What to eat with menorrhagia?

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1. What is menorrhagia?

Women "lose blood" once a month. A normal menstrual cycle will take only 3 to 5 days to clear up. But if your cycle lasts for more than 7 days, you're more likely to have menorrhagia. Menorrhagia (also known as heavy menstrual bleeding) is when your menstrual period is heavier than the normal threshold of 80 ml / 1 cycle or lasts for more than 7 days. You may bleed so much that you have to change your tampon or pad every hour for several hours straight.
Heavy menstrual bleeding is common, affecting anywhere from 27% to 54% of people who menstruate. Heavy menstrual bleeding can be serious if you lose so much blood that you have signs of anemia. Anemia is a condition that arises because your body has too little iron. Anemia can be life-threatening if left untreated.
In addition, some medical conditions that can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, such as cancer, require early medical intervention. It is better to see your doctor if you notice the following signs of menorrhagia:
Abdominal pain Periods that last more than seven days. Pass out blood clots that are 1/4 or larger in size. The blood can be red, pink, brown, or even rust-like. Bleeding through 1 or more tampons or pads every hour for more than two consecutive hours. Losing more than 80 ml of blood during menstruation instead of the usual 35-40 ml. Symptoms of anemia, like feeling exhausted, tired, or short of breath. With anemia, you may also notice signs of a condition called pica. Symptoms of Pica include hair loss, pale skin and wanting to eat non-food things like: paper, hair, dirt...

2. What to eat with menorrhagia?

2.1. Grains Topping the list are cereals because they contain a lot of fiber, minerals and essential vitamins. The typical grains are oats, brown rice, corn...
In addition, the low glycemic content of cereals also solves one of the causes of menorrhagia, which is to reduce the loss of weight. hormonal balance. And to overcome anemia and iron deficiency caused by a lot of blood loss during menorrhagia, doctors still recommend women to add cereals because the high content of iron in cereals helps promote the process of menstruation. hematopoietic process.
2.2. Foods rich in Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C Vitamin B6 is one of the factors that play an important role in building new red blood cells, helping to compensate for the amount of blood that has been lost due to long-term menorrhagia. Foods rich in vitamin B6 must be mentioned such as: chicken liver, pork liver, beef liver, poultry, salmon, legumes, whole rice, tomatoes, bananas...
Vitamin C plays a role Essential role to help the body absorb iron easily, preventing anemia caused by iron deficiency. Foods rich in vitamin C such as: tomatoes, kiwi, oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, strawberries, papaya, cabbage, coriander, cauliflower...

2.3. Magnesium-rich foods Magnesium is a common mineral element in the human body, it helps to reduce bleeding during menstruation. Moreover, supplementing with magnesium helps women improve stress, insomnia, irregular heartbeat and blood pressure. Lack of magnesium, women may face high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat or severe premenstrual symptoms.
Foods containing a lot of Magnesium such as: sunflower seeds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, watermelon seeds, seaweed, avocado, tofu, mackerel, sardines, salmon...
2.4. Omega-3 Rich Foods Omega-3 is a healthy amino acid (unsaturated fat) found in many types of fish. Omega-3s help repair damage (reduce inflammation), improve heart health, and balance hormones.
Foods that are rich in omega 3 include walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, tuna, anchovies, caviar...
2.5. Foods rich in iron Long period of menstrual period is easy to become anemic, so you often feel dizzy, tired, pale, weak,... Therefore, iron-rich foods are an impossible food source. not available at this stage. Typical for this group of foods include red meat, liver, seafood, dried fruits, nuts, etc. To best absorb iron, you should add foods rich in vitamins. C into his diet.
2.6. Green vegetables and fruits This food group also cannot be ignored when you do not know what to eat when you have menorrhagia because they contain a lot of antioxidants and vitamins that support infection prevention. In addition, fruits also play a role in improving menorrhagia, balancing hormones and improving blood sugar levels.

