The menstrual period is a very special time, and the smooth discharge of menstrual blood is directly related to the body's future health. "The flow of menstrual water should be treated with warmth, not cold; cold will cause the blood to stagnate, preventing the expulsion of turbid wastes, leading to issues like leucorrhea, abdominal masses, and distension." This means that during menstruation, women must avoid cold things and focus on nourishing the body with warming foods.
However, many women today, relying on their strong constitutions, are not cautious about their diet at all, consuming cold drinks and icy foods without a second thought. They don't realize that offending the body's balance can start as minor as an autumn hair, but when it manifests as illness, it can be as heavy as a mountain. Over time, the body will surely face consequences.
Therefore, during this time, women must pay close attention to their diet. Besides avoiding certain foods, it's also important to supplement with adequate nutrition.
The main dietary taboos for women during their menstrual period are as follows:
1. Minimize the intake of cold-natured foods.
These foods often have properties for clearing heat and detoxifying, nourishing yin, and reducing fire, such as pears, bananas, watermelon, and bitter melon. They should be avoided or consumed in limited amounts during menstruation, as they can easily cause symptoms like dysmenorrhea and irregular periods.
2. Avoid irritating foods during menstruation.
Ladies who love spicy food should take note. Spicy and irritating foods like cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, cloves, and black pepper should not be eaten during menstruation because they have blood-activating properties, which can easily lead to dysmenorrhea and excessive bleeding. So, for those who love boiled fish and spicy hot pot, it's better to wait a few days.
3. Avoid eating foods that are too hot and too cold at the same time, as this creates a large temperature difference.
It's best to avoid consuming foods that are extremely hot and extremely cold in the same meal, as this creates a significant temperature shock. For example, eating ice cream right after a hot pot or barbecue is a very bad habit. Do not irritate the uterus, as it is very sensitive at this time.
4. Eat fewer blood-activating foods, especially in the later part of the menstrual period.
Another point to note is that during menstruation, especially in the later phase, one should eat fewer blood-activating foods. These include rapeseed, peaches, crab, alcohol, peach kernels, onion, Chinese yam, garlic, scallion, ginger, sweet potato, cauliflower, mushrooms, grapes, lemon, pineapple, grapefruit, olive, hawthorn, and wood ear mushrooms. This is because our goal is to allow the uterus to heal normally, not to have continuous bleeding.
Besides paying attention to diet, external self-care is also crucial for menstrual health! We all know that a common characteristic of women during their period is drowsiness. Moderate exercise not only boosts the immune system but also aids in weight loss. At this time, fat is redistributed. If we can make good use of this favorable window, we can not only successfully lose weight but also achieve an S-shaped figure. So, office ladies, don't just sit still in your chair because you feel tired during your period. Instead of letting prolonged inactivity lead to a sore lower back and poor circulation of vital energy and blood, it's better to stretch your arms, kick your legs, twist your waist, and walk around more.