How Can I Stop Prolonged Periods Naturally
Heavy periods may be a sign of some underlying health condition. You must consult your doctor if you get prolonged or heavy periods or if there is a sudden increase in blood loss during your periods. Quite often, heavy and prolonged periods may be a result of nutritional deficiencies. There are a few home remedies for a heavy period. However, you should consult with your doctor before trying any of these remedies. Most of these remedies lack medical or scientific evidence. Some home remedies for managing prolonged periods include
Follow A Healthy Lifestyle To Feel Your Best
The key recommendation for foods to eat during your period is that you should choose plenty of fruit and veg, whole grains and high-quality protein. Stay away from highly processed foods, including cakes, sweets, fried or fatty foods.
Choosing foods that are rich in nutrients and have a high fibre content will help you to feel your best at this time, soothing your digestive system and replacing any nutrients lost from menstrual bleeding.
While you may not feel like it, try to eat regularly to keep your energy levels up. Skipping a meal can leave you feeling nauseous or tired.
My final tip is to make sure you drink enough water! Replacing fluids and staying hydrated can help to minimise some of the uncomfortable symptoms you may experience.
Choosing whole foods at any time of the month will help you feel better
Your body is amazing, and as you learn more about how your body responds to different foods you will learn how to make healthy food choices that help you to feel better at any time of the month.
* Results may vary. Strict adherence to the nutrition and exercise guide are required for best results.
Caffeinated Beverages Might Make Your Cramps Worse
“Cut back on . If you drink three cups of coffee a day, just have one,” Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, an endocrinologist and founder of NY Endocrinology in New York City, told INSIDER.
She said you want to try to avoid consuming a lot of caffeine just before and during your period because it can increase how many cramps you experience and cause vasoconstriction , which “can further worsen cramps during your period.”
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An Introduction To Heavy Periods And Menopause
In the lead up to the menopause, known as the peri-menopause, many women experience changes to their normal menstrual cycle, including unusually heavy bleeding. This symptom is usually accompanied by irregular periods. A woman may go for several months without a period and then experience particularly heavy bleeding, or may find her periods coming thick and fast.
Aside from the obvious inconvenience of this, heavy bleeding may also lead to further health problems, such as anaemia. This is when there is not a high enough level of iron in the body. This can lead to extreme exhaustion and weakness.
While many women suffer from heavy periods in the lead up to their menopause, it is important to remember that prolonged bleeding should be checked by your doctor. Bleeding for longer than 1 week per month is not healthy.
The Real Reason Your Periods Are Difficult
PMS symptoms, period cramps, and heavy bleeding are clues that all is not well with your hormonal system. Female hormones rise and fall in a choreographed rhythm throughout your 28-day cycle. This delicate and complex dance can easily be thrown off balance.
Womens hormones interact with other bodily functions, including the nervous system , digestive function, and other hormones such as cortisol . These complex interactions are the reason why female hormone imbalances can lead to such a wide range of symptoms, including period symptoms.
Digging a bit deeper, the two most common causes of hormonal imbalance in women are gut imbalances and stress. Lets take a closer look:
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Fruit And Veg With High Water Content
Weve already mentioned green and leafy veg to get a boost of vitamins and minerals, but you also want to get some extra fruits that are high in water content.
They will help improve your hydration levels naturally, and youll be able to get a lot more fiber into your system as well. From a digestion perspective, your typical plant-based foods will be a lot easier to digest, which can also help reduce the bloating.
But dont take this as a green light to pile up on the fries.
Heavy Period: Top 33 Tips To Deal With Your Menorrhagia
Women empowerment starts with your body and femininity. Modern women are now encouraging other women to bleed freely and deal with menstruation lightly.
Your menstruation can be quite discomforting, especially if you are one of the women who suffer from PMS and heavy period. However, with enough knowledge, it can be easily handled and dealt with.
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Increased Appetite Might Mean Extra Calories
Many women report an increased appetite, which when combined with food cravings can lead to an increase in caloric intake.You may have a slightly higher metabolism during your period, but you can easily add hundreds of calories per day if you’re not careful.
