Does Apple Cider Vinegar Help Menstrual Cramps? PMS Symptoms That Don't Stand A Chance Against Apple Cider Vinegar

#1 What Is it?

PMS stands for premenstrual syndrome – it’s the combination of symptoms that some women suffer from a week or so before their period. Symptoms appear before your period starts (as many as five days) and will disappear during your period. Symptoms can affect your body AND your brain, and their intensity can vary a lot from girl to girl. (As if you don’t have enough to deal with.)

#2 What Causes PMS?

The causes of the premenstrual syndrome are unknown, but several factors may contribute to the condition:

Cyclic changes in hormones: Signs and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome change with hormonal fluctuations and disappear with pregnancy and menopause.

Chemical changes in the brain: Fluctuations of serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that is thought to play a crucial role in mood states, could trigger PMS symptoms. Insufficient amounts of serotonin may contribute to premenstrual depression, as well as to fatigue, food cravings, and sleep problems.

Depression: Some women with the severe premenstrual syndrome have undiagnosed depression, though depression alone does not cause all of the symptoms.

#3 Who Gets PMS?

The Mayo Clinic estimates about 75 percent of women get at least some form of PMS. So if you have PMS, one thing’s for sure – you’re not alone! Although not every girl gets them, PMS symptoms can actually last through your period, too. If you don’t get them, consider yourself lucky.

#4 Here are remedies for premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Apple cider vinegar helps your body to convert the proteins found in foods into usable amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks for many different bodily processes, including the creation of your hormones. So, in drinking a shot of apple cider vinegar you’re actually giving your body what it needs to make hormones – addressing any imbalances between estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

Here are some surprising benefits of that good ol' fermented drink that might make your visit from Aunt Flo a little bit easier to handle the next time it strikes.

#5 The Dreaded Bloat

Bloating is a common concern for all humans, but particularly those who menstruate. Bloating literally means that your abdomen is inflated with gas, which can make your belly visibly larger. Research actually found that people who experience abdominal bloating are more likely to use more sick days, go to their doctor frequently, and take more medication.

One of apple cider vinegar's most celebrated uses is to banish the bloat and aid in digestion. This is apparently due to its fermentation, as foods that have lactic acid producing-bacteria make it easier for us to break down food when bloating strikes.

#6 The Headaches

Menstrual migraines are primarily caused by estrogen, the female sex hormone that specifically regulates the menstrual cycle fluctuations throughout the cycle. When the levels of estrogen and progesterone change, women will be more vulnerable to headaches. Because oral contraceptives influence estrogen levels, women on birth control pills may experience more menstrual migraines.

ACV also has potassium, which is recommended as a treatment for migraines, a symptom that many many women experience either during or just before that time of the month.

#7 The Cramps

Having menstrual cramps is one of the most common, annoying parts of your period. They can strike right before or during that time of the month. Many women get them routinely.

The calcium found in apple cider vinegar can help to soothe the muscle contractions in your uterus that happen while you're on your period. Vinegar, in general, has been shown to help with other sports-related muscle cramps, as well.

To reap the benefits, you might want to give this a try for a few days before your period starts: Take a teaspoon of unfiltered, organic apple cider vinegar with hot water, and let the magic elixir do its thing.

#8 The Duration Of Your Period

Rumor has it that apple cider vinegar can also help to regulate your blood flow, and is a natural blood-thinner. Basically, incorporating a little bit of apple cider vinegar into your diet during your time of the month might just make your period both shorter and easier to deal with.

Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making healthy choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!