Should you really avoid sour foods during your periods? An expert answers

All you ladies will agree to the fact that they share a love-hate relationship with periods. Yes, they might cause a considerable amount of trouble, but regular periods are a sign of good health. At the same time, you must also concentrate on what you eat when you’re menstruating in order to ensure you don’t feel weak and stay healthy.

There are multiple myths associated with what to eat and what to avoid when Aunt Flo is visiting. One of the most famous myths is that you should absolutely abstain from sour foods! The reasons for it are plenty. Some believe eating sour fruits can cause severe menstrual cramps while others think that sour foods cause the flow to get heavy. There are still others who think sour foods can cause the menstrual flow to stop abruptly.

From pickles to lemon, it is believed that everything ‘khatta’ must be avoided when you’re menstruating. It does sound a little bizarre, and so we asked an expert to confirm whether this is true or not.

Are sour foods unsafe when you’re on your period?

We posed this question to Dr Daljit Kaur, Chief Dietician, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute. She said, “Many people believe this myth but there is no scientific evidence to show that sour foods are dangerous to the health of women when they’re on their period.”

Further, Dr Daljit said, “There’s no particular food that should be avoided by a menstruating woman. In fact, these are the days when you must consume healthy foods, sour or not. This is because the blood loss that happens when you’re menstruating might leave you feeling weak. So, you must provide your body with that extra dose of health with foods that you like to eat.”

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It is important to understand that our menstrual cycle is governed by our hormones. Hence, eating sour foods will not influence the periods at all.

So, what can we eat during our periods?

Dr Daljit mentioned 3 diet tips that will come in handy when you’re picking out foods for Aunt Flo’s monthly visitation:

1. Eat more proteins

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Dr Daljit suggests that protein intake is extremely important when you’re on your period. Be it milkshake or yoghurt, ensure that you’re adding protein to your diet. In addition, you can also eat chicken, eggs and fish.

2. Consume a nutritious diet

According to Dr Daljit, the key to staying healthy when you’re menstruating is consuming a well-balanced diet that is nutritious. Eat 3 to 4 meals in the day and make sure you’re consuming all the nutrients.

3. Iron-rich foods

When you’re menstruating, you lose a lot of blood. Hence, Dr Daljit recommends adding iron-rich foods to your diet to avoid any deficiency. Eat foods like spinach, legumes and pumpkin seeds to up your iron intake during your down days.