Dietary Treatment Of Amenorrhea – Being Parents

Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation, or periods, for more than six months, without organic or anatomical cause. It is generally associated with high levels of stress, low calorie intake, and intense and constant exercise.

Even though you might think that it is not, it impairs the functionality of the body and increases the loss of bone mass. It is therefore essential to follow a dietary treatment for amenorrhea to regain your menstrual cycle.

Amenorrhea: common causes

Before telling you what is the right diet for this disorder,  you need to know the causes of its occurrence.

First of all, you should keep in mind that it is very common in athletic women and teenage girls with eating disorder (ADD) who are on a low calorie diet and have high levels of physical and emotional stress.

Physiologically, there is an alteration in the amplitude and frequency of the secretion of hormones responsible for ovulation, such as LH, FSH and estradiol. Cortisol levels in turn increase and decrease TSH and T3. There are also low levels of leptin, a hormone that decreases appetite and is an indicator of energy reserves.

Ghrelin increases: its effect is to increase appetite. Prolactin and melatonin decrease. In the long term, bone mineral density drops  and osteopenia and osteoporosis may develop. We will now explain to you how to deal with this through diet.

Dietary treatment of amenorrhea

Sufficient calorie intake, the essential key

The body needs energy and nutrients to perform many functions. If we do not bring him enough quantities, he will prioritize over others. It is therefore advisable to increase the intake of calories, even gradually, because the digestive system needs to readjust. The best way to do this is to give it 250-300 kcal per day.

Consumption of fats and whole grains

Another characteristic is that these people consume very little fat and carbohydrates for fear of gaining weight. However, high  -quality (unsaturated) fats help to synthesize the hormones of the menstrual cycle and regulate inflammation, by helping to  reduce stress markers in the blood.

In addition, it is the nutrients that provide the greatest amount of energy; by consuming them, it will therefore be easier to reach these 250-300 extra kcal. Choose dried fruits, avocado, olives and use olive oil to cook and season the dishes.

In terms of carbohydrates,  it is recommended to replace the refined by the wholesalers. You can even eat legumes.

Vitamin D and other nutrients for bones

As we mentioned earlier, the longer the situation persists, the more bone health will be compromised. The reason for losing bone mass is the lack of estrogen and calcium binding nutrients . Among them we can highlight vitamin D, vitamin K and magnesium.

On the one hand, vitamin D is responsible for the absorption of calcium from food in the intestine. So we need good levels of this vitamin. But how do you get there?

Through continuous and controlled exposure to sunlight and with D3-based supplements. One can also combine this with ingestion of blue fish, dairy products, eggs, mushrooms and avocado with virgin olive oil.

On the other hand, vitamin K and magnesium are involved in the production of osteocalcin, the hormone responsible for bone formation. Sources of vitamin K are dairy products, sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) and  natto  (fermented soybean); the sources of magnesium are green leafy vegetables, beans, soybeans and dried fruits.

Other factors involved in the treatment of amenorrhea

In addition to restoring calorie intake and meeting nutritional needs, it is necessary to reduce the levels of stress to which we are subjected.

Initially, it will be necessary to reduce the intensity and the days dedicated to the practice of an intense physical exercise. In a second step,  it will be necessary to carry out psychological therapy to learn to manage its emotions and promote bodily satisfaction.

Finally, you should know that menstrual health is a fundamental pillar of our survival: therefore, as soon as you detect the slightest sign of amenorrhea – in you or in your daughter – go see your gynecologist. A posteriori,  consult a dietitian-nutritionist so that he explains the dietary treatment of amenorrhea to you.