How to have painless periods
While it is VERY common...
Periods should NOT be painful.
Because they are common, many woman have learned to accept this discomfort.
It’s important to question the idea of what’s normal— the body is capable of handling far more than we think, and handling it well. As long as it is properly supported through nourishment and lifestyle habits.
Here are some ways to eliminate period pain:
Eat enough+frequently-The body's top priority is managing insulin and cortisol to keep blood sugar balanced, this is at the expense of all other hormone management.This means that managing reproductive hormones gets put on the back-burner if your blood sugar is NOT balanced. This means it is recommended to eat every 3-4 hours, and ensure that when you do, you reach for nourishing foods (quality protein, healthy fat+carb,fiber from plants) combined appropriately (a carb combined with a healthy fat+protein) to avoid a blood sugar roller coaster.
Acknowledge+address stress- Stress causes chaos in the body's hormonal pathways as it releases cortisol and impacts the hypothalamus / pituitary / ovarian axis. It can cause severe period pain and irregularity. Decreasing stress can look like incorporating meditation, getting more movement, saying "no" to things/people that do not serve you, or simply just taking it easy.
Limit caffeine+alcohol in the luteal and menstrual phase-Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, which means that it narrows blood vessels, including those in your uterus, meaning less blood and oxygen flow through them. Meaning...more severe period cramping. Try switching to decaf, Matcha, or tea during this time, it can make a huge difference in your period pain!
Get more natural sunlight - Gettin sunlight first thing in the morning and throughout the day provides so many benefits to hormonal health. In many studies, high levels of vitamin D have been shown to reduce the body's inflammatory response, decreasing period pain.
Get moving-When you move your body, you release endorphins. A surge of endorphins increases your pain threshold. It also elevates your mood and promotes a sense of well-being. I LOVE walking, stretching, pilates, and yoga during my menstrual phase.
Try some supplements+teas-Drinking tea is one of the best herbal remedies for alleviating menstrual pain. Top teas I recommend for menstrual discomfort include, red raspberry leaf, chamomile, ginger, fennel, and cramp bark. Here are the supplements I recommend for menstrual pain relief. Remember, ALWAYS work with a practitioner to ensure they are right for YOU
And remember...period pain is common, but NOT normal. If you want to get to the root cause of your period pain and hormonal imbalances....
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