Periods — We all get them and at times, hate them. We women are balls of ever-rotating energy and we have our menstrual cycle to point fingers to. If you are not feeling 100 percent yourself around your period, matching your life with the flow of your hormones is for you. Today’s stressful and unhealthy lifestyles contribute to make your monthly cycles too crampy and bad enough urging you take a day off. Periods are not something you need to lose your nerves over, but they still need to be dealt with. You wouldn’t leave the house without checking the weather. Then why live blindly without listening to your body? Let’s take a look at some tips to maintain your ‘time of the month’ and improve your experience of healthy, pain free periods.
Mindful Eating:
Not eating adequate amount of fruits and veggies can rob your body of the essential nutrients it needs to function effectively. Try to include five portions of vegetables and two serves of fruits daily, up to three servings of fish per week, nuts, seeds, low-fat dairy food, proteins like legumes, lean meat, and egg, and a variety of whole grains such as rice, oats, and millet. 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water greatly interferes with menstruation, promoting healthy blood flow in the body.
Try snacking on carrots, parsley juice, or blend up a smoothie to combat cramps. Better bets to avoid caffeine are ginger ale, soothing tea like chamomile, herbal iced tea, or grab a piece of dark chocolate for tummy-settling. Fill up on the good stuff every 3-4 hours to avoid mood swings and manage hormonal spikes.
Hydrate Yourself:
Drink lots of fluid such as water, juices, or milk throughout the day to get relief from bloating and excess discomfort when working out on your periods.
Drink lots of fluid such as water, juices, or milk throughout the day to get relief from bloating and excess discomfort when working out on your periods.
Stay Active:
While you may not feel like leaving your bed, exercising may actually be beneficial for a sense of well being around your cycle. Switch up your workouts based on hormonal fluctuations, which affects how your body may approach fitness. Listen to your body and do what feels good. Do not focus on pushing it every step of the way if it feels sore or tired. Light movements is best during this stage. Opt for meditative walks through nature, swimming, yin and kundalini yoga (stay away from inverted yoga poses) to lift your spirits and stay energized all week long. Catch eight to nine hours of your Zzzzzs, especially during your periods to wake up refreshed and rejuvenated.
While you may not feel like leaving your bed, exercising may actually be beneficial for a sense of well being around your cycle. Switch up your workouts based on hormonal fluctuations, which affects how your body may approach fitness. Listen to your body and do what feels good. Do not focus on pushing it every step of the way if it feels sore or tired. Light movements is best during this stage. Opt for meditative walks through nature, swimming, yin and kundalini yoga (stay away from inverted yoga poses) to lift your spirits and stay energized all week long. Catch eight to nine hours of your Zzzzzs, especially during your periods to wake up refreshed and rejuvenated.
Cycle Calendar:
It is important to track your cycle and how you’re feeling each week of the cycle in real time. You will naturally feel more in control and increase awareness of your overall wellness. As your hormones ebb and flow, so can your energy and mood. Tracking helps detect unexpected patterns such as irregularities, heavy cycles, change in color and consistency. Talking about mood swings, anxiety, depression— understanding yourself helps you prepare and better manage them. By simply maintaining a menstrual report card, you can avoid period surprises.
Alternative Therapies:
Placing heat packs against the abdomen may ease cramping and one at the back will alleviate back pain. Acupuncture and acupressure releases plenty of endorphins, which are helpful in relaxation and reducing severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Add a few drops of essential oils to a carrier oil for a gentle self-massage over the abdomen to relax pelvic muscles, reduce fluid retention, and treat mood disorders better.
Placing heat packs against the abdomen may ease cramping and one at the back will alleviate back pain. Acupuncture and acupressure releases plenty of endorphins, which are helpful in relaxation and reducing severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Add a few drops of essential oils to a carrier oil for a gentle self-massage over the abdomen to relax pelvic muscles, reduce fluid retention, and treat mood disorders better.
Start realizing how important it actually is for our bodies to menstruate and instead of wishing you never had a period, jump for joy when you get them! Let’s face it! Pay attention to how your body is responding during your menstrual cycle. In turn your body will thank you with the care you are giving it.
