Let face it: we’ve all been told that whatever we, women, go through during our periods is completely normal. Whether it is abdominal cramps, PMS, blood clots, acne, mood swings, headaches, or exhaustion, we have to endure it. They say that it is just a part of “womanhood”. Well, you’re in for a surprise because we’ve been lied to for far too long.
When it comes to your monthly periods, there isn’t much you can do to delay it. But, there are somethings that you actually can control. For example, instead of letting the stress weigh you down, you can do some things to stay energized. I had two options. Either I was going to live with the pain for the rest of my period cycles, or I had to take things into my own hand and fix the root cause of my symptoms. By choosing the latter, I decided to use the internet to my advantage and did a little research of my own. What I found after extensive digging changed my life for good, and if you read this article till the last word, I hope the same is going to happen for you.
Sleep Solves Everything
Many of us out there are living with a sleep deficit. A sound 8-9 hour sleep is a must for teenagers, especially when you are on your periods. Almost 33% of women say that they can’t sleep during their menstrual cycle. This is a direct effect of the fall in the body’s estrogen and progesterone levels. If you work up a sweat right before going to bed, it makes it easier to fall asleep. Aim to do at least 30 minutes of rigorous exercise, which will not only strengthen your muscles but also avert sleep related issues. Furthermore, you can start supplementing melatonin – known as sleep hormone – to help you fall asleep. To improve the melatonin count in your body, use your phone in night mode during nights. It blocks the reddish hue in light and protects your melatonin supply.
Use Period Protection Products
When it comes to period symptoms, the discharge of blood is one of the most frustrating things to deal with. Where more of us rely on lining our underwear with a pad or inserting a tampon, there are a lot of other convenient alternatives you might want to consider. Every woman has her fair share of troubles dealing with hygiene during periods, and if you are one of those stuck with tampons and pads, you should get some help from Diva Cup. Being one of the few eco-friendly, cost effective, and leak-free products in the market, switching to Diva Cup is the best decision you can make to deal with the blood discharge.
Take Care of Your Diet
Periods come with a lot of cravings, and while maintaining a healthy diet is almost impossible for most of us, a few dietary changes can make “that time of the month” a lot less excruciating. Ginger tea is a very popular remedy to ease abdominal pains. Instead of loading yourself with ibuprofen and painkillers, sipping on ginger tea daily will give you the same benefits. Your diet should contain a healthy balance of omega- 3’s, iron, magnesium, and calcium. Make sure that you stay away from caffeine as much as possible it retains the water in the body and can be a cause of cramps and bloated feelings. If you are feeling an intense craving for chocolate, as most women do during this time, it is better to go for dark chocolate instead of sugary ones as excessive sugar can make your symptoms even worse.
Massage with Oils
Body massages with certain oils have proved to be very beneficial to relax the nervous system and relieve menstrual cramp pain. Essential oils such as frankincense oil or primrose oil can be applied to the skin during the menstrual cycle. In a research, investigators asked one group of women to use a diluted form of essential oil and another to apply a synthetic fragrance on their skin. While both groups reported less pain, women who applied essential oils reported a reduction of pain from 3 days to 1 day.
The Bottom Line
Everyone I know has benefited greatly from these tips. Adopting them in the days leading up to and during your periods can be very effective, but if you continue to face disruptive period symptoms, it might be a good idea to schedule an appointment with your doctor.
