Heavy periods are a health risk over the long term that most women do not realize can frequently be resolved with dietary intervention. Try this approach first before resorting to surgery or drugs to address the problem!
Heavy periods, or menorrhagia, is a common problem for women particularly as they approach menopause. It is also a problem for women with endometriosis.
This problem has also emerged as a common side effect of vaccination for coronavirus. Post-menopausal women are even experiencing breakthrough bleeding. (1)
Excess estrogen can frequently be a cause too. Estrogen dominance is a real threat in our modern environment loaded with estrogen-mimicking chemicals like BPA and pesticides seemingly everywhere.
In addition, estrogenic foods like soy are an ingredient in a majority of processed foods.
Be aware that soy protein and soya milk can trigger similar effects as edamame or other whole forms of soy.
Heavy periods put a woman at risk for anemia, infertility, weakness, and persistent fatigue if not corrected.
Unfortunately, conventional treatments for this condition involve only drugs and surgery. Options include the birth control pill, hormone-releasing IUDs, hysterectomy, or a more recent technique called endometrial ablation.
I know several women who have undergone endometrial ablation in recent months to combat heavy periods.
This surgical technique involves the destruction of the uterine lining either with a laser, radiofrequency or microwaves, or heated water.
The ladies I know who have had this procedure swear by it and were very happy with the results. However, this approach is not an option for younger women who want to have children.
It is also best to avoid a surgical procedure unless absolutely necessary. Complications are always possible such as infection of the bladder or damage to the womb or large intestine.
Nutritional Intervention for Menorrhagia
The good news is that heavy and/or irregular periods frequently respond well to simple nutritional support.
This approach also helps significantly with cramping. Heavy cycles are frequently painful ones as well.
Natural Vitamin A
Vitamin A is known to help with excess estrogen so a simple increase in the amount of natural Vitamin A in the diet can help reduce heavy cyclical bleeding.
The Vitamin A must be natural and not synthetic. Excess intake of synthetic Vitamin A can produce deleterious effects.
In fact, some researchers believe that synthetic vitamin A interferes with the proper utilization of natural vitamin A from food. Thus, avoidance of the many synthetically fortified foods on the market is important as well. (2)
Plant-based Sources Ineffective
It is important to note that beta carotene will not help here! The source must be true vitamin A best found in ideal doses in high vitamin cod liver oil.
According to a case study written about in the book Eat Fat, Lose Fat, 2 tablespoons of high vitamin cod liver oil per day supplying about 60,000 IU of Vitamin A for 3 days in a row eliminated this debilitating problem for one woman who had been suffering from what she called a “never-ending period” for 4 years. (3)
Ongoing Supplementation
Note that a daily maintenance dose of high vitamin unheated cod liver oil (1 tsp per day) after that was sufficient to keep the problem of heavy periods from returning.
This brand is what my family takes.
Cod Liver Oil for Heavy Periods Before Drugs or Surgery
Do you suffer from heavy periods and have reached the end of your rope? If you are considering surgery, why not try this simple remedy to see if it might work for you?
Be sure to use ONLY high vitamin cod liver oil that contains natural Vitamin A. I recommend Dropi cod liver oil.
Most of the brands on the market today use synthetic Vitamin A instead of the real thing.
Worse, it is not clearly labeled.
Using cod liver oil with synthetic A or supplements containing beta carotene will not be helpful for resolving heavy periods.
For vetted and tested sources of high vitamin cod liver oil that use only natural Vitamin A and no synthetics, check my Resources page.
References
(1) Post-vaccine menorrhagia, metrorrhagia or postmenopausal bleeding
(2) Vitamin A Saga
(2) Eat Fat, Lose Fat
Hmmm, already had surgery. This would have been great to know 5 years ago 🙁 I used to bleed out in pints rather than tsps like is normal. For a few years I had to sleep sitting up too, really did a number on my hips and back. Life was miserable and I was always iron deficient, tired, and sick with whatever bug was going around. Well, win some loose some I guess. At least we can try it for my daughter.
