My Period pain Saga…
A few years ago, I had the worst period(menstruating) pain and chronic gastric infection with skin and hair issues. I used to calculate my travels or work plan schedule not according to days of how work is placed, but when will be my next period. Periods were torture for me, and I used to wonder why we must go through this. I would look at people without periods or on birth control and marvel at how lucky they are, to not have their periods. Little that I knew it's far from the truth.
After a series of ER visits, taking tons of antibiotics for my period cramps/gastric issues, and applying so many different skincare products. (I literally used to earn for the skincare industry. I used to spend $$$ every month, because “my skin needed it”). Once a sudden realization took place and it went like, "what the hell I am doing?". "Why have I given away the power of my body my health my life to big corporations who market skincare/ period pain-relieving drugs or creams so well".
I started reading and understanding about our body, coincidently, I always wanted to be a woman specialist while growing up and enrolled myself into medical program but, changed paths to just come back to my original plan all along.
Today, I am a Holistic Nutritionist who believes in healing from within, and how simple small steps in your nutrition and lifestyle can make all the difference.
I am 11 months postpartum and if you think periods are tough on normal days, wait until you have a baby and are in the postpartum stage. That’s when you realize what a badass your body is and how you can have a happy period by doing all the running around behind your infant and taking care of a growing business and dealing with stressful dramas from the external world.
In my postpartum journey, my first period after birth which was at 2 months postpartum (even while exclusively breastfeeding - every body is unique, this is a clear example of that), was tough, the cramps were bad and every time my baby was nursed, the cramps got worst. I started on my period healing protocol, and it improved. The next time this year that I realized I had painful periods was during and immediately after a stressful 2 months. This made me realize one thing, period and stress are hand in hand for me. ( every person’s period pain is unique and triggered through some different underlying patterns in their life)
Our body’s are still rooted in how our ancestors used to perceive a threat (flight and fight response), while our ancestors had a real lion to threaten them, our daily life stress has got so huge, that when we think of being stuck in a jam or late on a project deadline or in the room with people who don’t match your wavelength. Your body releases (cortisol – stress hormone), the same way as our ancestors.
This is where I realized My period pain is correlated to my adrenal health. Adrenal glands help to maintain your metabolism, immunity, blood pressure, and so much more. When you are stressed and especially when you are in fight and flight mode, this is when your adrenals go imbalanced it affects your sex hormones (estrogen mainly), which is so important for your period health.
So, the few things I have done, at my postpartum stage, which can help you at any stage of your period health journey.
Understand your body, and what it is saying. There is more to what meets the eye.
Your period pain and PMS symptoms tell you more of the underlying issues of your body, do not ignore them.
You need to heal your body from the inside out, get in touch with a practitioner who works for your body and works for you, not against you.
Include high good quality fats in your diet (ghee, grass-fed butter, coconut oil)
Seed cycling, if done correctly adds great benefit to your life. (I have workshops on this to understand it better)
Include protein and fiber in each meal.
You need to have healthy digestion for better period health.
Sleep can't emphasize this more, a good well rested night sleep, helps you balance your hormones.
Hydrate your body with water and green juices.
Now, these are the above general guidelines, but they have only worked for me and my clients when I have gone deeper in understanding the root cause of the pain and eliminating it.
It has been a work in progress for quiet sometime ( even before getting pregnant). I have worked on my gut health ( most of your period issues, are related to your gut), I have worked and been working on my skin and hair health and improving my overall energy.
After all, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”.
Our body is unique, and every cell is unique. Every period pain, for every menstruating woman’s journey is different.
If you cannot wear another person's underpants, please don’t blindly follow the next bandwagon of the latest diet fad.
“The only investment, which has the highest return is the investment in your body.”
So, this has been my journey till now, today I am on my period as I write this, and it's just like any other day, I have all the energy and no period pain. If I can do it, so can you and I am here to help you achieve this.
Life is more than cringing over another period cycle.