For years skeptical doctors told women who complained of irritability aroundthe time of their period that it was all in their head. And they were right--in a sense. When premenstrual syndrome strikes, women suffer from a sagging supply of serotonin, a brain chemical that helps regulate mood. Now comes a new powdered drink that may provide PMS relief.
The beverage, called PMS Escape, hit New England drug stores earlier this year and is slated to make its national debut in mid-1997. Its key component: a mixture of carbohydrates that increases blood levels of tryptophan, the amino acid the body uses to manufacture serotonin.
Studies show that serotonin levels bottom out during the luteal phase of a woman's cycle--the two weeks prior to menstruation. The unhappy results are irritability, lack of concentration, and depression. And that's just for starters; one nutritionist has tallied 150 symptoms supposedly linked to PMS.
