HOW TO HAVE LESS PAINFUL PERIODS
Periods should NOT be painful.
Yet painful ones are considered normal, like many other diseases, disorders and ailments that modern people have learned to accept.
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 food and lifestyle.
Eat 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. One of the top keys to easy periods? Eat regularly (every 3-4 hours), and ensure that when you do, you reach for nourishing foods combined appropriately (a carb combined with a healthy fat and protein).
Stress less - Stress wreaks havoc on the body's hormonal pathways as it releases cortisol and impacts the hypothalamus / pituitary / ovary axis. It can cause severe period pain and irregularity. Decreasing stress comes down to self responsibility and self awareness, and looks different from person to person. This can look like getting more exercise, setting boundaries, or simply just resting more.
Limit caffeine in luteal and menstrual phase - Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, which means that it narrows blood vessels, including those that reach your uterus, so less blood and oxygen can flow through them. A result of this constricted oxygen flow is more severe period cramping. Simply switching to decaf can make a huge difference in your period pain!
Live cyclically - Once women understand the 4 phases of their cycle and honor their corresponding hormonal shifts, they can avoid becoming casualties to their hormones and begin to maximize their feminine power. Matching your life with your cycle helps you avoid burnout and keeps you mindful daily of the needs of your body, resulting in less painful periods, hormonal balance, and greater vitality.
Get more natural sunlight - Sunlight offers a variety of benefits to hormonal health. In many studies, high levels of vitamin D have been shown to positively affect the body's inflammatory response, decreasing period pain.