Use a food diary to keep track of the foods you eat. Watch your beverage intake, as well, as sugary drinks or fancy lattes can be a source of extra calories. This may not be the best time for heavy alcohol consumption, and even caffeine can contribute to your discomfort.
Eat To Control Blood Sugar
That hangry feeling you get when you havent eaten means your blood sugar is low and your stress levels are high. High stress levels can throw your female hormones out of balance.
A 2019 systematic review found that skipping meals, high sugar consumption, and weight-loss diets were associated with more severe period pain [32
Keeping your blood sugar steady throughout the day is important for keeping your hormones balanced. Eat regular, balanced meals that include a portion of protein and some healthy fats and keep your sugar consumption low.
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Healthy Diets And Your Menstrual Cycle
Your menstrual period comes to visit about once a month. It’s not the most enjoyable of physiological functions, but it’s necessary for normal reproductive health. You might find that your cravings for certain foods increase for a few days before your period begins. The most common culprits are sweets and salty foods. The problem is that indulging too heavily might increase your caloric intake and the excess sodium can make fluid retentiona common symptom of premenstrual syndrome worse.
Dont Forget To Track Your Period
Youre the only person who knows your body well. While there are other factors that might delay your period, its still a big help if you are familiar with the flow and duration of your period. Its also the best way to know when your period signals health problems.
Tip:
Did you know that there are period tracker apps that you can download on your smartphone for free?
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How Supplements Can Help
Taking extra vitamins during your period might help with bleeding. Certain nutrients like iron, especially help replenish what you lose each month.
Check with your doctor before taking any supplement. They can determine whether you actually need to take a supplement, the appropriate dose for you, and side effects or interactions to watch for.
Potential supplements include:
Redefine The Good Stuff To Avoid Feeling Bad
When youre cramping and irritable, you just know that a hot fudge brownie sundae with extra fudge, nuts and whipped cream will make everything better. The problem is those sweet treats can significantly impact your insulin levels.
Foods that are really sugary and sweet will increase your insulin levels, and high insulin levels can cause imbalances in other female-factor hormones. Thats why you want to follow a low glycemic diet starting at least a couple of weeks before your expected period, says Dr. McClure.
If you eat a lot of carbs and sugar during your period, you might feel bloated or backed up. Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome might experience irregular periods which could lead to other complications. But when your blood sugar levels are going up and down, Dr. McClure says you might feel tired or get headaches frequently.
The other problem with that hot fudge brownie sundae comes from the added estrogens that can be found in some animal products such as dairy and oils. Estrogens, which can be found in some animal products and added oils, can cause your uterine lining to become abnormally thickened. Then, during your menstrual cycle, your body must create more prostaglandins to break down the lining. More prostaglandins translate to more pain. Thus, you also want to avoid foods that can increase estrogen levels in your body.
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What Nutrients Should You Focus On
One of the biggest problems is that the blood loss will drain your body of a lot of vital nutrients. Youll probably have noticed this in the months when you have a particularly heavy period .You can start feeling increasingly fatigued as your body tries to replenish the loss of blood. And unless you provide it with certain nutrition, you can actually make the symptoms worse.
And heres what you need to focus on.
Can I Figure Out How Much Im Bleeding
The easiest way, knowing that one soaked, normal-sized sanitary product holds about a teaspoon of blood loss. Keeping the Menstrual Cycle Diary or Daily Perimenopause Diary is a convenient way to assess the amount and timing of flow using either a count of soaked regular sized sanitary products or a measuring menstrual cup. . To accurately record the number of soaked sanitary products each day you need to recall the number you changed that were half full and multiply that to give the number of fully soaked ones. A maxi or super tampon or pad holds about two teaspoons or 10ml of bloodtherefore record each larger soaked sanitary product as a 2. In addition, record your best judgment about the amount of flow where a 1 is spotting, 2 means normal flow, 3 is slightly heavy and 4 is very heavy with flooding and/or clots. If the number of soaked sanitary products totals 16 or more or if you are recording 4s you have very heavy flow. To measure your flow using a menstrual cup with measurements, just add up the approximate amounts from each time you emptied it and record on the “# of pads/tampons” line.
