In the Know Mom
Hormonology 28 Days
Home About Media lounge Make Contact

 

Does your daughter get cranky, blue, sensitive or easily irritated in the days before her period? That's due to premenstrual syndrome, better known as PMS. And it can drive the mother of a teenage girl to raid her secret stash of Pepperidge Farm cookies for comfort.

But there's good news: You can help make your daughter's PMS less intense with easy, quick tips. Even better? These proven methods will ease your PMS symptoms, too, Mom!

> Give her a multi-vitamin every day of her cycle. Studies show that even mild deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals can worsen PMS symptoms.

> Give her a daily calcium supplement. Studies show that 1200 mg every day significantly reduces PMS symptoms.

> Give her fewer caffeinated beverages. Cut down on caffeinated colas, iced tea and whatever-cino she loves from Starbucks since caffeine has been shown to aggravate PMS. Luckily, she can still eat chocolate. Despite the myth that it's loaded with caffeine, chocolate usually contains only a little of the bouncy bean.

> Do even more nice things for her than usual. Surprise her with a mini shopping spree. Cook her a meal she loves. Or simply tell her that her outfit looks great. The happier you make her feel, the higher her serotonin goes. And that's important since this feel-good brain chemical decreases during PMS, which results in that cranky, blue, sensitive and easily irritated mood you love so much. The higher you can make her serotonin, the fewer unpleasant PMS moods she'll have!