Drink potato for PMS relief

More than one in three women suffer from Premenstural Syndrome (PMS) and one in 20 suffer so severely that their lives are seriously affected.

Symptoms range from irritability, mood swings, headaches, food cravings, anxiety and depression to bloating and breast tenderness.

It can mean time off work and, at its most serious, has been blamed for the breakdown of relationships.

Other than painkillers, and some widely used alternative remedies such as Evening Primrose Oil - which some studies suggest helps balance hormone levels - there's no cure-all treatment.

But a new drink, made mainly from potatoes, claims to get rid of PMS symptoms within half an hour by altering chemicals in the brain responsible for causing the symptoms.

Serotonin is largely responsible for the heightening of mood and the reduction of anxiety.

When a woman is pre-menstrual, fluctuating levels of the two female sexual hormones - oestrogen and progesterone - in the last two weeks of the menstrual cycle can cause changes in levels of serotonin in the brain.

With these changes come the more emotional symptoms of PMS such as mood swings.

However, carbohydrates, such as potatoes, pasta and bread, increase levels of the amino acid tryptophan, which is involved in the brain's serotonin production.

The potato drink, called PMS Escape, is made from concentrated powdered potato carbohydrate which, when mixed with 9oz of water and drunk, claims to take effect within 30 minutes.

It was developed by U.S. scientist Dr Judith Wurtman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is flavoured with natural fruit juices to make it taste sweet.

Two clinical studies carried out by Dr Wurtman and her colleagues, found that the potato drink significantly decreased symptoms of depression, anger and confusion, and improved memory and word recognition in women with PMS, compared with those taking a placebo.

However, the science behind the drink is nothing new.

Christine Barker of the National Association of Premenstrual Syndrome (NAPS) says: "It's been well researched that carbohydrates help reduce PMS which is why we recommend a special high-carb diet for women with PMS.

"However, many women get worried about eating lots of carbohydrate in case it makes them put on weight. But you don't have to eat fattening carbohydrates.

"Wholemeal toast or cereal for breakfast, a baked potato with low-fat coleslaw for lunch and a bowl of wholemeal pasta and fresh tomato sauce for dinner is not fattening and at the same time gives you plenty of tryptophan-boosting carbohydrates."

So why drink a potato drink? Dr Wurtman claims it works faster than food because it gets into the bloodstream quicker, taking just 30 minutes to work compared with two hours for food to digest.

Added to this, it's convenient and can be carried in your handbag for on-the-spot relief. But should women be looking for instant fixes for a long-term health condition like PMS?

Christine Barker says: "Successfully treating PMS is as much about finding time to relax and take things a little easier when you are pre-menstrual as it is about managing your diet.

"If women are encouraged to rush around taking quick fixes for their PMS so it won't hold them up, then this 'miracle cure' could do more harm than good."