Dietary precautions during menstrual period

There is no unified "absolute fasting list" across the Internet during menstruation. There is only one core criterion for judging all dietary taboos - whether you feel uncomfortable after eating. If you usually have no reaction when drinking iced coffee, and your aunt doesn’t feel any pain or fall after drinking it, you don’t have to eat it at all. If you eat something cold and your stomach upsets, and if you touch ice during your menstrual period, it hurts so much that you roll over, then you can consciously take a detour during this period, and you don’t have to compete with your body.

Speaking of which, I remembered what happened to my cousin last week. She came to her aunt's house and gnawed on a mango that had just been taken out of the refrigerator. Her mother chased her and scolded her for half a street. She said that the cold would cause blood clots and blood stasis, and that mangoes would stop bleeding and make menstrual flow less and less clear. As a result, her menstrual flow was a little more than usual that day, and she didn't even have the usual bloating in her lower abdomen. Nothing happened. Her mother herself was even more exaggerated when she was young. In winter, even touching mineral water at room temperature would hurt her so much that she would have to lie down for a long time. You said that this person's body is so different from other people's, where did you get such a universal taboo list?

Regarding the current opinions on menstrual diet, in fact, the perspectives of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine are indeed different. There is no need to argue about right or wrong, just what suits you. Western medicine does not actually have clear dietary taboos during menstruation. The main reason is that the level of prostaglandins in the body increases during menstruation, which not only causes uterine contractions and causes dysmenorrhea, but also makes the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract much more sensitive than usual. People who have irritable bowels, or have poor tolerance to cold stimulation or caffeine may easily aggravate the symptoms of diarrhea and dysmenorrhea after eating. It is definitely recommended to avoid this situation. But if you tolerate it well, like me, who always orders a chocolate sundae the next day every time I come to visit my aunt, if I eat it without pain or stomach upset, and can suppress most of the irritability during menstruation, then I can eat whatever I want, and there is no need to hold it in and make myself feel bad.

In fact, many people have personally tested the theory of traditional Chinese medicine to be effective. After all, traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the leakage of qi and blood during menstruation, and the body is generally in a weak state. Cold and cold foods can easily stagnate qi and blood, leading to blood stasis, dysmenorrhea, increased blood clots, and procrastination during menstruation. My body is not clear. Many friends with cold body have verified that their hands and feet are usually not warm at all. If I drink a cup of iced milk tea before coming to my aunt, I will be so painful that I break into a cold sweat that day, and drinking ginger and jujube tea for three days will not relieve my pain. If you insist on eating ice in this situation, you are really asking for trouble.

Those mythical menstrual taboos are even more outrageous. For example, you can’t eat mangoes to stop bleeding? It’s true that if a rumor is spread ten thousand times, some people will believe it. Mangoes do contain vitamin K, which helps blood coagulation, but the content is pitifully low. Even if you eat three kilograms of mangoes in one meal, the amount you consume will not affect your menstrual flow. Unless you are allergic to mangoes, you cannot eat them at any time. It has nothing to do with menstruation. Also, if you say you can’t eat spicy food, go to the Sichuan and Chongqing areas and ask, is it true that local girls eat boiled vegetables every meal when they come to visit their aunt? My best friend from Chongqing still invites me to eat spicy butter hot pot. She said that after eating it, she feels warm all over and her menstrual cramps are relieved by half. It’s just that if you eat spicy food, you are prone to stomach burns and constipation. If you have a sensitive stomach during menstruation, you may feel even more uncomfortable, so just avoid it.

Of course, this does not mean that there are absolutely no taboos. There are a few situations where we are advised to pay more attention to avoid making yourself uncomfortable. For example, if you are prone to edema during menstruation, and even wearing socks can make a circle of marks, then you should avoid eating high-salt foods during this period, such as pickles, heavy takeaways, instant noodles, etc. The last time I came to visit my aunt, I showed off two boxes of braised duck wings. The next day, my face was swollen like a steamed bun, and I couldn’t help but wear a mask. It was really painful. Also, those who are prone to headaches, insomnia, and extreme mood swings during menstruation should drink less strong coffee and tea. Caffeine will aggravate nervous excitement. It is easy to sleep poorly during menstruation. Drinking it will make you keep your eyes open until dawn, which is not a problem. If you have a heavy menstrual flow, try not to touch alcohol during this period. Alcohol will dilate blood vessels, which may cause more menstrual flow. In severe cases, you may experience dizziness and anemia. You really need to pay attention to this.

I have followed the rules myself for so many years, and I really feel that there is no need to check the list of taboos on the Internet one by one. Your body is more accurate than what all bloggers say. Auntie is already irritable enough. If she wants to eat cold food, she will be told "you will be in pain in the future". If she wants to eat spicy food, she will be told that "it is not good for the body". Why bother? Of course, if you have severe dysmenorrhea or irregular menstruation, it’s best to follow your doctor’s advice and don’t force yourself to eat things that make you feel uncomfortable. After all, the most important thing is to spend your menstrual period comfortably.