PMS: How to Promote Healthy Bowel Movements

PMS can manifest in a number of ways, such as cramps, abdominal pain, bloating, and breakouts. And if these don’t already cause enough distress, many women have to deal with another kind of discomfort in the days leading up to that time of the month: constipation. After ovulation, a hormone called progesterone is produced to get the uterine lining ready to sustain a potential fertilized egg. While the more copious amount of progesterone is needed in the uterus after ovulation, its presence may cause havoc in the intestines because the hormone also works as a muscle relaxant. Healthy bowel movements require the intestines to contract through a process called peristalsis, but progesterone can inhibit this process, causing a particularly uncomfortable back up—one that’s even more annoying when it hits every single month. Fortunately, this uncomfortable PMS symptom can be improved if not prevented through a few simple lifestyle adjustments. Read more…