September 29, 2020 How to properly nourish your body during your period
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Written by Marie-Pier Deschênes. Find her biography at the end of this article.
Through research, education and personal experimentation, I have discovered the secret to having a period free (or almost free) of cramps, bloating and PMS.
As you may have already guessed, the secret ingredient is your diet. Now I’m not talking about a specific diet, but rather adapting what you eat to your current menstrual phase. This is called “cycle syncing”.
As women, every month we go through four different phases that make up our menstrual cycle: menstruation, the follicular phase, ovulation and the luteal phase.
To help you get a better idea, think of these phases like the four seasons : winter, spring, summer and fall. Just like the seasons your hormones, body and energy levels change during each phase. It’s important to know what your body needs and when it needs it.
Have you ever had a craving during PMS? That is your body telling you that it needs something and asking you to feed it. If you’re craving a chocolate bar, your body probably needs iron or magnesium.
The first day of your cycle is the first day of your period. That’s when your hormones are at their lowest because they are working hard to shed your endometrium. It’s very likely that you will feel a dip in your energy levels.
To help maintain proper nutrition during your period, be sure to drink lots of filtered water and eat unprocessed, nutrient-rich foods that will help keep your energy and blood glucose levels stable.
Some of my food recommendations are lean proteins (or plant-based proteins), healthy fats and carbohydrates like root vegetables, whole grain bowls and legumes.
Making sure your body gets what it needs and what it’s asking for will help relieve so many unpleasant problems like painful cramps, uncomfortable bloating and sugar cravings.
Biography:
Marie-Pier loves rivers and has a Master’s degree in Social Work. With Comme des lapins, she aspires to be a part of the solution by offering an authentic, inclusive and feminst space to talk about sexuality. She helps women put their sexuality back at the heart of their well-being by focusing on their cyclical nature with a coaching service and online training courses.
