The skin becomes impure, along with listlessness, mood swings and pain. Many women suffer from menstrual cramps once a month. Some more, others less.
And especially during these days when you don’t feel fresh and balanced anyway, some people also experience severe digestive problems.
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Digestive problems during your period
The stomach bloats during the menstruation on, tight pants become unbearably uncomfortable, you have to fart more often and even get diarrhea.
Unfortunately, these unpleasant intestinal problems are not uncommon: almost one in three women have problems with their digestive tract during their period. Why these occur has not yet been scientifically clarified.
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However, there is a direct connection between the hormonal fluctuations that occur in a woman’s cycle and symptoms such as a bloated stomach or diarrhea.
Hormones stimulate digestion
The culprits are the so-called prostaglandins. These are released during the period and, among other things, cause the uterus to contract in order to shed the uterine lining.
Many sufferers perceive this contraction as painful cramps.
And as if that wasn’t unpleasant enough, the increased amount of prostaglandins also affects the intestines.
Since digestion is stimulated, diarrhea and flatulence occur – women who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome are most affected.
Digestive problems are caused by periods
Another hormone that affects digestion is the corpus luteum hormone progesterone, which is produced in the ovaries.
Its actual task: to enrich the uterine lining with nutrients in order to create ideal conditions for fertilization.
However, unpleasant “side effects” can quickly occur during your period. A high concentration can cause constipation, while too low a concentration can cause diarrhea.
The fluctuations within the cycle don’t necessarily make things easy for the female body: In the second half of the cycle, the hormone is released into the blood more intensively and only in low concentrations during the period.
This strong hormonal shift can quickly upset the intestines and cause digestive problems.
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Counteract this with a healthy diet
In order to relieve some of the strain on the gastrointestinal tract during your period and effectively counteract the symptoms, you should first and foremost pay attention to your diet.
Even if you have a craving for sweet and fatty foods, it’s best to avoid snacking. Sugar and unhealthy fats only irritate the intestines even more.
Easily digestible foods with a high proportion of omega-3 fatty acids are best. You can find them in delicious foods like nuts, avocados or fish like salmon.
Exercise for physical well-being
But it’s not just your food choices that affect your gut. Your mood can also influence your digestion.
Negative emotions such as stress and hectic pace can then make your symptoms even worse.
Even though you may feel drained and demotivated, you should consider exercising. This promotes your mental and physical balance and thereby alleviates the symptoms.
If you can’t bring yourself to exercise at all, at least try taking a walk in the fresh air. Afterwards you can snuggle up in your bed again with a hot water bottle.
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