My first pregnancy triggered severe PMS with the return of my periods in
February 2001. After extensive reading I tried Dr Katerina Dalton`s
recommended three hour starch diet with moderate (but not complete) success,
but my adherence to it lapsed due to complacency at feeling a bit better.
Symptoms returned with a vengeance.
Well, I guess part of the answer is not to lapse make sure there are no
long gaps between meals or snacks, particularly in the two weeks leading up
to your period. Most women have a higher metabolic rate at that time, so
you may require a few extra calories anyway. Make sure each meal or snack
contains something starchy. Experts now believe that the type of starch is
important too, as you need starch which releases its sugar into the blood
stream in a sustained manner for a long period of time. Starches which
release their sugar quickly can cause a temporary lift, but this may be
followed an hour or so later by a definite slump. Starches which do this
include chips, mashed potato, highly refined breakfast cereals, most wheat
crackers and crispbreads, rice cakes, white and wholemeal bread. You need
to concentrate on starches which do not cause a sudden rise in blood sugar,
followed by a rapid fall. Therefore the best starches include oat based
cereals, oatcakes, rye crispbreads, granary or seeded bread, fruit breads,
basmati or brown rice, pasta, yogurts, smoothies, fruit and fruit juices.
Is diet important
