Your menstrual cycle is energy intense. You have to put a steak dinner’s worth of protein onto the wall of your uterus every day. If you don’t eat enough protein, especially the week before your menstrual cycle, then your body will take apart muscle proteins and even the neurotransmitter proteins that keep your mood elevated. A lack of dietary protein is the most basic nutritional reason for a poor mood associated with PMS.*

B vitamins are needed to assist protein to work correctly, as well as to help offset stress. Any woman using BC pills should also be taking B vitamins, and especially needs vitamin B6. The dose or need for B vitamins varies considerably and many women find that just getting enough B vitamins really helps their energy and mood.*

In many cases women will boost their dietary protein and use of B vitamins the week prior to their menstrual cycle, and then lower intake after their cycle is over. This strategy helps compensate for the energetic demands of the menstrual cycle.*