Healthy Lifestyle Habits & Hacks For Your Menstrual Cycle
Let’s talk about something important, women! Our menstrual health!
There is so much going on around us today. Just look outside your window, and you will see chaos unraveling right ahead of you. Climate change, birds are popping out of the sky, invasions, wars, trauma! There is so much going on. But are you okay?
For centuries, women have been bearing the brunt of all the injustices in the system. Women, we are supposed to look out for the actions of society. It is us who are supposed to right all the wrongs.
Who takes care of you? Who takes care of your cycle, lifestyle, and your health? Your health is in your hands!
It is essential to take care of your health because apparently, our men can’t do anything here. It is time to take charge! Here are some essential healthy lifestyle habits and hacks for your menstrual cycle that you must start following immediately!
Let’s dive right in!
Healthy Lifestyle Habits & Hacks For Your Menstrual Cycle
1. Track Your Cycle
One of the best things you can do is track your menstrual cycle every month through a mobile app. This will help you become familiar with your cycle and all of the phases that happen to your body during the entire duration.
This gives all women an understanding of the points in our cycle. We all feel different or experience different changes. It is advantageous to keep track of your average menstrual cycle length, the type of flow you experience, any related symptoms you experience during the duration, especially around your ovulation period, etc.
You will get to know yourself, all the pain, mood changes, acne breakouts, PMS, everything will be right in your hands so you can schedule your life better along with managing a healthy lifestyle.
Some of the best period tracking applications you can start using right away are Flo, Clue, etc.
2. Use Natural Menstrual Products
The second crucial healthy lifestyle hack you can undertake is to use natural, eco-friendly menstrual products.
Your vagina is one of the most sensitive regions in your entire body. It absorbs so much we can’t even think about it. So, naturally, you want to be extremely careful with your most sensitive body part.
Everything or anything you put inside or near it should be natural and eco-friendly. So, all of your traditional menstrual pads, tampons, liners, etc., should not contain things like dioxins that directly result from bleaching. Dioxins are incredibly harmful to your reproductive system, as well as your endocrine system. So, when you are absorbing things like dioxins, along with all the added fragrances and pesticides from synthetic cotton used in your conventional period products makes it dangerous to go near your vagina.
These non-eco-friendly products might also include traces of plastic and are wholly non-biodegradable and dangerous for your health and the environment. Instead, you can opt for using reusable silicone menstrual cups or any biodegradable brand selling menstrual pads, tampons, and liners.
Some of the best companies selling natural, fully-organic, and eco-friendly menstrual care products include Natural care. The products are 100% certified organic, and the raw materials are sourced sustainably. The material used in such eco-friendly products is organic, plant-based, without any added fragrances, chlorine for bleaching the cotton, or any actually harmful traces of plastic.
3. Don’t be a couch potato
Yes, these past two years have been really cruel to us all, especially those of us working from home. But it is essential not to get lost in our couches! We are not cushions. It is important to start moving your body around a little. Let’s face it, a sedentary lifestyle has never helped anyone.
8-9 long hours of sitting on your desk and then crashing right on your bed or couch for a few more hours of Netflix session is only going to make things worse for you. Lack of physical activity will probably lead to a hormonal imbalance, directly impacting your menstrual cycle.
There is only one way out of this - You have to really get going. You need to get off that couch and start exercising. As per the Journal of Education and Health Promotion, regular exercise is the key to preventing obesity, keeping your hormones in check, and leading a healthy lifestyle overall.
Hit that dance class, aerobics sessions, or those yoga/pilates classes you’ve always admired on-screen. Get at least 30-40 minutes of workout in your schedule. It is vital for your vaginal and menstrual health.
4. Wear breathable underpants
Another tremendous healthy lifestyle habit to inculcate this year is to wear breathable underpants. You should be wearing something that does not hold onto moisture or prevent proper airflow. Nylon and lycra-based fabrics generally do that. This contributes significantly to developing more irritation and infections in the long run and can even affect your menstrual cycle.
This grows to become an even worse problem when you are already suffering from a yeast infection. Cotton is the way to go! The fabric is soft and light enough to promote a healthy airflow, keep things breathable down there and ensure your vagina is healthy and happy.
5. Rely on the power of Superfoods
Did you know ginger can actually help reduce your blood loss during the heaviest flow in your menstrual cycle? Ginger is such an incredible superfood that helps us check our menstrual cycles. But, it is not alone. There are many more superfoods. Adding cinnamon to your diet, especially your regular yogurt or your cup of green tea, can also help beat your irregular menstrual cycle. So, if you are suffering from one, do try it out!
In fact, as per a 2013 study, drinking just 15 ml of diluted apple cider vinegar in a glass of water every day can also help restore your menstrual cycle back to normal. So, if you have not had your regular period for a long time, try this healthy lifestyle hack out too!
What is even more surprising is that pineapples effectively battle all signs of PMS and can easily regulate your menstrual cycle. Pineapples can easily do it because of the presence of enzymes like bromelain present in them. This helps bring hormones under control.
There you go! These were some fantastic healthy lifestyle habits and hacks for your menstrual and vaginal health. Start following these habits and hacks to see incredible results. And remember, take charge of your health, because no one else will!
