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    PMS Hacks for Cramps, Cravings and More

    Feb 8, 2018 • Hormones, Wellness & Lifestyle

     PMS Hacks for Cramps, Cravings and More. Vegan, Plant Based Lifestyle hacks for the luteal phase when we tend to experience PMS due to micronutrient deficiencies and hormone imbalance.

    PMS. We’ve all been there. 

    • when you’re moody, irritable and can’t be bothered
    • when all you want is chocolate
    • when you cry over the silliest of things
    • when you’re bloated
    • when your pants are too tight
    • when you have debilitating cramps and fatigue
    • when going to the gym sounds like pure torture

    Ugh, I know. AWFUL right? One would think the symptoms are totally normal though… that suffering is the price to pay for being a woman. We’re conditioned to believe our hormones are too wild to be tamed and our bodies are flawed. When did we become so disconnected? Perhaps in our younger years after first experiences with PMS and irregular cycles? Or after society clumped all things period related under one dark umbrella of misery? 

    Ladies, it doesn’t have to be this way. It doesn’t have to be miserable. You can live a PMS-free life.

    The second half of your cycle (luteal and menstrual) is meant for slowing down and turning inward, when your intuition is crystal clear. To be honest, the luteal phase is my favorite phase because it’s when I get the answers I’ve been looking for and gain clarity. It’s when I get to do yummy yoga and take naps as needed. It’s when I yearn to check things off my list and feel the most productive. Not to mention it involves my favorite warming and comforting foods (that is – if you’re following my ‘Hormone Healing Meal Plan‘!). 

    I no longer dread any phase of my cycle. Maybe I’m not jumping for joy at them (that’s a lie – I LOVE when my skin is extra glowy, plump and clear during ovulation phase), but I honor each one and enjoy the ride. 

    So, because PMS comes out to play during this second half, I’m sharing my top PMS Hacks for Cramps, Cravings and More with you today. If you want to eliminate PMS symptoms completely then check out my plan. Also, check out my other hormone-related blog posts too. Otherwise, these helpful hacks will ease your symptoms and make that time of the month a little less icky. 



    My Top PMS Hacks:

     

    For Bloating and Digestion Issues:

    • Fennel Tea –  the one de-bloat hack that I SWEAR BY! Whenever I’m feeling puffy, bloating or am holding onto water weight, I drink a couple cups of fennel tea throughout the day and no joke, it works like magic. I even wrote an entire blog post dedicated to this tea and am so thankful for it!
    • Magnesium Glycinate: This specific form of magnesium is a MUST for women of all ages! It helps balance the cycle, ease bloating, promotes good sleep/help with insomnia, and calms anxiety. Magnesium is an essential mineral and a true miracle worker for 300+ chemical reactions in the body. I take this at night before bed because it makes me so sleepy. I won’t go a day without taking it.
    • CALM Magnesium Bedtime Tea: A different form of magnesium (citrate form), but also a must for me. This tea is ritual in my nighttime routine as it helps me wind down from the day but also helps with any digestion issues. Read more about how to make it and how much to start out with in this post!
    • Daily Probiotic – Also a must to keep your digestive system happy which will in turn help eliminate bloating. I’m obsessed with Renew Life Extra Care 50 Billion. Take before breakfast, with your morning water.

     

    For Blemishes and/or Oily Skin:

    First off, you want to make sure your liver is effectively cleansing, ridding of toxins, breaking down excess estrogen and filtering out nasties from the environment. The liver plays a very important role in keeping us hormonally balanced and healthy – it has many jobs! Excess estrogen is a central cause of hormone imbalance, PMS and related health issues. So, if the liver is not effectively clearing out excess, it will be eliminated through the next best pathway – the skin!! Hence acne flare ups and oiliness, etc. during peak hormone levels throughout the cycle.

    A sluggish or congested liver could also mean you may be holding onto excess weight and bloat as well. 

    • Make a detoxifying green drink in the blender with kale, cilantro, celery, cucumber, lemon and apple! Blend with water and ice until smooth. Drink this throughout the luteal phase!
    • Eat more roasted root vegetables, steamed kale and spinach, steamed asparagus, broccoli and carrots as well as avocados and apples!
    • Try my homemade Soothing Spirulina or turmeric face mask or this clarifying Blue Tansy mask.
    • Be sure to gently exfoliate to slough away oiliness and dead skin, to prevent more blemishes. Try an enzyme cleansing oil (I’m obsessed with this B Vitamin Enzyme Cleansing Oil) and when my skin is feeling extra oily, I turn to the OSEA Cleansing Mudd because it works like a charm and exfoliates without rough ingredients.

