Ever thought about if the change of seasons could have an impact on your menstrual cycle? Not only does the colder weather bring along challenges for you immune and nervous system but it also has an impact on your period. And in this article below written by a naturopath in Ballarat, let us learn effective ways how to properly manage menstrual health in winter season.
The changes in our lifestyle – such as more time indoors and less physical activity – have an impact on both physical and mental health. The lack of sunlight can also lead to hormonal changes.
Changes to Your Period
Some of the changes that might occur during your period in the cold of winter include:
- Worsening or more severe PMS due to lack of vitamin D and calcium. The lack of sunlight and low vitamin D can also lead to people feeling more melancholy.
- Cold encourages blood vessels to constrict, reducing how much blood can flow – this leads to periods feeling more painful than normal.
- Limited sunlight also impacts your hormones, including the thyroid. If your thyroid slows so does your metabolism, which can change the length of your period cycle. Your body will generally balance the hormones impacted by this over 1-2 months.
- Lower levels of sunlight reduce hormone secretion and thus ovulation frequency.
Working with Winter
You’ve probably learnt a lot of tips and tricks over the years that work for you to help ease your period symptoms. Here are some that you might find particularly useful this winter:
- Using heat, like a heating pad or bath, to keep blood vessels from constricting.
- Avoid foods that might cause bloating to help reduce the risk of cramping.
- Keeping active to support blood flow.
- Eating or drinking foods and herbs with anti-inflammatory properties such as turmeric.
- Staying hydrated and drinking hot tea – especially herbal teas that are anti-inflammatory.
- Supporting menstrual health by eating a diet rich in magnesium and B vitamins.
Understanding Winter
Knowing that there are changes our body goes through as we enter winter can help us to understand how to help support our menstrual cycle. Understanding how our body changes allows us to take steps to help support optimal menstrual health. Which can help reduce the toll that winter has on your everyday life.
Have a chat with our naturopaths in Ballarat and Bendigo here for a more personalised approach regarding your menstrual health. Or, you can also check these articles regarding menstruation, pregnancy-related, and women’s health issues.
