Taylor-LeighThe past few weeks of my intuitive eating journey seem to have been dominated by my menstrual cycle. If you are a menstruating human you know exactly what I am talking about, but even if you are not, you may be able to relate to what I am saying about attuning to your body among your fluctuating mood and energy levels.
In my previous intuitive eating reflection, I talked about eating in the midst of anxiety. Navigating my eating and relationship with food around my period is in some ways similar. My main takeaway over the past few weeks has been that, while intuitive eating is about making peace with food and forming an attuned relationship with our bodies, it is not an isolated experience. Meaning it is intertwined into our lives, with every emotion and environmental factor thrown into the mix. Whether we eat for a health or ethical consideration, whether we are under stress, or going through an especially difficult (or happy!) time, intuitive eating can still be practiced, and in fact may be more important during these times.
Now back to the moon cycle stuff.
I’ve gone through periods in my life (no pun intended) where my cycle has been heaven sent and simply appeared with no warning signs. Hallelujah!
There’s been other times, like now, where I experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) for 2 weeks beforehand, then I live through my period week, and all seems back to ”normal” for seemingly a few measly days before it all starts back up again. Symptoms like bloating, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and insatiable hunger overwhelm my body for those 2 weeks leading up to my period. And then when mother nature finally arrives, mentally and emotionally it’s like a veil has been lifted and I can see the world clearly again, but I still have the physical symptoms of extreme bloating, digestive distress, and cramping.
My frustration has not been enough to order those period gummy supplements that I keep seeing ads for, but I have been close. I don’t want to have to rely on taking gummies until I reach menopause, and I prefer to take a natural approach. With my certification in plant-based nutrition, not only am I very passionate about how diet affects our bodies and health, now and in the future, but I have seen first-hand the affect of what I eat on my body and mood. But this is not a one-size-fits-all approach. I also know that emotional and mental health affects what we eat! Everything influences everything else, basically.
The past year and a half has been stressful, not only as a society, but within individuals. Personally, as soon as the Covid pandemic broke out, I became a full-time caregiver for my grandmother. The stress of caregiving and having my passion/career goals of dancing and performing arts taking a backseat, has taken quite a toll on me. As a result, my period has never been so “bad” in my life, and my eating patterns have both resulted in rough cycles, and also have been influenced by this stress.
I know for a fact and after much experimentation, that when I eat a whole food, plant-based diet low in fat, that my PMS and period symptoms go down to almost nonexistent. I have a very sensitive digestive system, so I also do not eat gluten.
So where does intuitive eating come in?
The intuitive eating workbook has really challenged my mindset when it comes to my all-or-nothing approach to eating “healthy.” The principles don’t necessarily tell you to eat junk foods, but rather to question what you label as “good,” “bad,” “healthy,” or “unhealthy.” I really like the way it looks at the diet culture of the western world as seen in the media and through individuals everywhere. People go on diets left and right, and while they may lose a few pounds, they eventually gain it back and then some.
Through my intuitive eating journey I’ve really loosened up and have been eating foods I previously deemed “forbidden” for myself, while still staying within my ethical vegan means of course. But as I have noticed some adverse affects on my skin, digestion, and energy levels, I feel like it’s time to reign it back in and start to find balance.
Somewhat ironically, the only “rule” of intuitive eating experts is to say no to food rules. While me saying “low in fats and high in whole foods” may seem like rules, they work best for me to describe the way of eating that works best for me and my body, so I plan to stick to it. After all, the point of intuitive eating is to develop an attuned relationship with your body, which means listening to what fuels it best. Hopefully my next few menstrual cycles will improve with me eating more nutrient dense foods and less processed foods.
But what about all of the intense, insatiable cravings we get on our periods?
I feel that, instead of throwing all of the intuitive eating principles out the window that we’ve been working on, our monthly cycle, or nine month cycle for pregnant people, is a time to be especially mindful.
Our bodies are working harder and using more energy during our cycles, so it’s important to honor our hunger. I find that I reach for rich, yet empty calorie foods that don’t truly satisfy my hunger, so I just end up wanting more. This results in me constantly perusing the kitchen and then feeling lethargic and not wanting to move. Instead, I could have made a very satisfying meal of veggies, starches, whole grains, legumes, & other whole foods that would fill me up volume wise, and feed my cells nutrient wise. Combine that with plenty of water and I’ve got much better digestion and energy levels, resulting in an elevated mood, and the desire to bring movement to my body, which is especially important during my cycle. This is what works for me personally, and differs for each individual.
Seems easier said than done, especially when the cravings hit and we need that food like, right now or we’re gonna blow a gasket. From what I’ve learned, cravings eventually subside if we take a second, breathe, drink some water, and figure out if we need food, or something else like a journal reflection, a quick lap around the neighborhood, or a hug. Cravings can also tell us if we need a specific nutrient, like magnesium if we crave chocolate.
However, if we are craving something because we have forbidden ourselves to have it and we fantasize about all the things we would do once we get our hands on that food, then I would suggest revisiting this post that explains more about the principles surrounding forbidden foods. By reintroducing fear foods back into our lives, they start to lose the power they once held over us, and eventually we can find balance, like I’m working on now.
All in all, intuitive eating around our menstrual cycle, or any other physically or emotionally heightened period is the same as intuitive eating throughout our daily lives. It just may take some extra practice, patience, experimenting, and tuning into our inner selves to navigate. I’m looking forward to my patterns improving over time, and I wish the same for you!
What about you? What have you noticed about intuitive eating on your period?
Hi! Thanks for reading. I’m Taylor-Leigh & I hope that my writing has resonated with you in some way. I’m no intuitive eating expert, just simply sharing my experience along my journey! Besides being a person who eats & writes about it, I’m also a mover, a performing artist, a caregiver, a partner in a blended family, and much more. Hope you stop by again sometime!
Cover photo is curtesy of Unsplash. Last photo of me is by KHPhotos, dance & portrait photography in Richmond, VA.