Eating Right During Menstruation: What to Include and Avoid

March 22, 2024

During menstruation, women need to pay extra attention to their health, as it is a period of vulnerability. Today, I will provide a simple introduction on what women can eat during their period.


What to Eat During Menstruation

1. Fish

Fish is rich in nutrients and low in fat, making it a preferred meat choice for many people trying to lose weight.

Fish can help with digestion, diuresis, heat-clearing, detoxification, reducing swelling, promoting lactation, and relieving cough and breathlessness. It has therapeutic effects on symptoms such as abdominal distension, bloating, blocked milk ducts, oliguria, and edema. Eating fish during menstruation can alleviate menstrual pain to a certain extent.

2. Fig

Figs have detoxifying and anti-inflammatory effects, and they can also clear heat and promote salivation, invigorate the spleen, and stimulate the appetite. They can be used to treat conditions such as poor appetite, indigestion, intestinal heat constipation, sore throat, and insufficient milk production. Eating figs during menstruation can not only supplement nutrients but also alleviate symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.


3. Beef

Beef is rich in nutrients and has excellent health benefits. Regular consumption of beef can invigorate the spleen and stomach, nourish the qi and blood, and strengthen the bones and tendons. It is very suitable for people with weak spleen and stomach and insufficient qi and blood. Beef also has the functions of relieving thirst, stopping diarrhea, relieving lumbar and knee pain, and reducing edema. Eating beef during menstruation can help replenish blood and qi and improve sleep quality during the period.

4. Lamb

Lamb also contains abundant zinc, which can help reduce acne and is very suitable for consumption during menstruation.

Dietary Considerations During Menstruation

1. Tea

Women lose a large amount of iron after menstruation and should consume more iron. However, tea contains more than 30% tannic acid, which easily combines with iron ions in the intestines, forming precipitates and hindering the absorption of iron ions by the intestinal mucosa. It can cause breast tenderness and also depletes the body's stored vitamin B and disrupts carbohydrate metabolism.


2. Caffeinated Beverages

Caffeinated beverages can cause breast tenderness, anxiety, irritability, and mood swings. They also deplete the body's stored vitamin B and disrupt carbohydrate metabolism.

3. Alcohol

Alcohol depletes the body's vitamin B and minerals. Drinking alcohol excessively can disrupt carbohydrate metabolism, produce excessive emotional hormones, and cause early or excessive menstrual flow.

4. Cold Drinks

People with cold-type menstrual disorders should avoid drinking cold beverages.

5. Carbonated Drinks

Many women who like to drink carbonated beverages may experience fatigue, weakness, and low spirits during menstruation, which are signs of iron deficiency. Carbonated drinks and other beverages mostly contain phosphates, which can react with iron in the body and make it difficult for the body to absorb iron.

Can Women Wash Their Hair During Menstruation?

"Reducing the frequency of hair washing during menstruation is correct." During menstruation, due to special physiological changes, the body is relatively in a state of deficiency of qi and blood, and the resistance is weakened. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the head is the meeting point of yang. During menstruation, when qi and blood are insufficient, the blood supply to the brain is relatively insufficient, and the head is more susceptible to wind and cold. The stimulation of washing hair with hot or cold water can cause symptoms such as headache and dizziness, which are manifestations of insufficient blood supply to the brain and vascular spasm, known as "head wind." Therefore, it is advisable to avoid washing hair during menstruation as much as possible.

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