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USA Today
02-04-2025
- Health
- USA Today
'This is the cheat code!': Women are eating raw carrots for period pain. Does it work? Kind of.
'This is the cheat code!': Women are eating raw carrots for period pain. Does it work? Kind of. Show Caption Hide Caption Expert reveals how to add more superfoods to your diet Nutrition therapist Lauren Kelly explains what foods are designated as a "superfood" and how they can benefit your overall health goals. Stuck in bed with period cramps? Over-the-counter painkillers just aren't doing the trick? Some say this natural food may be the fix. Raw carrots are all the rage among social media users who claim that the vegetable can prevent menstrual cramps and pain by reducing the body's estrogen levels. 'Eating raw carrots every day has helped my periods significantly!! I haven't gotten cramps once. This is the cheat code girls!!!' one X user wrote, amassing 8.1M views. 'I tell all the women in my life to eat carrots,' another replied. Experts say there is a grain of truth to the claim − but with a lot more nuance. Carrots are a good source of vitamin A (as beta-carotene), fiber, magnesium and potassium, and are low in calories and fat – all nutritional properties that contribute to overall health. But there is limited scientific evidence that eating raw carrots directly alleviates period pain or cramps, explains Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, MD, OB-GYN, Co-Host of SHE MD and Co-Founder of Ovii. 'Promoting carrots as a cure-all can be misleading and may distract from other effective strategies for menstrual health, like balanced nutrition, exercise, hydration, and stress management,' says Caroline Thomason, RD, CDCES, a dietician based in Washington, DC. Can raw carrots help you detox excess estrogen? The short answer: Yes, but not directly. Estrogen is an important hormone that regulates the reproductive system, and estrogen levels rise and fall throughout the menstrual cycle. High estrogen levels can disrupt reproductive processes and cause irregular periods, reduced sex drive, worsening of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and hormonal acne, according to Cleveland Clinic and Healthline. When it comes to period cramps, significantly painful periods "aren't normal" and could be a sign of endometriosis, Aliabadi says. "If you have painful periods, consult with your physician," she adds. "Other lifestyle factors and treatments have been proven to help, such as anti-inflammatory foods, exercise, stress management, and medical treatments like ibuprofen or hormonal therapies." What helps with period cramps? Periods don't have to be painful. Here's how to find relief from menstrual cramps. No one food can completely resolve or eliminate period pain or cramps, but raw carrots can help support your body's natural detox process, Thomason says. 'Raw carrots are high in fiber, particularly soluble fiber, that supports hormone balance by binding to estrogen in the digestive tract and promoting its excretion (through stool),' she explains. 'This process is part of the body's natural hormone metabolism and excretion, which happens whether you eat carrots or not.' Vitamin A also can support the liver, which plays a role in metabolizing and eliminating excess hormones, according to Aliabadi. "In that sense, a healthy liver function could support overall hormone balance, but carrots alone won't 'detox' estrogen," she says. Other fiber-rich foods like leafy greens, oats, beans and whole grains can also help support hormone balance over time, especially for those who are estrogen-dominant (relative to progesterone levels) or have conditions related to hormone imbalance, according to Thomason. Hormonal imbalances unrelated to menopause or medication, such as birth control, may be caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder affecting 8%-18% of reproductive-aged women, and should be treated by a physician. 'Just lose weight': Women with PCOS are going untreated due to 'weight-centric health care' Can magnesium levels in carrots reduce period cramps? The short answer: Not significantly. Magnesium is known for its muscle-relaxing properties and can help alleviate cramps, but the evidence for its effectiveness is very limited. And while carrots contain some magnesium, they are not as rich as foods like dark leafy greens (such as spinach and kale), almonds, whole grains or pumpkin seeds, according to Thomason. The suggested amount of magnesium for women is 310-320 mg per day, per Healthline. A medium-sized raw carrot (about 58 grams) contains approximately 7.32 mg of magnesium, whereas one cup of raw spinach has 24 mg. 'No single food can provide a magic bullet for period pain relief,' Thomason says. 'Instead of putting one food on a pedestal, like carrots, focus on the basics like getting a variety of fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly and drinking plenty of water.' Spreading misinformation or exaggerating claims about natural remedies can also cause people to rely on unproven methods to treat their symptoms, Aliabadi explains: "This could delay proper care, especially if individuals continue to suffer from severe cramps or other menstrual issues without addressing them with appropriate medications or lifestyle adjustments."
South China Morning Post
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Meet OB-GYN to the stars Dr Thais Aliabadi, who delivered Kylie Jenner's babies
When Justin Bieber announced the birth of his first child with wife Hailey in August last year, eagle-eyed media and fans spotted a familiar name on the birth certificate: Dr Thais Aliabadi, obstetrician-gynaecologist to the stars – and some royal families. Dr Thais Aliabadi has made a name as doctor to some famous faces. Photo: @drthaisaliabadi/Instagram Aliabadi, 54, has made a name for herself with Hollywood stars for her compassion and impressive medical technique. Some of her well-known clients include Emma Roberts, Halsey, Khloé Kardashian, Olivia Munn, Rihanna and Olivia Culpo. But who is 'Dr A', breast-cancer survivor and trusted A-list doctor? Aliabadi has an impressive résumé Dr Thais Aliabadi (right) performs laparoscopic surgery. Photo: @drthaisaliabadi/Instagram Aliabadi specialises in minimally invasive surgical techniques – called laparoscopies – which she says result in 'shorter recovery times, reduced pain and the least interruption' to patients' daily lives compared to traditional operations. She has been an OB-GYN in Los Angeles since 2002 and teaches at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the University of Southern California. Aliabadi earned a degree from the prestigious Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, from which she graduated summa cum laude. She also has a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of California, Berkeley and a master's degree in physiology from Georgetown University. Alongside running her medical practice and making TV appearances, Aliabadi is committed to promoting female health through other means. She hosts a podcast titled She MD with fashion designer Mary Alice Haney, where they discuss women's health with guest doctors and celebrity patients. She has also launched Ovii, a science-backed app that assesses women's risk of polycystic ovary syndrome. She's a TV-show queen
