PRE-PERIOD PIG-OUTS LEAD TO PMS (EMBARGOED UNTIL 5 P.M. EST)

PRE-PERIOD PIG-OUTS LEAD TO PMS (EMBARGOED UNTIL 5 P.M. EST)

WASHINGTON (Wireless Flash) -- Bad news for women: those greasy french fries and tubs of ice cream you crave just before your period could be increasing your chances of having PMS. That's according to a new study by the Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine, which suggests women who eat low fat diets are less likely to have severe cramps or PMS each month. Dietician Patricia Bertron says women who ate nothing but fruit, veggies, whole grains and beans had 1.5 fewer days of pain during their periods. Bertron says the study suggests fatty foods stimulate production of chemicals called "prostaglandins" which are one of the main causes of menstrual cramps. Her advice: steer clear of any pre-menstrual binge foods like potato chips, fried chicken or macaroni and cheese.