PMS and The Yeast Connection
by Carolyn Dean, M.D.,
N.D.
Pre-menstrual
syndrome or PMS can make life miserable, momentarily or monthly, for 90 percent
of American women. It's a mishmash of symptoms--bloating, cramping, tender
breasts, irritability, food cravings and a dozen other symptoms--that can occur
in the luteal phase of a woman's menstrual cycle (right after ovulation until
the menstrual flow begins).
To the eternal
aggravation of countless women through time, PMS can last as long as 14 days
until menstruation begins.
PMS can be
aggravated by
Stress
Genetics
Age
The number of children a
woman has had
Alcohol
consumption
Sugar and caffeine
intake
Progesterone
deficiency
Other dietary
factors, lack of exercise, hypothyroidism and depression can also contribute to
PMS symptoms that are severe enough to interfere with daily life for up to 40
percent of all women.
Listed below
are some of the many symptoms of PMS:
- Abdominal bloating
- Acne
- Anxiety
- Backache
- Breast swelling and
tenderness
- Cramps
- Depression
- Food cravings
|
- Fainting spells
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Altered sex drive
- Swelling of fingers and
ankles
- Personality changes,
including mood swings and outbursts of anger
|
Of course,
these symptoms can be caused by many conditions, but when they are consistently
linked to this specific time in a woman's menstrual cycle, they are usually
grouped under the PMS label.
Scientific
evidence now suggests that women who exercise regularly are less affected than
sedentary women by the mood swings and depression often associated with
PMS.
A Closer Look
Many doctors
are now beginning to take a deeper look at PMS. Recurring and life-altering PMS
warrants an investigation of the following:
Thyroid function to
determine if hyper or hypothyroid symptoms are interfering with hormone
balance
Insulin metabolism to
determine if blood sugar fluctuations are triggering food cravings, fatigue,
headaches and irritability
Diet to determine if the
patient is eating a diet high in sugar and refined and processed
foods
The late Dr.
William Crook, author of The Yeast Connection and Women's Health,
suggested a connection between the systemic overgrowth of candida albicans yeast
and PMS. He believed PMS develops as the result of a number of causes, among
them yeast overgrowth.
Some
researchers suggest systemic candida overgrowth may trigger PMS symptoms by
activating an autoimmune response to sex hormones such as estrogen.
The normal
rise and decline of estrogen in a monthly cycle could help explain the periodic
flare-ups and subsequent quieting of candida symptoms, which can be remarkably
similar to those of PMS mentioned above.
For women
experiencing PMS discomfort who also had a high score on the yeast
questionnaire, Dr. Crook suggested his special sugar-free anti-candida diet,
oral antifungal medications and nutritional supplements could be life changing.
A growing number of his colleagues are now beginning to agree with the
connection between yeast and PMS.
As can be seen
from the yeast questionnaire, women who have taken repeated courses of
antibiotics, suffered recurrent vaginal yeast infections, taken birth control
and/or had a diet high in sugar and processed and refined foods are at
particularly high risk for candida yeast overgrowth.
Learning to Eat Healthier
Research shows
that women most likely to suffer from PMS had some remarkable dietary parallels.
They consumed more carbohydrates (62 percent), refined sugar (75 percent), dairy
products (79 percent) and more sodium (78 percent) than women eating the
standard American diet.
We suggest
that women suffering from the symptoms of PMS consider the following
anti-candida diet for one cycle and see if there is a difference in PMS
symptoms. It is best to begin the diet at the end of the luteal phase, the day
your period begins.
The first
phase of the anti-candida diet involves eliminating all:
Sugar
Sweeteners
Corn syrup (most fruit
drinks are sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup)
White bread and other white
flour products
Soft drinks
Most ready-to-eat
cereals
All sweet, fat-laden snack
foods
Foods
containing these nutritionally deficient simple carbohydrates promote yeast
overgrowth and literally feed the yeast organisms.
Replace all
processed and refined foods with more vegetables of all kinds, including those
you might normally eat. Avoid all fermented or mold and fungus-based foods,
including soy sauce, vinegar, blue cheese and all types of mushrooms.
Avoid and Replace
Get rid of all
hydrogenated fats and foods containing food coloring and additives. Add modest
amounts of olive, walnut, flaxseed, sesame and other healthy unprocessed,
unrefined oils for cooking and salad dressings.
Round out the
diet with lean cuts of beef and pork, chicken, turkey, seafood, wild game, nuts
and seeds. Modest amounts of high-carbohydrate vegetables, including potatoes
(white and sweet), avocado, beans and other legumes, are permissible. Yogurt,
hard cheeses and cream cheese can be eaten too.
For this
experimental phase, avoid all fruit, which is high in the fruit sugar called
fructose. It can be added back cautiously after the first month. Also avoid
alcoholic beverages, coffee and other caffeinated drinks.
Charting
symptoms, moods and general feelings of well-being over this month-long period
can provide some powerful insights. Review our symptom chart. By the end of this phase, there should be a
clear picture of the connection between diet and PMS symptoms.
For the next
phase, certain foods can be gradually re-introduced. Experiment with fruit,
brewer's yeast and vinegar one at a time to determine how they affect symptoms.
More explicit instructions about the challenge phase can be found here.
Probiotics
(live "friendly" bacteria) are an essential part of the anti-candida program
because they help restore the natural balance of intestinal flora, including
yeast. Nutritional supplements like olive leaf extract and caprylic acid may
also be helpful. See descriptions for these nutrients at our web
site.
In extreme
cases, prescription antifungal medications may be necessary while keeping on a
candida-free diet and taking probiotics.
Carolyn Dean,
M.D., N.D., is medical advisor to Woman's Health Connection at www.yeastconnection.com and is
featured on the website's "Ask A Pro" page. Her latest books are The Miracle
of Magnesium and Natural Prescriptions for Common
Ailments.
