In my practice I work with a lot of women who experience breast tenderness, especially right before their periods. I have found that eating half a sheet of Nori seaweed each day makes a drastic difference because it is so rich in iodine and iodine directly nourishes breast tissue and calms the inflammation associated with premenstrual pain. For people that don’t like the taste of nori, I recommend about 15 mg daily of an iodine/iodide mixture such as Iodoral or Lugol’s solution. If the pain is severe, try taking 50 mg of iodine and give it an hour or two before taking painkillers. Women tell me this works like a charm and has the added benefit of improving the elasticity of their skin! There are many factors involved in breast tenderness including caffeine intake and use of hormonal contraceptives, but from my point of view as a nutritionist, iodine is key.
And as always, I must say to please consult your doctor before making any changes in diet or lifestyle.
