Periods are like Mercury retrogrades for the body – they are a stage when a lot of bad stuff happens, and you can add sleeplessness to the list. Because, let’s face it, due to the constant pain, our time of the month may also make it difficult for us to get enough rest. As if it needed to be any more complicated.
I stumbled upon an article by Dr. Anna Cabeca, triple-board certified OB-GYN and author of MenuPause: Five Unique Eating Plans to Break Through Your Weight Loss Plateau and Improve Mood, Sleep, and Hot Flashes. She said: ‘’Period insomnia is more common during the luteal phase. The luteal phase occurs between ovulation and menstruation and is connected with PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) and PMDD (Premenstrual Dysfunction) (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder)”.
Basically, if you have one of these, you are more likely to experience sleeplessness throughout your cycle. Dr. Cabeca says that another aspect is that our bodies produce less melatonin during the luteal phase. Another possibility, she suggests, is a lack of progesterone production. “Women who have a progesterone shortage (and, by extension, a rise in cortisol) during the luteal phase are more prone to experience this.” Progesterone is a natural sedative, while cortisol depletes progesterone levels.
As a result, everything we can do to boost our body’s natural progesterone synthesis, lower cortisol levels, and support our adrenal glands, will assist with this symptomatology. She suggests combining the adaptogen maca (a key element in her organic superfood drink Mighty Maca Plus) with vitamins C and B. “I would also include magnesium, a natural muscle relaxant, and a melatonin tablet,” Dr. Cabeca explains.
Managing PMS symptoms in general might also aid in sleep improvement. During the luteal phase, eating foods like oats, beans, lentils, and salmon, fulfilling cravings with high-fiber carbohydrates instead of processed ones, and drinking plenty of water can all help with resting. For more, read this: The Dangers Of ‘Emotional Eating’ – Which You Could Be Doing Right Now!
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