Things not to eat during your period. Women's resistance is weak and their constitution is poor during their menstrual period, making them very susceptible to illness. Women during this time need extra care. So what should women eat during their period?
Foods to avoid during your period
1. Eating red dates during your period will get you into trouble
If you want to be healthy, eat three red dates every day. The affordable and nutritious red date is a famous "weapon" for nourishing the blood, and many women eat it as a snack. There are even reports abroad that for some patients who are particularly weak, eating red dates regularly can speed up their recovery three times faster than patients taking vitamin supplements.
Eating red dates is generally a good thing. Even the "Compendium of Materia Medica" says: red dates govern abdominal qi, balance stomach qi, open the nine orifices and help the twelve meridians; they supplement qi, body fluids, and deficiencies within the body; they harmonize with other medicines, nourish the blood, lower blood pressure, and nourish the kidneys and brain. However, this seemingly universally suitable red date has two groups of people who should not eat it during special times—women who often experience bloating and those who are prone to edema should avoid it during their period.
The first group, women who are prone to bloating, should not eat red dates during their period because it can generate dampness and stagnation, worsening bloating. Women who often experience puffy eyes or swollen feet, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, show signs of heavy internal dampness. These women, not just during their period, are generally not suited to eating red dates often because red dates are sweet, and excessive consumption can easily lead to phlegm and dampness. When water and dampness accumulate in the body, the edema will become more severe.
2. During your period, you must avoid three types of medication
The menstrual period is when a woman's immune system is most vulnerable. During this time, the diet should be light, the daily routine should be regular, and exposure to cold should be avoided. It should also be reminded that the following three types of medications should be avoided during menstruation.
Anticoagulants or Hemostatic Drugs
Antiplatelet drugs and anticoagulants like aspirin can easily increase menstrual flow.
Hormonal Drugs
Hormonal drugs affect the endocrine system. Taking them during menstruation can easily cause abnormalities in the menstrual cycle, duration, and flow. Moreover, the side effects of hormonal drugs can not only occur during the menstrual period but may also affect other times. Therefore, hormonal drugs should not be used during menstruation.
Laxatives
If you take laxatives during your period, although they may temporarily relieve constipation, they can cause problems like bloating, abdominal pain, and back pain. Therefore, to prevent constipation during your period, it is important to eat more fruits and vegetables regularly, rather than relying solely on medication. For severe cases, you can drink a glass of concentrated honey water in the morning.
In addition, although a woman's body is relatively fragile and sensitive during her period and many medications cannot be used, the uterine blood vessels are engorged at this time. If systemic medication is used, a high local blood drug concentration can be achieved, making it a good opportunity to treat chronic pelvic inflammatory disease or irregular menstruation. For example, under a doctor's guidance, taking Qinlian Siwu Decoction (15g each of Chuanxiong, Danggui, Baishaoyao, and Shengdihuang; 7.5g each of Huangqin and Huanglian; grind the above herbs into coarse pieces, decoct in water, and take on an empty stomach) starting 4-5 days before menstruation, drinking it continuously for 10 days each time for 2-3 menstrual cycles, can achieve a good regulatory effect on the menstrual cycle.
3. These fruits are not suitable to eat during your period
Cold-natured Fruits
In fact, fruits also have "temperaments." Cold-natured fruits are really not suitable for consumption during menstruation. 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 first hinder digestion and secondly easily damage the body's yang energy, leading to the generation of internal cold. Cold nature is congealing, which can impede the smooth flow of menstrual blood, causing too little blood flow and even menstrual cramps.
Examples
The typical example of a cold-natured fruit is watermelon. Although watermelon contains a lot of water, various amino acids, and sugar, and has the effects of clearing heat and relieving summer heat, as well as being refreshing and quenching thirst, watermelon 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.
In addition to watermelon, fruits that women should not eat during their period also include: muskmelon, pomelo, persimmon, kiwi fruit, starfruit, mulberry, banana, mango, pear, tangerine, monk fruit, strawberry, etc.