Women should know how to take care of their bodies, especially during menstruation. Hormonal changes during menstruation can lower immunity, leading to mood swings, and in some cases, poor appetite, backache, and fatigue. While menstruation involves physical discomfort, choosing the right diet can not only help alleviate pain but also promote beauty and health – a win-win situation!
Women should replenish blood and protein during their menstrual period.
Women experience blood loss during menstruation, especially those with heavy periods. Each menstrual cycle results in the loss of essential blood components such as plasma proteins, iron, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Therefore, during menstruation, it's beneficial to eat plenty of foods that replenish blood, minerals, and protein, as well as easily digestible, nutritious vegetables and fruits that promote menstruation. A balanced diet of meat and vegetables is also very helpful for women to successfully navigate their menstrual cycle.
For example, warming and nourishing foods include mutton, chicken, red dates, tofu skin, apples, Job's tears, milk, brown sugar, motherwort, angelica, and longan. If women experience poor appetite or lower back pain, their diet should consist of nutritious, spleen-strengthening, and easily digestible foods, such as red dates, noodles, and Job's tears porridge. In addition, to maintain nutritional balance, fresh vegetables and fruits should be consumed simultaneously. Fresh food is preferred as it is not only more delicious and easier to absorb, but also retains more nutrients. Furthermore, the body's need for iron is greater during menstruation; therefore, it is advisable to eat more lean meat, egg yolks, and animal organs to prevent anemia caused by iron deficiency. To prevent menstrual cramps, it is also important to eat more magnesium-rich foods, with seaweed being a top choice. In addition, consuming foods rich in vitamin E, such as nuts, is also beneficial in alleviating menstrual discomfort.
Women should avoid eating bitter foods during menstruation.
Women during their menstrual period should not eat too many bitter foods. This is because most bitter foods are cold or cooling in nature, and excessive consumption during menstruation can cause stagnation of blood vessels and obstruction of blood flow, leading to gynecological diseases such as irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, and amenorrhea.
Even in hot weather, it's not advisable to consume too many bitter foods during menstruation, such as bitter melon, bitter greens, buckwheat, green tea, lettuce, and bitter tea. This is especially important for those experiencing menstrual cramps due to cold; they should avoid bitter foods not only during menstruation but also outside of their menstrual period. Instead, they should consume warm, easily digestible, and nutritious foods, and drink plenty of warm water to maintain regular bowel movements and reduce pelvic congestion.