2.7. Drink lots of water Our bodies are made up of 80% water. Water is also an indispensable element for the body of women, especially during the period of menorrhagia. Drinking plenty of water not only helps you feel less tired, more relaxed, and more energetic. Besides, drinking a lot of water also helps to purify the body and have a better mood.
2.8. Ginger tea Ginger tea is hot, so drinking a glass of ginger tea when you reach the end of the month will help reduce the amount of menstrual blood effectively. But you should not drink too much because of that, it can be counterproductive, because some components in ginger can cause blood thinning.
2.9. Cinnamon tea Similar to ginger, cinnamon is also a familiar spice, often used by folk as a remedy to help regulate menstruation, relieve menstrual pain and stop bleeding in women. The ingredient in cinnamon powder contains hydroxychalcone, which regulates insulin levels in the body, and it has also been shown by researchers to have an effect on maintaining menstrual regularity. To reduce menorrhagia, you can prepare a glass of cold water mixed with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder, drink 3 times a day, will gradually overcome the phenomenon of menorrhagia. If you have a hot body, it is best not to drink this tea because it is likely to be counterproductive.
2.10. Chrysanthemum tea In Oriental medicine, chrysanthemum tea is often used to stabilize the spirit, helping to improve sleep effectively. Therefore, you can use this tea on menstrual days to reduce discomfort.

3. Foods to Avoid

Eliminate hot foods like chili peppers, and acidic foods like pickles. Reduce your intake of fatty foods, processed foods, and fast foods because they often contain a lot of salt and spices that will cause gas, bloating and make menstrual cramps worse. Reduce eating foods with high glycemic index Limit cold foods such as melons, seaweeds, pears, squash... because cold foods will cause blood to be stimulated and change the temperature of the body. The blood leads to menstrual blood not being able to circulate well and causing more severe menstrual pain. Stop consuming carbonated drinks and soft drinks, caffeine due to caffeine has the ability to reduce iron absorption in the body by 50-60%. Phosphates in carbonated soft drinks have a similar effect – they both make it difficult for the body to absorb the element iron from other foods. If you drink a lot, it can be counterproductive and cause restlessness, tension and stimulate uterine contractions, increasing menstrual pain. Limit the use of stimulants, refined sugar, cold drinks. Avoid irregular meals, late-night eating, large meals and snacks Eliminate drugs, alcohol and nicotine.

4. Some delicious food during menorrhagia

4.1. Mugwort soup cooked with catfish Preparation: 12 grams of persimmon flowers, 100 grams of wormwood, 300 grams of catfish, 120 grams of black bean powder, 6 grams of bare skin. Implementation: Clean the fins of the catfish and put it in a pot to cook with black bean paste. Take a thin cloth bag for all the remaining ingredients and then put it in this pot, cook together, add 600ml of water, turn on the stove and cook on low heat until it's all soft, then take the cloth bag out, all the rest. in the pot divided into 3 servings in 1 day. Eat like this continuously for 15 days. 4.2. Ginseng stewed pork leg Preparation: 5 grams of ginseng, 1 pork leg (should be taken first), just enough seasoning, soy sauce and alcohol. Implementation: Grilled pork leg first, then shaved, washed, cut in half, then put in a pot with ginseng, simmered until the nails are soft, seasoned with soy sauce, wine and spices to taste, boiled again. is to be. Eating this dish once a day and maintaining it for about 5 days will help regulate menstruation and tonic blood. 4.3. Porridge of red apples, lotus seeds, lychees Preparation: 50 grams of plain rice; 40 grams of fabric; 20 grams of red apple; 70 grams of lotus seeds; some sugar. Implementation: Peel the lotus seeds and remove the heart, remove the red apple seeds, and wash the rice. First, bring in rice and lotus seeds and cook until porridge, then add lychee and red apple to cook for another 30 minutes, then add sugar and remove. This dish is divided into 2 meals a day, maintained continuously for 5 days to regulate menstruation and nourish blood. 4.4. Goat meat gourd soup Preparation: 30 grams of gourd, 300 grams of goat meat; spices, onions, ginger, Implementation: Wash and finely chop the goat meat, then put it in a pot with ginger, goji berries, add a little water and cook until the goat meat is cooked. Next, you add seasoning and add spring onions. This dish is maintained for 10 days not only to improve health, but also to nourish the kidneys and is very good for blood and qi. 4.5. Cooked green beans with sugar Preparation: a little sugar, 200 grams of green beans. Implementation: Green beans are peeled, washed and cooked until cooked, then add sugar to taste, then turn off the stove. It is recommended to eat this dish about 10 days before menstruation, 1 month / day to cool down and support the relief of menorrhagia. Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the hospitals that not only ensures professional quality with a team of leading doctors, modern equipment and technology, but also stands out for its examination and consulting services. and comprehensive, professional medical treatment; civilized, polite, safe and sterile medical examination and treatment space.

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