6 Fruits to Limit During Your Winter Period

Fruits are considered one of the most nutritious and healthy food items that can be consumed in almost all seasons, depending on your body's health requirements. People prefer different fruits to manage various health problems, including easing period pain. However, not every fruit is good for you during the menstrual cycle, especially in winter.

Many women experience severe discomfort during their menstrual cycle, such as abdominal cramps, headaches, nausea, and fatigue. Some fruits are scientifically known to help with these symptoms, while others can worsen the situation, particularly in cold months. Ms Veena V, Chief Clinical Dietitian & HOD - Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru, highlights why some fruits can worsen your period cramps and should be avoided in winter.

Why Do Some Fruits Negatively Affect Your Periods?

Painful menstrual cramps, medically known as Dysmenorrhea, are primarily caused by the uterine muscle contracting to help shed the uterine lining. The fruits you eat while menstruating play a critical role, as your food choices make a huge impact on your symptoms.

Veena V shared, “Changes in your menstrual cycle are influenced by hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone. These changes also bring about water retention, digestion, and body temperature changes. Thus, fruits that are too cooling, overly sweet, highly acidic, or are products of fermentation may worsen your pain, make you bloat, or cause you to feel uncomfortable during your menstruation.”

She further added that winter adds one more factor to this situation: cold temperatures make the body seek warming, earthy foods, so fruits that are overly cooling may increase discomfort.

Fruits To Be Mindful of During Winter Periods

Dietitian Veena V shared a few fruits that one should be mindful of while eating during periods in winter:

Also Read: Bloated During Periods? Expert Shares What It Means

Watermelon

Watermelon is a hydrating fruit, but it is also highly cooling in nature. It might make you feel cold, potentially leading to cold-related issues such as a cough in winter, and can therefore be a reason for the worsening of your cramps.

Pineapple

Veena V shared that Pineapple contains a compound called bromelain that can lead to increased uterine contractions in people who are sensitive to it. This can severely cramp the uterus of some women, significantly increasing the pain.

Papaya

Semi-ripe papaya can stimulate uterine activity. Small amounts may be fine for some, but overconsumption of this fruit during menstruation will significantly increase the intensity of your cramps.

Grapes

Delicious winter grapes may satisfy your cravings, but they can cause gastric issues or increase the volume of flatulence due to their high fructose content. This can irritate the already-sensitive digestive system during periods.

Citrus Fruits (Orange, Mosambi, Kinnow)

Giving a person plenty of Vitamin C, citrus fruits are considered excellent for several health issues, but not for periods in winter. These are acidic in nature, and eating them excessively can even lead to the production of acid in the body, thus causing symptoms such as nausea or stomach pain during menstruation.

Pears and Apples

Veena V shared that the fruits themselves are not the major concern, but their cold nature or temperature is what causes problems. Eating fruits like pears and apples immediately after keeping them in the fridge can not only ruin your digestion by making you bloat, but it can also trigger cramps and make you feel colder in winter.

Also Read: "Why Do I Feel Sleepy During Periods?" Gynaecologist Explains

Bottom Line

Fruits are an excellent way to provide nutrients, energy, healthy fats, and minerals to the body. Even doctors recommend eating fruits depending on the particular health issue one is having. However, in winter, some fruits might expose you to illness, such as a cough and cold. If you are on your period, the impacts can be severe, leading to massive menstrual cramps. Experts recommend not eating any fruit during periods in winter after keeping it in the refrigerator, and being cautious with those that are inherently cold in nature.