Despite years of child bearing and all the fun and games that go with it, I don’t think anything quite prepared me for the big changes my body would go through once I hit a perimenopausal stage of life.
What used to be a time of the month to simply get my big girl pants on (literally) and get on with life with little inconvenience has suddenly become a huge part of the month that I dread – if only I knew which part of the month it would now strike. You hear me, right mamas?
Energy levels feel lower and we know that we need to take care of our bodies. Never have I been more fond of tea than when my body is shouting at me to slow down and feed it something that it really needs – rather than my usual vices.
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The cause of period cramps
Without getting into all the gory medical details, I think it’s important for us to quickly step back to a little bit of high school biology 101 to remember why we get these horrible cramps and bloated feeling.
- Dysmenorrhea is the scientific name for that awful lower body pain we refer to as period pain or menstrual cramps. 40-70% of women are regularly affected with primary dysmenorrhea, with 10% of women describing their symptoms as severe. (source)
- Secondary dysmenorrhea is associated with later onset menstrual pain resulting from anatomic or macroscopic pelvic pathology – i.e. issues with your reproductive organs. It’s most commonly observed in women over 30+.
- Menstrual cramps occur when the uterus contracts to expel the excess blood and tissue that builds up in the second half of the menstrual cycle. A rise in prostaglandin levels can cause diarrhea and cramping.
- Periods are not only uncomfortable, but drain us of energy too. And as we know (but yes, often forget or dismiss down the priority order) our bodies need energizing with the right fuel. If you’re reading this – you probably know just how debilitating it can be and are seeking out some home remedies to alleviate your discomfort.
The most obvious thing we need to drink, even more than normal, is WATER. Lemon water is a great way to fuel your body at any time. But we all want more than just water, right?