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Eating Right During Your Period
Your dietary needs are about the same during your period as they are the rest of the month. One thing to watch for, if you have heavy blood flow, is that you might need some extra iron. Your body needs iron to replace the lost blood cells.
It’s probably not a big deal if you’re a meat-eater, as red meat is a rich source of iron. But if you’re on a vegetarian or vegan diet, you might want to take an iron supplement. Or you can eat more foods that are high in iron, such as iron-fortified foods, green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes. You can also boost your iron absorption by eating vitamin C-rich foods along with those plant-based iron sources.
If you feel any fatigue or have any other concerns about PMS or your menstrual cycle, you should speak to your healthcare provider before taking any iron supplements.
Whether Youre Suffering From Pms And Cramps Or Just Feel Like You Want To Hide Under A Duvet Being On Your Period Can Be Difficult Here We Speak To A Nutritionist To Find Out How A Tweak In Diet Could Help Us Feel Calmer Less In Pain And More Alert
There are a couple of weeks every month where I feel like Im operating at half-speed. I feel lethargic, irritable and when my period comes, Im often in a lot of pain. For me a combination of pain-killers, hot water bottles and CBD balm helps take the edge off, but Im convinced theres more I could be doing.
Feeling low in energy and agitated for half the month isnt ideal, especially for my partner who tends to be on the receiving end of my spikey moods. Through menstrual cycle tracking Ive gained a lot of awareness of how my moods change and why my anxiety peaks, but knowing what to do about it feels like the missing piece.
And I wonder if looking at what Im eating could be this missing piece. Were starting to understand just how much our diet affects not only mood but our mental health. So when our bodies experience hormonal and mood changes, there must be tweaks we can make to our diet to support that.
I spoke to nutritionist and asked her what we can eat to help us feel more energised and calm during our period and she offered the following recommendations.
Protein
Ensuring that our blood glucose levels are in balance can help us feel energised and prevent sugar crashes and cravings. Good sources of protein include poultry, fish, eggs, pulses, nuts and seeds.
Wholegrains
Leafy vegetables
Leafy vegetables also contain compounds called indole-3-carbinol which support liver function, important for helping to eliminate ‘old’ hormones and keep hormone levels balanced.
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Consuming A Healthy Diet And Avoiding Certain Food Items Go A Long Way In Managing Cramps And Other Symptoms During Your Period
Periods arent easy. They can cause pain and severe discomfort in many women. Which is why it is important to eat healthily when menstruating. Agrees Dr Rohini Patil, nutritionist and founder of Nutracy Lifestyle, who says, menstruation doesnt hurt itself, but the cramps or other symptoms may be uncomfortable. During this time, girls should take extra care of their diet and sanitation.
This is primarily because an improper diet can result in pain, headache, nausea, diarrhea among many other symptoms. Ahead, the nutritionist has shared a few food items women should eat and also steer away from during period. Take a look and say hello to healthy periods!
When Should I See A Doctor For Heavy Periods
Many women have come to accept heavy bleeding as a normal part of their cycle. This helps explain why over half of women with menorrhagia dont know they have it, or know that heavy periods are treatable. If left untreated, heavy periods can cause other health concerns like anemia, a red blood cell condition that makes it difficult for your organs to get the oxygen they need.
If your period affects your daily life by causing you to miss work or school, cancel social activities or plan your day around bathroom breaks, you might have menorrhagia. Heavy bleeding can cause other physical symptoms that can make you dread getting your period like extreme fatigue, very painful cramps, lightheadedness, anxiety and depression.
We recommend making an appointment with one of our womens health doctors if you experience any of the above symptoms. A doctor will be able to diagnose whats causing your heavy periods and recommend treatment options. If youre not sure whether your period is normal, just ask!
Our womens health doctors at HealthPartners and Park Nicollet are here to answer your questions. Well help you put an end to planning your life around heavy periods.
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