3 Ways Probiotics Help Cure PMS Symptoms

Let’s be real—PMS is something most of us go through, and it’s no fun. That week before your period can feel like a rollercoaster of bloating, mood swings, and insomnia. But here’s the good news: there are natural ways to make that time of the month easier! One of the secret weapons? Probiotics! They can help balance things out so you can always feel like your best self—even during those tricky days.

Your gut is made up of live organisms which are collectively known as the microbiome. Probiotics are live microorganisms that help restore balance to the gut microbiome.

Bloating and Digestion

It's estimated that around 70% of women experience bloating before getting their period. Nobody should have to spend a week every month feeling uncomfortably bloated, retaining excess water, and having digestion issues, here's how probiotics can help:

• Changes in hormone levels make your body retain more water and salt as well as slow down your digestion and make you hungrier. This causes imbalances in your gut microbiome and makes you feel bloated, gassy, and constipated.

• Probiotics help by balancing the gut microbiome, however choosing the right probiotics goes a long way as different strands of bacteria have different effects.

• Choosing a probiotic specifically designed to target bloating like Optibac One Week Flat ensures that you are taking the right strains of probiotics to relieve digestive issues and bloating.

Difficulty sleeping

Shifts in hormone levels can cause insomnia or trouble sleeping. Studies show that it is the shifts themselves rather than high or low levels of certain hormones that cause restlessness, so you are more likely to experience insomnia during PMS week as your estrogen levels shift. Poor digestion also leads to trouble sleeping, and in return, lack of sleep has been proven to cause certain cut bacteria to become more active which leads to an imbalance in the gut.

• Studies have shown that your gut microbiome affects sleep, so balancing your bacteria with probiotics can help cure your sleep troubles.

• The "wrong" types of microbiomes being present in your gut leads to lower serotonin levels, which has been linked to many disorders including mood and sleeping.

• Probiotics can increase the levels of calming neurotransmitters while also increasing serotonin levels, leading to better sleep and an overall better mood.

• Since probiotics also improve digestion they will also help you feel less uncomfortable.

Mood swings

Did you know that the gut has been dubbed the second brain? This is because it releases some of the same chemicals as the brain does, like serotonin, dopamine, and other chemicals that play a big part in regulating your mood.

• Studies show that women appeared calmer in the face of stressful situations and that Alzheimer's patients performed better in cognitive tests when taking probiotics regularly.

• Researchers also found that stress-induced anxiety was reduced when taking specific strains of probiotics.

• These studies emphasized the importance of taking probiotics regularly, rather than just when you have symptoms you want to treat. Making probiotics a part of your daily routine is necessary to prevent mood swings from being one of your premenstrual symptoms.

• Optibac Everyday combines the most beneficial strains of probiotics for everyday wellness.

The importance of gut health in all aspects of everyday wellness is becoming more evident every day. Try incorporating probiotics, through diet or supplementation, and notice the positive changes in your monthly cycle!