Diet Plan For Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea, the absence of menstruation or when a woman has missed at least three months of menstrual periods at a stretch that condition is called amenorrhea. This condition occurs due to imbalance of hormones, low levels of haemoglobin and any associated disease. For this a correct, well balanced and nutritious diet which is enriched with iron, folic acid and Vitamin B is an important factor to correct this condition.

EARLY-MORNING

Herbal tea / Luke warm Water/ Saunf water/ Soaked almonds

Carom seeds + saunf (Fennel seeds) soaked overnight in water and then boiled in the morning. Strain the decoction well and drink after cooling a bit.

(It helps in keeping your digestion good and also prevents bloating before, during and after menses)

BREAKFAST

Broken wheat porridge (Veg Dalia) / Veg Semolina (Veg upma / Veg Vermicelli (Sewian) / Veg poha (Rice flakes) / Chapati with veg or dal  / 1 Egg

(Including healthy breakfast in your routine is very important because it helps in providing nourishment to whole body especially to reproductive system)

LUNCH

Missi chapati / Plain chapati / Vegetable + Dal + Salad

(Having a healthy lunch helps in keeping your energy intact and also protect you from cravings)

EVENING

Fruits / Rice flakes snack / Sprouts / Soup (Home-made) / Herbal tea / Juice

(They  are a good source of hydration as well as nutrition)

DINNER

Missi chapati / Ragi chapati / Vegetable + Dal / Salad (without salt)

(Light dinner is the best way to keep your digestive system performance well)

BED TIME

Low-fat milk with ½ tsp turmeric and a little Cow’s Ghee

(It helps in keeping hormones under control and is best for avoiding amenorrhea)

DIET INSTRUCTIONS

CEREALS

Cereals to be consumed

Whole grains cereals, Wheat flour, Oatmeal, Whole brown bread, Porridge, Brown rice, Finger millet, Rice flakes, Barley, kodo millets, buckwheat millets, gram flour

Flour Ratio - Wheat Atta (50%) + Soybean Atta (20%) + Ragi flour (30%)

(They all are easy to digest, do not cause constipation and avoids formation of endotoxins which are the main reason for hormonal imbalance)

Cereals to be avoided

Refined flour and its products, Sweet biscuit, Cream filled biscuit, Cream crackers, Cheese biscuits, Noodles, Pasta, Macaroni

(They all are pleasant in taste but are main reason for increase in cycle irregularities)

VEGETABLES

Vegetables to be consumed

All vegetables

(Vegetables are the good source of vitamins and minerals plus are easy to digest and do not cause any digestion related problems)

PULSES

Pulses to be consumed

All Pulses, Legumes, Soybean and its products

(All the pulses can be consumed but one must restrict themselves from having heavy pulses like kidney beans, black gram, black lentils etc. because they will increase the chances for indigestion and bloating thus resulting in accumulation of toxins)

Pulses to be avoided

Dried and frozen pulses and limit the use of black gram

(They contain preservatives which are not good for health)

FRUITS

Fruits to be consumed

All fruits

(Fruits provide you with a lot of essential nutrients, keeps your body hydrated, skin clear and reduces accumulations of toxins in blood)

(*Papaya as a fruit is very effective in maintaining uterus health)

Fruits to be avoided

All canned and packaged fruits and limit the intake of citrus fruits like lemon. Avoid packed fruit juices as well

(They have a lot of sugar which is obviously not good for the body. They also have preservatives which can result in frequent irregularities in cycle)

SPICES

Spices to be consumed

All spices - Fennel, Sesame seeds, Cumin, Carmon, Thyme, Coriander, Turmeric, Less salt, Black pepper

(They help in keeping agni balanced)

Spices to be avoided

Excessive salt and Chilli

(They are called as vishtambhi in ayurveda and are really responsible for dosha imbalance (predominantly pitta) and hormonal imbalance thus resulting in  delayed menses)

FLESH FOODS

Flesh Foods to be consumed

Egg white portion, Fish, Chicken soup (occasionally)

(They are easy to digest, can be consumed twice a week and are very essential source of protein)

Flesh Foods to be avoided

Raw, Uncooked and Processed meat, fish especially Selfish, Shark, Swordfish, Tuna and Marlin, clams, Mussels, Oysters and Scallops, Meat patties, Burgers, Pork, Organ meat, Liver, Kidney, Chest, Red meat, Fish fried in suitable oil, Prawns, Lobster, Crab, Lean beef, Lamb, Ham, Turkey, Rabbit, Sausages, Mutton, Salami, Bacon, Duck, Goose, Visible fat on meat.

