According to longstanding health claims, dark chocolate can significantly reduce the severity of period pain, which is why many women crave it during their menstruation
There are numerous old wives’ tales about relieving period pain, with dark chocolate often touted as a popular remedy.
Health experts have debunked some of these myths and confirmed the effectiveness of dark chocolate in alleviating menstrual cramps. According to longstanding health claims, dark chocolate can significantly reduce the severity of period pain, which is why many women crave it during their menstruation. However, how much truth is there in these claims?
Healthline experts, citing several small studies, confirm that dark chocolate can indeed help manage the discomfort associated with periods. One study involving 50 Indonesian boarding school students found that those who consumed dark chocolate experienced less pain compared to those who had milk chocolate. Another Indian study, involving 90 students divided into three groups, further supported this claim, finding that those given dark chocolate recovered significantly.
It seems that those who indulged in dark chocolate experienced relief from their menstrual cramps, and even those who had milk chocolate were slightly better off health-wise than those who didn’t have any at all. It turns out, it’s not just in our heads – there’s a physical explanation for this. Certain nutrients found in dark chocolate are believed to influence the process of the uterus shedding its lining. Hormone-like lipids, known as prostaglandins, are released, triggering the painful contractions of the uterus.
Given that magnesium is known to help relax muscles and ease contractions, it’s possible that when this mineral is present in chocolate, it plays a role in alleviating pain. Considering that a 70 to 85 per cent bar of dark chocolate contains 15 per cent of the daily magnesium value, many believe this is the most effective way to treat period pain compared to other methods.
So, it appears the sweet-toothed ladies were right all along – dark chocolate really can help if you’re struggling with cramps. If your period is due soon, make sure to stock up on some bars, as it’s understood that a daily dose of 40-120g of dark chocolate is bound to do the trick.
One health expert has come up with a quick and easy hack to help with period pain. An acupuncturist, who runs Nature’s Gift Acupuncture in Old Town Alexandria Waterfront in Washington DC, US, claims that if you suffering from bad period pain you should hold one of your middle fingers on either side by the knuckle, before massaging gently. She insists it will help stop period pain “instantly” by applying acupressure.
The medical expert says her method works on people who have all variations of flow – light, medium, and heavy. The expert, who shares her tips on her TikTok account @oldtown_acupuncturist, claims she was able to make a patient’s “non-stop bleeding” stop with acupuncture.
Explaining what happened, the doctor said: “She came in for non-stop period bleeding. It’s been going on since last October/November. The first time I saw her in my office she cried because she felt like she tried everything – there’s just no hope. She feels like she’s going to live like this for the rest of her life.” The doctor continued: “She came in because she saw other patients’ success stories. On her second day getting acupuncture, she cried again because her period – her non-stop bleeding stopped. She has not been bleeding for 20-something days. She cried again because she was like there’s hope. She was like ‘I did not expect it to work like this’.” She added: “I encourage you, if you have a lot of period issues, come in and I can help you.”
