

Use code NEW15 to save 15% on your 1st order. FREE UK next day delivery if you order before 3PM . FREE USA delivery 5-7 days.

supplements for PMS 5 htp pms Period mood swings treatment for pmdd best foods for pms mood swings

Period mood swings: serotonin keeps the balance

article
filter

A week or two before menstruation, commonly known as a period, mood swings, low energy, sleep changes and other symptoms are experienced by over 90% of women around the world[1]. Most women can function normally since their symptoms are mild. For 20-40% of these women, these symptoms can interfere with daily lives and are referred to as PMS – a premenstrual syndrome. The good news is that nutrition offers a ray of hope to help you feel better during PMS. An easy way to produce more happy brain chemicals like serotonin is by using supplements like 5-htp.

What hormone deficiency causes PMS?

A decrease in the sex hormone oestrogen causes your feel-good chemical to go low. Your hormones fluctuate during your menstrual cycle. 7 to 10 days before your period, there is a decrease in sex hormones like oestrogen. This is the phase when most women experience PMS symptoms[2]. Changes in hormones also affect serotonin levels. This feel-good chemical regulates your mood and sleep. If this brain chemical is low, this explains some of the PMS symptoms like period mood swings. Understanding how your body changes during the menstrual cycle can make it easy to find efficient premenstrual syndrome treatments. Serotonin’s building block, tryptophan, is found in protein-rich foods like meat or soy products. Oestrogen increases the production of the chemical that converts tryptophan to serotonin[3]. It also helps serotonin to be available for longer to perform its function. In simple terms: 

More oestrogen = more serotonin = happier you

How can I balance my hormones week before my period? 

Supplements for PMS are one way to balance your hormones. One of the most popular ones is serotonin’s building block 5-htp. Why? Well, PMS can get serious for some women who develop a disorder known as PMDD. If you’re interested in the topic you can read more about PMS vs PMDD. PMDD therapy is currently focused on antidepressants that prolong serotonin availability in the brain[4]. Antidepressants, however, have serious side effects for many people. That’s why researchers were looking into 5-htp & PMS to see if that would help women dealing with PMS symptoms safely increase their serotonin levels. Since serotonin has a major impact on mood, behaviour and PMS symptoms like irritability, serotonin-boosting supplements could ensure increased sociability and agreeableness for women at all times[6]. Let’s take a look at a supplement that can help you raise serotonin - PMS’ natural helper called 5-htp. 

Which supplement is best for PMS?

5-htp is the shortcut to serotonin. When tryptophan is consumed, a small amount enters the brain where it is first converted to 5-htp and then to serotonin. Directly taking 5-htp bypasses the need for oestrogen to facilitate the conversion. brain feed’s 100 mg of 5-htp can help you easily and safely increase serotonin levels whenever you feel the need.


Tax included

Pack Size

1755 in stock

5-htp has been evidenced to benefit those with depressive symptoms. A review of 7 studies showed that 60% of those taking 5-htp reported full treatment of depressive symptoms[7]. This means, 5-htp can simplify the equation: 

More serotonin = happier you

What is the best thing to take for PMS mood swings?

While a lot of minerals and vitamins can help ease PMS symptoms, 5-htp is an efficient natural way to directly increase your serotonin levels which are low during PMS. With 5-htp, you can feel happier and sleep better which can help with PMS symptoms as well. Opting for a diet full of protein-rich foods can also help ease your menstrual journey. 

How can I increase my serotonin before my period?

A quick way to increase your serotonin levels is via your diet. Some of the best foods for PMS mood swings are :

Nutrient

Food sources (per 100g) and their nutrient content

Vitamin B6

A review of 12 studies recommended supplementing vitamin B6 to help with PMS symptoms due to its involvement in production of brain chemicals[8].


Women need 1.2mg Vitamin B6 per day.

  • roasted pistachios (1mg)
  • tuna (1mg)
  • lima beans (1mg)
  • sunflower seeds (1mg)

Tryptophan

It the building block of serotonin and found in protein rich foods

  • tofu (750mg)
  • chia seeds (720mg)
  • pork (630mg)
  • mozzarella cheese (600mg)

Zinc

Zinc is involved in maintaining hormonal balance and improving mood. Its levels drop during PMS levels and supplementation has shown to relieve symptoms[9].


Non-pregnant/lactating women need 7mg zinc per day.

  • beef (10mg)
  • sesame seeds (8mg)
  • dried mushrooms (8mg)
  • roasted peanuts (7mg)

Calcium

Oestrogen is involved in calcium regulation in the body. Low calcium levels are seen in those with PMS. Calcium is involved in production of serotonin. Reviews have shown benefit of increased calcium intake in lowering PMS symptoms[10].


