The influence of your menstrual cycle on your diet

Most women are well acquainted with the discomfort that comes with menstruation. Acne, fatigue, headaches, mood swings, period cramps, and so much more… Scientists associate more than a hundred symptoms with our monthly periods. And while most of us can still continue our daily life almost without disturbance, for others it’s not only an annoyance but a real hindrance to normal living. 

We’ve already mentioned some of the more common symptoms, but what about changes in our body weight? Yes, they are also quite natural. Have you ever noticed that you eat a little more during your periods or crave food at unusual hours? It happens to be one of the premenstrual symptoms.

But why do our bodies suddenly require more food? The short answer is hormones. When the bleeding starts, estrogen (a so-called “female hormone” that is responsible for our monthly cycles) becomes a primary hormone in our system. In theory though, estrogen makes you eat less, not more. So it doesn't answer our question. 

Another hormone that is quite active during menstruation is progesterone. And that’s our culprit! The main job of progesterone is to prepare a woman’s body for pregnancy. But when there is no pregnancy, that hormone helps to activate our menstruation cycle… and leaves us hungry, stimulating us to eat more.

So… what does cycle syncing have to do with all of it? Cycle syncing is a practice that allows you to change your diet (and even your lifestyle in general) in order to make sure that your body gets all it needs to optimize your fluctuating hormones, and with that, your mood and any body changes you might have. It’s a great way to get to know your body a bit better. And in time, you will actually understand what works for it and what does not. 

Women grew up in a society that made them think they had to act the same during their monthly cycle, no matter how hard it is for some of us to even function properly at times like these. But nobody likes a lazy crybaby, right? Cycle syncing is there to teach people to accept a woman’s cycle as something completely natural and to help you balance your life around the rhythms of your body. 

The main thing is… you always need to remember to pay attention to what your body has to say and how it's feeling. In other words, cooperate with it! Be gentle with it! And don’t be too harsh on it when it’s trying to tell you things!