Five things to do to help manage you period

Periods

We hate them, we miss them, we dread them but they make us magic

For thousands of years we, as women, have been told that our periods are impure, unclean, or some kinds of taint. Just as with most things that we don't understand they are met with fear and our wombs have been no different. Men, who have no periods, but claim gynecology, clearly haven't a clue and thus misinformation is fed to us as young woman . Even in our modern time women are shunned or sequestered over a phenomenon that is as natural as the phases of the moon, allows every person to be part of this world, and gives us strength physically and emotionally. There is embarrassment, shame, or taboo around speaking about our periods, vaginas, and emotions. So lets take it back. Though advances in medicine have allowed for some wonderful things it still has so much to learn about women's health. Birth control or stopping our periods all together are not always the best answers. We should bleed each month, we should not be ashamed by it and it shouldn't be traumatic.

I am here to empower you to embrace your period, take charge of it and learn the truth about your period because they make us magic!

1.Paying attention to blood sugar & diet- A lot of people don't realize the link between blood sugar and hormones. Our cycles are all about hormones. So at the mention of blood sugar don't just think diabetes or obesity. For example insulin resistance from eating to much sugar or even simple carbohydrates and refined foods can cause an imbalance in hormone levels.

In addition watch your alcohol and caffeine intake. Excessive intake of both of these can cause a spike in cortisol ( a steroid hormone) which in turn can disrupt all other hormones. Also based on your unique symptoms there may be foods that are better suited for your cycle or foods that should be eliminated. With that said reducing sugar intake/carbs and refined foods is usually a good idea for all of us.

2. The right type of exercise- Another thing that women are often told is that we should hit the gym when we are having cramps, bloating or pain on our periods.

Now this is only half right. Yes you should exercise but you should also nourish your body during your period. Remember you are bleeding and this is literally and figuratively draining on your body. So moving your body is good but using gentle exercise like swimming, yoga (not some crazy yoga sculp in 1000 degree studio), walking, or tai qi are great for moving qi and blood but also nourishing the body. This is especially important if you have heavy bleeding, short cycles or bleeding between periods.

3. Reducing or eliminating plastics, Exposure to BPA and Xenoestrogens- Each of these things can mimic estrogen and in turn they can attach themselves to estrogen receptor sites. This can cause imbalanced hormone levels causing difficulty with periods, PMS and fertility.

Here are a few ways to minimize personal exposure:

In your food Food

Avoid all pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides.

Choose organic, locally-grown and in-season foods when you can.

Peel non-organic fruits and vegetables.

Buy hormone-free meats and dairy products to avoid hormones and pesticides.

Reduce the use of plastics whenever possible.

Do not microwave food in plastic containers.

Avoid the use of plastic wrap to cover food for storing or microwaving.

Use glass or ceramics whenever possible to store food.

Do not leave plastic containers, especially your drinking water, in the sun.

If a plastic water container has heated up significantly, throw it away and don’t refill plastic water bottles or freeze them.

Household Products

Use chemical free, biodegradable laundry and household cleaning products.

Choose chlorine-free products and unbleached paper products (i.e. tampons, menstrual pads, toilet paper, paper towel, coffee filters).

Use a chlorine filter on shower heads and filter drinking water

4. Reduce stress-I know, I know, I know everyone says you need to reduce stress. But guess what it is true for your periods too. Stress increases cortisol and cortisol can be a hormone disrupter.

So especially during your period work toward reducing your stress. Just like with exercise during this time choose stress reducing activities that are more nourishing rather then taxing. So perhaps no sky diving or cross fit to blow off steam. Try something like a hike outside, good book, dancing, take a day off.

5. Birth Control- I personally believe that as women we were made to have periods, they are important to our bodies, and a part of nature. So having said that I also acknowledge that birth control is an amazing tool that we have as women.

So lets mention a few things to think about so that we have more information to inform our decisions.

If you are using a hormonal birth control method (pill, patch, IUD), it is messing with your hormones, says so in the name. As a result it can affect your mood, your weight, cause anxiety, mess with your fertility, and sleep, to name a few side effects.

Non-hormonal, specifically the copper IUD, is putting a foreign substance ie metal in your body that shouldn't be there. Something to think about. So you body is constantly fighting with a foreign object.

Also think that these methods that almost stop the period all together. By stopping the period completely we are not allowing the body to fully clean and clear out old tissue that is meant to be removed each month. This could be impairing fertility and even hormonal levels

Have you stop and think about the birth control method you are using? Some questions to ask are why am I using it and for how long have I used it? Am I using birth control to not get pregnant or because my periods are a nuisance? Am I using it for pain management and are they other alternative?

I want to empower you to get all the information you are entitled to with regards to your birth control and really consider what it may be doing to your body and mind.

6. Don't forget Acupuncture and Herbal medicine!