Could this Pancake Day recipe help your PMS symptoms?

February 28, 2017

Pancakes contain no flour or dairy, which can make PMS symptoms worse
The pancakes contain ingredients that have mood and energy-boosting effects
The recipe only contains five ingredients and makes six small pancakes

Imogen Blake For Mailonline

Published:
09:38 EST, 27 February 2017

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Updated:
10:04 EST, 27 February 2017

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Pancakes aren’t exactly renowned as a health food – but one recipe claims to help reduce the crippling symptoms of PMS.

Just in time for Pancake Day tomorrow, the recipe for banana, walnut and dark chocolate chip pancakes contains ingredients that nutritionists claim can help get rid of any pain and boost your mood.

And better yet, they only contain five ingredients and they’re gluten-free.

Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is the last day before the beginning of the Christian festival of Lent and is celebrated in many countries by eating pancakes – a way of using up the expensive and fatty foods many families would traditionally give up for the holiday

Bloating before and during a period is very common, and consuming too much dairy exacerbates this, according to experts.

Milk contains omega 6 fatty acids which can increase inflammation and cause cramping – therefore this Shrove Tuesday it might be a good idea to steer clear of the traditional buttermilk recipe and opt for a banana and egg batter instead.

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Bananas are packed with vitamin B6 and potassium, which can stop you from retaining water and feeling bloated. Comsuming too little potassium can also lead to muscle cramping.

In addition, the recipe by new teen lifestyle brand Betty.me, contains oats, which nutritionists claim can boost energy levels.

Recipe: Walnut, Banana and Dark Choc Chip Pancakes

These pancakes are made without flour, and are topped with bananas, walnuts and chocolate chips, though other additions such as yoghurt and desiccated coconut can be added (pictured)

Makes six small pancakes

Ingredients:

For the pancakes:

2 tbsps natural walnut butter

¾ cup oats

2 bananas (mashed)

1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

2 eggs

For the toppings:

Handful toasted walnuts

½ banana (chopped)

Natural honey (optional)

Method:

1. Mash 2 bananas in a mixing bowl and add in 2 eggs – mix together

2. Add in 2 teaspoons of walnut butter along with the oats. Stir into the mixture

3. Add in the chocolate chips for extra sweetness

4. Fry the mixture in coconut oil and flip until golden on both sides

5. Serve and top with desired amount of toasted walnuts and chopped banana. Drizzle with a small amount of natural honey if you feel you need an extra sweet kick!

Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, can begin up to two weeks before your period and there are various symptoms. The NHS says more than 100 different symptoms of PMS have been recorded

‘Oats are a great food to eat when you’re on your period, simply because they provide B vitamins which should help boost your energy levels and fight off the tiredness you’re likely to be suffering from,’ explained nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed.

Craving chocolate or something sweet is also a common symptom of PMS – so if you’re going to indulge, add some dark chocolate chips to your pancakes as dark chocolate can boost your mood.

‘Dark chocolate with a minimum of 65 per cent cocoa solids contains magnesium to increase energy and endorphins to improve your mood,’ explained digestive health expert Linda Booth.

Avoiding trans fats can also help with reducing period pain – so use a teaspoon of coconut oil to fry your pancake as opposed to other alternatives containing trans fats, such as vegetable oil.

The recipe’s walnut butter and topping of walnuts will also provide a good dose of Omega 3 fatty acids, which can significantly reduce menstrual pain, according to expert Tom Oliver.