---
title: Can diet help with PMS and other menstrual disorders? | Niyora
description: Diet may help. Eating fresh whole foods while avoiding refined carbohydrates, salt, and alcohol is recommended. Evening primrose oil appears to have positive
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-disorders-what-we-know-about-dietary-nutritional-therapy-2021/
---

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- Can diet help with PMS and other menstrual disorders?

Review, 2021

# Can diet help with PMS and other menstrual disorders?

Diet may help. Eating fresh whole foods while avoiding refined carbohydrates, salt, and alcohol is recommended. Evening primrose oil appears to have positive effects on PMS.

 Early or limited evidence

Literature review - no specific population studied

## What they did

Reviewed scientific evidence about how diet and nutrition affect menstrual disorders including irregular periods, endometriosis, and PMS.

## What they found

Diet seems to be an important factor for menstrual disorders but hasn't been studied rigorously enough to prove exactly how much it helps. Recommendations include eating fresh unprocessed foods and avoiding refined carbohydrates, fats, salt, alcohol, and stimulating drinks. Evening primrose oil appears to have positive effects on PMS. Each woman may need a different dietary approach based on her individual situation.

## What it means for you

While diet may help PMS and other menstrual disorders, the scientific evidence is not yet strong. Women should try eating healthy foods with fresh ingredients and may consider evening primrose oil. More rigorous research is needed to understand diet's role.

3

menstrual disorders reviewed

Primrose oil

may help PMS

## About the study

Original title [Menstrual disorders: what we know about dietary-nutritional therapy] Authors Aguilar-Aguilar E Journal Nutricion hospitalaria Year 2021 Study design Review What was tested Dietary modifications and supplementation Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.20960/nh.03358](https://doi.org/10.20960/nh.03358)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Evening primrose oil](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-evening-primrose/)[Endometriosis](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-endometriosis/)

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