MENSTRUATION

What I eat and do for and on my bleed!

Menstruation sometimes hits differently, like it did this month. First things first, stay curious and ask yourself - what is my body trying to tell me and secondly ask how can I support it! Like I DID.

This month I had a bit of a longer cycle due to lifestyle changes and it brought loads of cravings aka my body communicating what it needs and what it is missing - energy and nourishment. And instead of questioning or overthinking I listened. Listened to more food, listened to deep craving for meat, listened to more carbs and gluten and sweet taste. Your body is smart, just listen. Whenever my body prepares for a bleed I slow down, or rather my body makes me slow down, because sometimes if it didn’t we simply wouldn’t, right?

Setting yourself some rituals for once the bleed arrives can be beautiful and supporting self love practice, the anchor that keeps you connected and grounded, that keeps you present!

My favourite rituals are definitely:

• hot showers in the evening

• sleeping with hot water bottle

• making myself blood nourishing infusion - red dates, rose, ginger and goji berries

• eating warm grounding melas

• having fridge stacked and prepared so I can reheat rather that cook from the scratch - always have on hand some roasted root veggies, cooked grains and some protein

• journalling - what wants to be seen this time and what am I letting go of

• starting a new cycle tracker + setting an intention for the new cycle

• pulling oracle cards and lighting a candle

• wearing my red period ring

• slow to no movement :) - just walks and stretch

• me time - less socializing, more conscious connection with myself

• keeping myself warm :)

• slow cooking, somehow being in the kitchen feels regulating for me even on my bleed

• making soul nourishing sweet treats

I am curious what are yours?

When it comes to foods, personally my appetite gets a bit off just before the bleed starts and continuous to be as such for the first two-three days. It feels more snacky and like not many things hit the spot, I am picky and not always satisfied, but what helps is that I deeply listen to what my body is guiding me towards and choose that over any “perfect” scenario in my head.

Here are my favourite foods I have on my bleed

• cooked buckwheat with almond milk cinnamon, served with stewed fruit (apples or berries) cinnamon, cardamom and almond butter (+ sometimes crumbled brownie :))

• roasted beets or pumpkin with buckwheat and eggs

• cup of grounding cacao with almond butter

• kissel - warm fruit jelly like dessert

• gluten free brownie or brownie cookies ;)

• gluten free chocolate chip cookies best served with almond butter

• gluten free crepes

• scrambled eggs with roasted pumpkin on the side, olives and avocado

• hot nachos with bolognese sauce on top :) oven roasted - this month’s discovery :)

• roasted sweet potatoes with tahini miso dressing and some protein on the side

• lasagna

Tell me what are yours, both favorite rituals and foods during your bleed!

Hope you feel inspired!

Best,

Mags :)