(They all must be avoided as much as you can because they are potent to suppress agni causing digestive issues, resulting in dosha aggravation and finally hormonal disbalance thus again resulting amenorrhea)

DAIRY PRODUCTS

Dairy Products to be consumed

Low-fat milk, tofu and paneer (In limited amounts)

(They are easy to digest and do not cause imbalance of agni)

Dairy Products to be avoided

Whole milk and cream, Curd, Buttermilk, Butter, Full-fat yoghurt, Cream cheese, Condensed milk, Raw milk, Unpasteurized cheese, Blue-veined cheese, Soft mold-ripened cheese.

(There is an accurate reason for avoiding all of the above. The cows now a days are being feed with inorganic grains which is in the concentrated forms in their milk and hence is a less source of nutrition)

FATS

Fats to be consumed

Cow ghee, Mustard oil, Sesame oil, Olive oil, Soybean oil, Rice bran oil

(They do not have any negative effect on digestive fire but have a balancing effect on doshas. Balancing dosha means less chances for cycle irregularities)

Fats to be avoided

Unsaturated fats, Cream, Palm oil, Butter, Hydrogenated oil, coconut oil

(They diminish the agni resulting in various type of digestive issues especially before menses and sometimes can result in menstrual irregularities)

NUTS AND DRY FRUITS

Dry Fruits to be consumed

Pumpkin seeds, Raisins, Almond, Walnuts, Prunes, Dates, Figs, Flax seeds, Dried apricot (Soaked ones)

(Nuts and seeds also have some essential nutrients which are very important for well)

Dry Fruits to be avoided

Cashew nuts, Pistachio, Peanuts.

(Aggravates kapha and pitta predominantly)

OTHER FOODS

Other foods to be consumed

Homemade only, Jaggery, Coriander + Mint chutney.

(Home made products are easy to digest, free from all kind of preservatives and do not have any kind of adulterants)

Other foods to be avoided

All bakery products or processed foods, Cakes, Biscuits, Sauces, Fruit jellies, Jams, Mayonnaise, Ice-cream, Cream soups, Dark chocolate, Butterscotch, Coconut bar, Chutneys, Pickles, Junk food, Deep fried foods, Too salty and Spicy foods.

(They all are a good source of fat and piquant taste which can either aggravate kapha or will result in an imbalance of pitta. In both cases the end result will be imbalancing of hormones)

DRINKS

Drinks to be consumed

Vegetable soup, Herbal Tea, Wheatgrass juice, Amla Juice, Carrot juice, Triphala Juice, Cranberry juice, Pumpkin juice, Papaya juice.

(All kind of homemade juices and soups are very healthy and source of good amount of nutrient and minerals)

Drinks to be avoided

Bakery and Processed foods, Pastry, Puddings, Packed soups, Mayonnaise, Cream soups, Chocolate, Fudge, Butterscotch, Coconut bar, All fried foods, Junk foods, Sauces etc, Fruit jellies, Jams, Refined sugar, Marmalade, Sweeteners, Chutneys, Pickle, Ice-cream, Sauces etc.

(They all are packed, contains preservatives, irritates gastric mucosa, causes disbalance of hormones and must be avoided as much as you can)

DIET TIPS

• Water intake should be Adequate.
• Walk / Physical activity for 45 min is recommended.
• Small and frequent meals should be taken
• Whole fruit should be preferred to fruit juices.
• Skipping meals should be avoided, especially breakfast.
• Skipping of some particular articles should be avoided at least 10 days prior to onset of cycle
• Dieting must be avoided at least a week before starting of cycle
• Late night sleeping should be avoided. Try to sleep on time
• A healthy early morning routine must be followed
• Bathing with cold water is to be avoided especially during the cycle
• Head wash must be avoided during the cycle
• Excessive intake of sweets to relieve pain in menses is to be avoided and daily habit of golden milk intake is to be followed.

(Diet and lifestyle modifications are very important and they are really helpful in coping up this condition)