The menstrual period is a special time for women. During this time, a woman's endocrine environment changes, and her physical condition declines slightly, making her more prone to irritability over small matters. So, what fruits are good for women to eat during their period?
Can you eat fruit during your period?
Regularly eating fruit during menstruation can help prevent constipation and avoid pelvic congestion. Fruits also have "natures." Cold fruits are not very suitable for consumption during menstruation, as they can easily lead to internal coldness, causing poor circulation of menstrual blood. Women can eat warm and neutral-natured fruits, which not only replenish fluids but also provide vitamins and minerals, alleviating symptoms like poor appetite, lower back pain, and fatigue during the period.
Fruits you can eat during your period
Fruits have a great regulatory effect on the female body, and women can also appropriately consume some beneficial fruits during their menstrual period. Let's see which fruits you can eat!
1. Apple
Apples contain unique malic acid, which can accelerate metabolism and reduce fat in the lower body. Moreover, their calcium content is richer than other fruits, which can reduce the salt that causes lower body bloating.
2. Papaya
Papaya contains a unique proteolytic enzyme that can break down fat accumulated in the lower body from eating meat. Additionally, the pectin in papaya flesh is an excellent intestinal cleanser, which can reduce waste accumulation in the lower body.
3. Grapefruit
Grapefruit is well-known for being extremely low in calories, so eating more won't make you fat. But it turns out it is also rich in potassium, which helps reduce fat and water accumulation in the lower body.
4. Kiwi
Besides its high vitamin C content, kiwi is also very rich in fiber, which can increase the rate of fat breakdown and prevent excessive fat accumulation in the legs.
5. Tomato
Eating fresh tomatoes can promote urination and relieve leg fatigue, reducing the problem of edema. The effect is even better if eaten raw.
6. Citrus
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that citrus has the effects of regulating qi and unblocking meridians. Therefore, it is recommended that women consume an appropriate amount during their period, which is more conducive to the discharge of menstrual blood.
7. Guava
Women can choose guava as a fruit after lunch, as it not only replenishes vitamin C but can also effectively relieve menstrual edema.
Fruits to avoid during your period
Generally, women should try to avoid consuming cold and raw foods during their menstrual period. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that blood flows when it is warm and stagnates when it is cold. Eating raw and cold foods during menstruation can, firstly, hinder digestion, and secondly, easily damage the body's yang energy, leading to internal coldness. The cold nature can cause poor circulation of menstrual blood, resulting in too little menstrual flow, and even dysmenorrhea.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that a woman's menstrual blood is the shedding of the uterine lining, discharged through uterine contractions. When cold foods are eaten, the temperature of the digestive tract drops, affecting uterine contractions and making it harder for menstrual blood to be discharged. This leads to the formation of blood clots. The uterus then has to increase the force of contractions to expel the clots, which is a possible cause of menstrual cramps from eating cold foods.
The typical example of a cold-natured fruit is watermelon. Although watermelon contains a large amount of water, various amino acids, and sugars, and has the effects of clearing heat and relieving summer heat, it is cold and slippery in nature, also known as the "cold melon." Even healthy people should not eat it in excess, and women during their period should be especially cautious. Besides watermelon, other cold-natured fruits that women should try to eat less of during their period include muskmelon, persimmon, kiwi, starfruit, mulberry, mango, and monk fruit.
Benefits of eating fruit during your period
Targeting different symptoms that women may experience during their menstrual period, they can choose different fruits to eat.
1. Relieving menstrual cramps
Dysmenorrhea occurs during and around the menstrual period, with pain in the lower abdomen or waist, and sometimes even pain radiating to the lower back. It recurs with each menstrual cycle. In severe cases, it can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, cold sweats, cold limbs, and even faintness, affecting work and life. Fruits like jujubes and apples are rich in vitamin C, easily absorbed glucose, and abundant minerals like calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron. After consuming these fruits during their period, women can effectively synthesize and secrete a substance that alleviates pain, thereby reducing the symptoms of dysmenorrhea.
2. Regulating an early or delayed period, and improving endocrine disorders
Menstrual irregularity is mainly manifested in changes in the cycle and flow, and it is the most common menstrual reaction for women. It's not hard to see which fruits are good for women with this condition. Longan, lotus seed, walnut, and red jujube are rich in carotene, vitamin E, etc., and have been used since ancient times for women's menstrual irregularities. They have strong sedative effects, help with sleep, and have a significant effect on neurasthenia and irritability during the period.
3. Blood-enriching effect
Fruits like red jujubes and lychees contain relatively rich iron, various vitamins, and amino acids. Iron is a basic trace element for making hemoglobin and is easily digested and absorbed by the body. Regular consumption can help alleviate anemia and physical weakness caused by excessive menstrual blood loss.
4. Skincare
The menstrual period is when women are most prone to aging, so preventing skin aging is essential. For women who want to take care of their skin, what fruits are good to eat during their period? Strawberries, cherry tomatoes, etc., are rich in nutrients like vitamin C, E, folic acid, and trace elements. The amino acids they contain can help the body produce hormones, inhibit capillary contraction, and slow down aging. Fruits like kiwi are rich in antioxidants that can nourish the skin during the period.
Fruits you can eat after your period
Bananas are cold-natured fruits, but they can be eaten after the menstrual period. Although bananas are high in calories, they are low in fat and rich in potassium. They are filling and low-fat, which can reduce fat accumulation in the lower body, making them an ideal food for weight loss.
Dietary considerations during the menstrual period
1. A week before the onset of menstruation, the diet should be light, easily digestible, and nutritious. You can eat more high-protein foods such as beans and fish, and increase the intake of green leafy vegetables and fruits. Also, drink plenty of water to keep the bowels regular and reduce pelvic congestion.
2. At the beginning of menstruation, women often experience lower back pain and loss of appetite. In this case, you might as well eat more appetizing and easily digestible foods, such as jujubes, noodles, and coix seed porridge.
3. During the menstrual period, eat nutritious and easily digestible foods to facilitate the replenishment of nutrients. Drink plenty of water and eat more vegetables to keep the bowels regular, which can also reduce pelvic congestion.
4. A certain amount of blood is lost during the menstrual period. Therefore, in the later part of the period, it is necessary to supplement more foods containing protein and iron, potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium, such as meat, animal liver, eggs, and milk.