Saturday, July 4, 2009

Whole Food Calcium Supplements Might Mean Less PMS

Most people are familiar with the benefits and bone-strengthening properties of calcium. Unfortunately, too few people are taking the advice! According to government statistics, a mere 21% of people are getting their daily recommended dose of calcium. According to National Academy of Sciences, “Calcium accounts for 1.5-2% of an adult's total body weight and gives your bone its strength and rigidity.” However, ladies should pay special attention because calcium is also linked to a reduction in the most commonly complained of symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

It has been estimated that somewhere between 8 and 20 percent of all women suffer from some form of PMS with symptoms ranging from mild mood changes, cramps, water retention and breast tenderness to severe cramps and anxiety. There is no concrete evidence to support the theory as of yet, but the current scientific indication is that the female body suppresses hormones that cause PMS if calcium stores are satisfactory, but will release these premenstrual hormones if the female is not getting adequate calcium. Women suffering from these typical symptoms of PMS usually have higher levels of PMS-manifesting hormones during a regular menstrual cycle.
Recent studies published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology indicted that, out of the 497 women who participated in the study, the women who took 600 mg supplements of calcium twice a day had far fewer PMS related issues than did the women who took a placebo supplement. According to the publications concerning the study, “The calcium group women noted a 54% reduction in commonly occurring aches and pains, while the placebo group actually had a 15% increase in commonly occurring pain symptoms. The overall severity of symptoms was reduced by 48% in the calcium group and improvement in the calcium group surpassed that of the placebo group in every category studied, both psychological and physical, and in 15 of the 17 symptoms evaluated.”
If you’re currently suffering from symptoms of PMS, why not consider a whole food calcium supplement? You just might find the relief you’ve been hoping for in one easy capsule. Quality calcium supplements are relatively inexpensive and may mean a world of difference in the way you feel!

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