Hi, I’ve had nasty painful periods since I was 10. I’m now 24 and am waiting on my first order to arrive of organic cloth pads. I try to live an natural lifestyle, organic when I can afford it. I don’t eat processed foods or buy any products with nasties In them. My question though is I have severe anaphylaxis to seafood and most nuts with the exception of peanuts, cashews, and pistachios. I am also lactose intolerant and allergic to avocados. Is there another source comparable to cod liver oil that I can take? Thanks 🙂
Hi , I have been suffering with anemia all my life and did not know it until a few years ago. My doctor did more tests to find the root cause and it came out to be Celiac Disease. CD had caused lack of vitamin absorbtion which also caused the following problems :
1. Anemia
2. Osteoperosis (lack of vitamin D)
3. mentrual problems (Irregular and heavy periods)
To fix the problem I went on the pill, vitamins( Iron, Calcium and Vit D, probiotics) and maintained a strict gluten free diet.
I am so much more healthier now and feeling so much better.
I just recently stopped the pill, my cycle seems to be regular so far but the flow is just heavy.
I am sure if I include vitamin K and A in my diet it would solve this problem.
I have high hopes.
For some of you ladies that have too many problems like lactose intolerance, mentrual problems, anemia, any sort of stomach problem etc.. I advise you to get tested for celiac disease or try out a gluten free diet with healthy natural foods 😉
Wish I would have seen this before my ablation! I was still bleeding post-ablation, and after 3 months of that I was put on daily progesterone and poof! No more bleeding. But I’m not excited about being on synthetic hormones until menopause…
I was 14 when I had my first cycle and thought I was dying of a period… and did for many years after that. They were irregular and very heavy.
When I was 28, I switched to cloth. Oh what a difference. The store-bought manufactured pads were CAUSING me to bleed heavily.
Nutrition did nothing to help my problem previously. It was the chemicals in the products I was using.
What if I can’t take cod liver oil for allergy reasons?
I have suffered miserably with heavy periods since the birth of our last baby 10 years ago. I am 49 and still having regular, heavy periods with clots. Doctors have been telling me that I need either birth control pills, thermal ablation, hysterectomy followed by HRT. My period started last week and by the first night I almost ended up in the hospital. I lost so much blood that I woke my husband, knowing I was sick and disoriented from losing so much blood. He saved my life by giving me Total cereal and a multi vitamin containing iron. Thank god he knew what to do. I got my first bottle of CLO today and will begin the maintenance dose since I am not sure after reading the article exactly how much to take (?). It only mentions the woman who was bleeding everyday. I hope this helps! I am proud of all of the women who have sought help online from valuable sources like this one!
Does anyone know if Carlson Norwegian CLO works just like Green Pastures? I sent someone to the store for me, and thats what they came back with 🙁 And does anyone know if Cod Liver Oil help with PCOS? Thanks.
What is PCOS? I didn’t buy the fermented oil either and hoping it works.
does such high levels of vitamin A have side effects? i have suffered with long periods for 22 years. for instance, the last 6 months i have only had 6 weeks with no bleeding. i average one week of every month with no bleeding or spotting. i have started the vitamin A dosages suggested and i am not spotting!! this is the first time i have found anything that has worked! however i have read that you shouldn’t exceed 10, 000 ui daily. i would appreciate information on this
I have found out the BEET juice has greatly helped me in my heavy bleeding. I juiced which consisted of mostly beet juice and then other veggie like carrots, broccoli, cucumber or anything else. The important thing is that at least half the cup should be beet juice (bit not beet juice alone!). I took this type of juice 3-4x a week and within 2 months, i saw an improvement in my flow and then every month after that it got better and better until about the 5th month, I had the best period flow I’ve had in a decade! Definitely try beet juice! (you can sweeten it with berries or apples)
I have low blood platelets due to pregnancy ( they were fine before). I have been taking liver capsuls and natural iron to up my iron levels which were also low. My iron is up but my platlets continue to drop. I really want to get them up as i am due in 2.5 weeks and are concerned about bleeding after the birth. Any suggestions?? thanks