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
Homemaker
So do you have to take the larger doses on a certain day of your cycle? I have had a heavy period since having my tubes tied (which I now regret). My doctor has tried to talke into abliation, but I don’t want to do anything else unnecassary to my body.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist
Once you have it under control, 1 TBL per day for maintenance even during your cycle.
Kelli C. (@pathsofnature) (@pathsofnature)
Nutritional Remedy for Heavy Periods http://t.co/YMN5BCLI
Jessica Scoby via Facebook
Calcium and magnesium really does help cramps!!
Kristin Green Pittman via Facebook
My periods (just turned 39 this month) are MUCH better when I am consistent about taking my Calcium Plus Vitamin D from Nature’s Sunshine ~ it also contains magnesium and phosphorus. They are lighter and practically no pain.
Jessica Scoby via Facebook
Oh and I second the idea of using liver support. That’s helped a lot too.
Jessica Scoby via Facebook
Since I started FCLO and traditional foods my usually heavy cycles have become light/normal and I feel so healthy during my cycle. It’s amazing! It’s not a dreaded time anymore. I actually feel pretty good during it.
Kelly Gilluly Weyd via Facebook
Please everyone, if you only do one thing take apple cider every day……it’s a miracle. I was at the point of begging for a hysterectomy when I started doing this. One Tablespoon in 4 oz, water, followed by a little more water so it not sitting on teeth……..do this 1-4 times a day.
Kelly Gilluly Weyd via Facebook
I’m estrogen dominant so I’m living this. Liver support like milk thistle will help get rid of excess estrogen. Also red clover, nettles, vitex, maca and red raspberry leaf will help with nutrition and hormonal balance. Exercise too!!!
Kelly Gilluly Weyd via Facebook
Have not read the article, but I cured my own “gushing” periods with apple cider vinegar. You can read more about it on http://www.earthclinic.com Of course a healthy diet, and probiotics have helped too, but the apple cider vinegar was a miracle for me.
asil9
I recently started using acv for weight loss support but have noticed that my periods are more regulated and is MUCH lighter. I was getting ready to go to the Dr. because I thought something was wrong with me. Since I started my period 22 yes ago, I was always heavy with periods lasting all of 7-8 days. While of BC, it shorten it by 2 days, but the flow was still heavy and my cycle seemed to be more regulated than w/o bc. Now with acv its about 4 days, on schedule, with light flow the entire time w/ fewer PMS symptoms. I wish I would have known about this years ago. I’ve been passing the word onto family and friends who suffer through their periods.
Thank you ladies for sharing your stories!
Elizabeth Gilhuly (@ElizaGilhuly) (@ElizaGilhuly)
Ladies! Nutritional Remedy for Heavy Periods http://t.co/pgDOmPZX