Period Peace
Slice helps you survive that time of the month
Do you get the urge to run people over or give everyone a piece of your mind every time you’re on your period? Read Slice’s tips to having a happy(ish) period and you will never dread Aunt Flow’s visit again.
Stress-Free Zone
One factor that can lead to a painful period is emotional stress. So when you’re stressed out about your period, it can be a hard battle to win. However, taking steps toward decreasing stress in your life can help. Try walking outside in the afternoon and make sure you get the chance to relax during the weekend and take regular vacations.
Yoga Relief
Light yoga can help ease menstrual cramps. Poses that require you to move forward and have something pressed against your belly can be comforting. Deep breathing and backbends using belts or blankets might also help ease the pain. Other milder forms of exercises such as going on a 20-30 minute long walk can also increase the chemicals in your brain that are responsible for mood and energy.
Food Fight
Face it, when it’s period time, you need all the help you can get. Nutrients are some of your best allies when it comes to getting rid of the pain. Give cramps the cold shoulder with Niacin, otherwise also known as Vitamin B3. Where can you find it? It’s in some of your favourite foods, like chicken breast, tuna, turkey breast as well as Crimini mushrooms. In fact, Niacin reduced cramps in 87.5 percent of women in clinical trials. Other cramp-fighting nutrients? Vitamin E (sunflowers seeds, almonds and blueberries) and Calcium (yogurt and spinach). Foods to avoid are tea, coffee, anything containing sugar or artificial flavouring as well as red meat, refined carbohydrates, cheese and chocolate. Craving sweets? Opt for honey-sweetened warm water instead.
Sweeten The Pill
When it comes to menstrual cramps, oral contraceptives can be exactly what the doctor ordered. The reason they work is because they lower the formation of menstrual tissue, therefore decreasing the pain level of the uterin contraction. With regular use without any placebos, they can block out menstrual periods completely, sparing you those dreaded cramps. Other non-prescription alternatives are Advil, Midol, Motrin or Aspirin.
Cramping Your Style
The younger you are, the more likely it is that you’re suffering from menstrual cramps. Although an estimated 50 percent of women are believed to go through the dreaded experience every month, approximately 90 percent of young girls have cramps. So the older we get, the better our period gets as well. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
Taking Care Of (Your) Business
Since your body is better at fighting pain when you’re well-rested, make sure you get adequate sleep. It’s a good idea to rest the first couple of days of your period, instead of doing activities that require you to use a lot of energy. Try soaking in a warm bath or using a heating pad on your abdomen to alleviate the pain. Other alternatives such as massages, yoga and meditation will also help and will make menstrual cramps a distant memory.
Written by: Samra Habib