Eating Meat Increases Menstrual Pain

Eating meat and other inflammatory foods increases menstrual pain in adolescent women, according to research presented at The North American Menopause Society’s annual meeting. A review of studies on the effects of diet and menstrual pain showed eating more meat and foods high in oil and sugar increased the risk for dysmenorrhea and increased prostaglandins, which contribute to inflammatory pain. Those who followed vegan diets had lower rates of inflammation.

Research from the Physicians Committee shows a low-fat, vegan diet improves dysmenorrhea pain and duration and premenstrual symptoms.