The Impact of Nutrition on Menstrual health: a comprehensive review of Dietary influences on menstrual function and disorders
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2024.v09.n11.015Keywords:
Menstruation, Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Micronutrients, Premenstrual syndrome, Quality of lifeAbstract
Menstruation is a natural biological process in women, characterized by the cyclic shedding of the uterine lining. This process is influenced by hormonal changes and often accompanied by various symptoms like cramps, fatigue, mood swings, emotional disturbance and many more. Menstruation is a physiological process that plays a crucial role in reproductive health. However, women’s health and nutrition is interrelated with each other. This is a vicious cycle which follows the other phase of life. Nutrition plays a vital role in supporting women’s health during menstruation and maintains energy levels. Proper nutrition is essential in maintaining menstrual health and help in reduction of various menstrual symptoms faced by women during menstruation and during premenstrual phase (PMS). Balanced and nutrient rich diet plays a pivotal role in managing various menstrual morbidities. Proper nutrition helps in mitigating various physical discomfort, supports emotional stability and ensures nutrient losses during menstruation and help in promoting overall health and wellbeing. This review explores the relationship between menstruation and nutrition focusing on key nutrients, dietary patterns and their effect on menstrual health. Furthermore, the impact of undernutrition and overnutrition on menstrual cycle, regularity, symptom severity and long term reproductive outcomes is analyzed. Current research gaps are identified, highlighting the need for further studies on personalized nutrition for menstrual health.
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