How to Solve Your Painful Periods by Improving Your Metabolism
Do you want a period that doesn't make you miserable every month? You might have debilitating cramps that leave you bedridden or headaches that make it impossible for your brain to function. There are also cravings, and you're not alone if the chip bag becomes your BFF during that time of the month. It doesn't matter what types of symptoms you experience because they're all indicators that something is disrupting your hormones, and your body could use help! When the body is in balance and has all the resources it needs, you will have regular cycles without unpleasant symptoms. Today I'm sharing why minerals are essential for a symptom-free cycle and easy ways to optimize your hormones.
When I say metabolism, chances are high that you associate it with being fat or skinny, but your metabolic health goes a lot deeper. Your metabolism is made up of all kinds of reactions in your body that take the nutrients from the food you eat and turn them into energy. Your body can take that energy to fuel every process, including your period, which means a healthy metabolism is crucial for hormonal health. If you can't produce enough energy, your body starts conserving resources to prioritize the survival functions of your body, like your heartbeat. Your period will be one of the last priorities on the list because if your body is stressed about keeping you alive, it's probably not going to invest its limited resources in the process of creating a second human. Remember, your body is smart.
An essential piece to a thriving metabolism is minerals. You see, the food you eat provides the raw ingredients for energy production, but minerals are what help convert those ingredients into a masterpiece (aka ATP) which is your body's energy currency. You can't live without minerals, and despite how essential they are to health, they often get overlooked, especially when it comes to your hormones. Take period cramps, for example, which are a form of excessive muscle contraction. Guess what helps to relieve cramps by causing muscles to relax? Magnesium! So if you experience painful cramps during your cycle, you may be deficient in magnesium. If you get regular headaches, that could indicate a copper imbalance. Do you struggle with weight? You might have slower thyroid activity which is affected by calcium and potassium. I could go on connecting more of your symptoms to potential mineral imbalances, but I think you get the point. Minerals could be the missing link for your imbalanced hormones.
Focusing on your mineral status will naturally benefit your metabolism. The best way to balance your minerals is to get them through food. Unlike vitamins, your body can't make minerals, which means you have to eat them. There are so many foods that are rich in nutrients and also taste delicious. The easiest way to up your mineral intake is to just eat real food. What is real food? I like the two-question test . . . did it come from the ground or have a mother? If the answer is yes to either of those things, then it's a winner.
Here are some ideas of mineral-rich foods:
Fruit: oranges, grapefruit, blueberries, cherries
Root vegetables: potatoes, carrots, beets
Animal protein: beef, chicken, eggs, turkey
Seafood: cod, salmon, shrimp, oysters
Dairy: cottage cheese, raw milk, yogurt
Organ meats: liver, heart
Eating healthy food doesn't have to be a complicated or glamorous meal. When you go to build your plate, just think of protein, carbs, and fat. In many cases, especially with animal proteins, the protein and fat come together like in salmon or eggs. So just add some carbs like a piece of fruit or root veggie and call it a day. You will have a balanced and nourishing meal by adding those three things together.
Let's give you some practical examples to get started with a day of mineral-rich eating. For breakfast, you might have some eggs, an orange, and coffee with raw milk. At lunch you might have a "Chipotle" style meal with rice, shredded chicken, avocado, salsa, and cheese. As an afternoon snack you might whip up a yogurt bowl with greek yogurt, blueberries, and some granola. Dinner could be grilled salmon, roasted potatoes, and green beans. If you're feeling fancy, you could have some dark chocolate for dessert, which will also get you some magnesium and copper.
Are you ready for a better period? Now that you know the importance of a healthy metabolism and have some practical ideas for incorporating more minerals to support your metabolic health, you are on your way to restoring your metabolic health. If you want to dive deeper and address your symptomatic periods, consider lab testing to uncover what's going on in your body. Hair tissue mineral analysis and blood testing are my favorite tools to assess your hormonal and metabolic health. Together they provide insights that allow me to create a targeted plan for you to balance your hormones and finally ditch PMS.
Learn more about getting to the root of your hormonal imbalances by scheduling a time to connect here.