Non-pregnant/lactating women need 700mg calcium per day.

  • tofu (prepared with calcium sulphate) (2134mg)
  • roasted almonds (291mg)
  • parmesan cheese (1376mg)
  • Milk, skim (204mg)


References

[1] Gao, M., Zhang, H., Gao, Z., Cheng, X., Sun, Y., Qiao, M., & Gao, D. (2022). Global and regional prevalence and burden for premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Medicine, 101(1), e28528. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000028528

[2] Draper, C. F., Duisters, K., Weger, B., Chakrabarti, A., Harms, A. C., Brennan, L., Hankemeier, T., Goulet, L., Konz, T., Martin, F. P., Moco, S., & van der Greef, J. (2018). Menstrual cycle rhythmicity: metabolic patterns in healthy women. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 14568. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32647-0

[3] Rybaczyk, L. A., Bashaw, M. J., Pathak, D. R., Moody, S. M., Gilders, R. M., & Holzschu, D. L. (2005). An overlooked connection: serotonergic mediation of estrogen-related physiology and pathology. BMC Women’s Health, 5, 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6874-5-12

[4] Tiranini, L., & Nappi, R. E. (2022). Recent advances in understanding/management of premenstrual dysphoric disorder/premenstrual syndrome. Faculty Reviews, 11, 11. https://doi.org/10.12703/r/11-11

[5] Casper, R., & Yonkers, K. A. (2021). Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/premenstrual-syndrome-pms-and-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-pmdd-beyond-the-basics

[6] Moskowitz, D. S., Pinard, G., Zuroff, D. C., Annable, L., & Young, S. N. (2001). The effect of tryptophan on social interaction in everyday life: a placebo-controlled study. Neuropsychopharmacology: Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 25(2), 277–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0893-133X(01)00219-6

[7] Javelle, F., Lampit, A., Bloch, W., Häussermann, P., Johnson, S. L., & Zimmer, P. (2020). Effects of 5-hydroxytryptophan on distinct types of depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition Reviews, 78(1), 77–88. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuz039

[8] Samieipoor, S., Kiani, F., Sayehmiri, K., Sayehmiri, F., Naghdi, N., Ghafari, M., Asadi-Samani, M., & Bahmani, M. (2016). Effects of vitamin B6 on premenstrual syndrome: A systematic review and meta-Analysis. Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 9(3), 1346–1353. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Effects-of-vitamin-B6-on-premenstrual-syndrome%3A-A-samieipoor-Kiani/c8e4dadb7e0ca8b8e8794446fb9a20e58537a2e3

[9] Ahmadi, M., Khansary, S., Parsapour, H., Alizamir, A., & Pirdehghan, A. (2023). The Effect of Zinc Supplementation on the Improvement of Premenstrual Symptoms in Female University Students: a Randomized Clinical Trial Study. Biological Trace Element Research, 201(2), 559–566. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03175-w

[10] Arab, A., Rafie, N., Askari, G., & Taghiabadi, M. (2020). Beneficial Role of Calcium in Premenstrual Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Current Literature. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 11, 156. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_243_19

Leave a comment

Open tab

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

Related articles

5htp benefits 5htp review 5htp dosage 5htp supplements

Mar 27, 2024

5-htp benefits & side effects: The truth behind feeling good

Wondering what 5-htp is and how it can help you feel better? Here's the ultimate guide to 5-htp: sources, supplementation, benefits & safety.
how to be a morning person  how to become a morning person  can we use in title please  how to wake up easier how to get out of bed when it's cold types of chronotypes                             sleep chronotypes

Oct 26, 2023

How to become a morning person? 3 secrets to join the 5AM club

How to be a morning person & how to wake up easier when its cold? Learn about types of chronotypes & ways to work with your type.
why mood changes during your period mood cycle what to eat on your period and mental health

Oct 23, 2023

Understanding you period mood cycle: How to eat right and feel bright on your periods

Period hormones can affect mental health. Find why mood changes during period & what to eat on your period to feel better.
how to deal with seasonal depression when does seasonal depression start ? what are the symptoms of sad  beat the winter blues  winter and mental health  mood affected by weather

Oct 20, 2023

How to deal with seasonal depression: 4 strategies to change your mood affected by weather

Feel like your mood changes as the seasons change? Read about SAD, seasonal affective disorder or seasonal depression, and discover how to manage it effectively with 4 tools.

Search

Shopping Cart