How to Arrange Diet during Menstruation
When women are engaged in skincare and beauty diet, they must consider their own physiological conditions in order to arrange their diet. The most obvious physiological characteristic of women is "menstruation." The arrival and cessation of menstruation, like the waxing and waning of the moon, the ebb and flow of tides, follow a natural rhythm. It is a physiological regulation of female sexual function. The menstrual period is usually 3-7 days long. In general, women discharge about 30-50 milliliters of menstrual blood each time.
Therefore, when women engage in skincare and health diet, they must take into account the physiological changes during the menstrual cycle and the discharge of menstrual blood. One of the principles is to have a "cycle diet" that coincides with the changes in the menstrual cycle. Many women experience discomfort symptoms a few days before the onset of menstruation (premenstrual period), such as depression, anxiety, emotional tension, loss of appetite, irritability, restlessness, and fatigue. It is generally believed that this is related to the imbalance of estrogen and progesterone in the body.
At this time, women should choose foods that are beneficial for skincare, can tonify qi, regulate liver function, and improve mood, such as cabbage, grapefruit, lean pork, celery, glutinous rice, duck eggs, stir-fried Atractylodes, Chinese yam, Coix seed, lily, luffa, winter melon, kelp, sea cucumber, carrots, white radish, walnuts, black fungus, mushrooms, etc.
During menstruation, there may be symptoms of poor appetite, lower back pain, and fatigue. At this time, it is advisable to choose foods that are beneficial for skincare and also help with the "flow of menstrual blood." Foods that can be chosen include lamb, chicken, red dates, tofu skin, apples, coix seed, beef, milk, eggs, brown sugar, motherwort, angelica, cooked rehmannia, peach blossom, etc.
Traditional medical experts say, "During the flow of menstrual blood, use heat and avoid cold. If cold is used, it will stop the flow of blood, causing impurities to remain and causing problems such as irregular menstruation and urinary difficulties." Therefore, during the menstrual period, many foods that are good for skincare under normal circumstances should be avoided, such as pears, bananas, water chestnuts, black fungus, stone flowers, water caltrops, winter melon, mustard greens, black fungus, rabbit meat, hemp seeds, etc.
Because of this, women lose a portion of their blood during menstruation. The main components of blood are plasma proteins and inorganic salts such as potassium, iron, calcium, and magnesium. In other words, each menstrual cycle will result in a loss of protein and inorganic salts. Therefore, in principle, during the 1-5 days after menstruation (postmenstrual period), protein, minerals, and other nutrients should be supplemented, as well as some blood tonic medicines.
During this period, foods and traditional Chinese medicine that are beneficial for skincare and have the effects of blood tonification and blood circulation can be chosen, such as milk, eggs, pigeon eggs, quail eggs, beef, lamb, pig pancreas, Chinese yam, spinach, cherries, longan meat, lychee meat, carrots, apples, angelica, safflower, peach blossom, cooked rehmannia, Chinese yam, etc. These foods not only help with skincare and beauty, but also nourish the blood and promote health. Isn't it a win-win situation?!
