"When abortions were legal, ancient Ayurveda used natural foods to terminated unwanted pregnancies," explains Dr. Ranjana Dhanu, Gynaecologist. "However, there is no concrete evidence that proves this."

But Naturopath Dr. Tejal Parikh and Ayurvedic Consultant Dr. Minakshi Sharma believe otherwise.

Dr. Parikh says, "Yes, certain foods like papayas do help induce periods." According to her, certain foods (hot foods) produce heat in the body. This stimulates the production of the oestrogen hormone and when oestrogen is produced in excess, it leads to bleeding.

Some examples of such foods are;

• Papayas
• Mangoes
• Sugarcane
• Dates
• Drumstick vegetable
• Eggplant (Brinjal) cooked with onions and garlic
• Seeds like ajwain (carom or bishop's weed)

Eating such foods when you go through Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) help induce periods.

During PMS, your body is exceptionally sensitive to insulin. Eating foods like sugarcane further heightens the sensitivity to insulin and affects the oestrogen levels. This in turn helps you get your period earlier than usual. This explanation has never been proven though.

While it is a perfectly healthy option to induce periods, don't overdo it. "Anything that you do to alter your body's natural functioning is not good in the long run," cautions Dr. Parikh.

While all of these natural foods were very effective in the past, you cannot completely rely on them today. As Dr. Parikh explains, "Since all fruits and vegetables are grown with chemical fertilisers, their nutritive value and quality has reduced considerably." So what worked for your grand mom may not have any effect on you.

As Consultant Dietician Sushila Sharangdar advises, "Eating a healthy, balanced diet is the best thing to do for your overall health as well as a healthy menses."