Foods To Eat While On Your Period

During our period our hormones are all out of whack, we get cramps and cravings, and it feels like our body is punishing us! While period cravings are very real, we tend to crave foods that are rich in sugar and fat, which provide no health benefits. Believe it or not, there are foods that are recommended to be eaten during that time of the month for various reasons.

Although we’re not really losing a significant amount of blood, we’re losing blood nonetheless. Losing blood means losing iron, a mineral which provides us with a lot of energy, and is vital to maintaining optimal health. The loss of iron is one of the reasons we can feel fatigued during our period! So, help your body replenish some of its iron stores with these foods:

• Beef

• Lamb

• Salmon

• Tuna

• Dried fruit

• Wholemeal pasta and bread

• Nuts and seeds

• Legumes

• Tofu 

Our magnesium levels fluctuate during our period, the higher the estrogen or progesterone, the lower the magnesium! If you find yourself craving chocolate in or around the time of your period, sure, you probably just want the pick-me-up that comes with a sweet treat, but your body could be calling out for magnesium. Dark chocolate is one of the most magnesium-rich foods on earth. It's also got more health benefits than you might know!

Magnesium is known to help relax muscles, so it makes sense that when we’re lacking it, we’re feeling pain! Try to incorporate some of these foods while you’re on your period:

• Spinach

• Cashews

• Peanuts

• Rolled oats

• Avocado

• Banana

Our calcium levels fluctuate during our period, and even though we want to eat sugary snacks, doing so can deplete our calcium levels further. Calcium is essential for muscle function, and eating calcium-rich foods can help rebalance the calcium levels in our body. Try some of these foods:

• Cheese

• Yoghurt

• Almonds

• Milk

We can’t take away the pain and discomfort of getting your period, but these foods can at the very least ease some of the fatigue. It’s important to give your body some extra love during your period, and we recommend some gentle exercise too!