Antioxidant in mushrooms may target uterus cells to ease period pain
Hot water bottles can ease period pain, but some people need stronger relief Carol Yepes/Getty Images An antioxidant that is abundant in some mushrooms has shown promise for easing period pain. A daily dose of a supplement containing L-ergothioneine, which is also in fermented foods, seems to limit the extent of this pain by targeting cells within the uterus, rather than just blocking discomfort that has already taken hold. “Instead of treating the symptom acutely when the pain is already severe, EGT [L-ergothioneine] acts as a nutritional foundational support, potentially reducing the reliance on strong medications and giving women a safer way to reclaim their well-being,” says Guohua Xiao at Gene III Biotechnology Co. in Nanjing, China. Period pain, or dysmenorrhea, is considered one of the most common gynaecological-related issues, but reports of its prevalence vary hugely, from 16 per cent to 91 per cent. It is thought to be caused by the uterus producing higher levels of inflammatory chemicals called prostaglandins, which result in it contracting strongly to shed its lining. This can make …