     

    For Cramps and/or Breast Tenderness:

    First, you must check out this post about iodine paired with selenium to eliminate breast tenderness and PMS cramps. Also including more omega 3 fatty acids in your diet will help to rid of painful PMS cramps. Foods like ground flaxseeds, chia seeds and walnuts, Taking a hot epsom salt bath seems to help too, especially when using a fun bath bomb!

     

    For Cravings of All Kinds:

    Crazy cravings are all too familiar for me! First it’s chocolate, then it’s anything salty, then it’s anything sweet and eventually becomes this rollercoaster! Cravings stem from blood sugar imbalance and/or micronutrient deficiencies.

    • If you’re craving chocolate, you may be low in magnesium, which is why I always keep chocolate on hand, obviously. My favorites are from Endangered Species, Hu and Eating Evolved, but the vegan options are endless nowadays.
    • If you’re craving carbs, that stems from blood sugar imbalance and/or B vitamin deficiency, which is why I take a high quality B-complex every morning, and it really does help!
    • If you’re craving carbonated drinks, you may be dehydrated. Drink more water!
    • If you’re craving salty foods, you may need extra minerals. Refined salt is stripped of minerals so it’s important you choose the right kind of salt. Start adding sea salt, sea vegetables (kelp, dulse, etc.) and water rich vegetables to your meals. They are high in the full spectrum of minerals the body needs. 

    PMS Hacks for Cramps, Cravings and More. Vegan, Plant Based Lifestyle hacks for the luteal phase when we tend to experience PMS due to micronutrient deficiencies and hormone imbalance.

    Lastly, Get Chic Period Products – They Help!

    I’m never looking at those boring, neon colored tampons in the same way again.

    Cora created certified organic cotton tampons that look so chic and upscale, they’re almost too pretty to use (also – they sorta look like lipstick). Who knew?! 

    Finally, a company that makes us feel modern and fancy. Cora is for the girl who wants to be #extra, but also looks out for ingredients, especially in her feminine products. I’m obsessed with the packaging and branding too – not that you want to be sharing pictures of your chic tampons on instagram, but Cora kinda really makes me want to share them… they’re so photogenic. My shame is long gone so I just might do it! 

    Every Cora product is made with pure, ethically sourced ingredients. When you buy Cora, you are not only protecting your own health, but also workers? health, human rights, and the environment. Cora offers applicator tampons, applicator-free tampons, period liners and cleansing cloths, all conveniently delivered straight to your door! Purchasing the Cora products allows them to give back to women around the world. 

    PMS Hacks for Cramps, Cravings and More. Vegan, Plant Based Lifestyle hacks for the luteal phase when we tend to experience PMS due to micronutrient deficiencies and hormone imbalance.

    I hope this post helps with your period woes!

    Hopefully, your next cycle won’t be as bad. Be sure to check out my Hormone Healing Guide for a deeper dive into finding to the root cause, eating for your cycle, exercising for your cycle, finding the right supplements and living a healthy, hormonally balanced life for the long term!

     

    xoxo,
    Shannon

    ♥

     

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    SHANNON Leparski

    SHANNON Leparski

    Hi! I'm Shannon, a Certified Hormone Specialist and plant based blogger living in Chicago. I help women heal their bodies bodies from the inside out and balance their hormones naturally through a plant based diet and lifestyle. Let me guide you through it, so you can glow from within and feel the best you've ever felt!

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    SHANNON LEPARSKI / IHP
    yes, being a mama will always be my #1 priority bu yes, being a mama will always be my #1 priority but in that I’ve sort of lost myself.

It’s my own doing too so don’t feel bad for me 😂 because it truly never felt right to leave my girl. We are very attached. Am I crazy? Yes, probably. But I’m okay with that. I realized my baby will be FINE if I go get a professional haircut or a pampering pedicure. Idk what changed but I think it’s the fact that I’m noticing more wrinkles and my hair could use a transformation. It’s greasy, heavy and lacking life. So I’m getting a haircut this week 💇‍♀️ I’m changing to a customized hair care system AND I’m scheduling a hydra facial because my skin desperately needs hydration. My skin, hair and nervous system need some serious self care haha.

Mamas, it may not feel right just yet to prioritize you but the time will come. Just follow your intuition 🖤🖤🖤 you deserve it.

#hairlove #selfcare #mamablogger #momlife
    bottomless king coffee please 🖤 #tiredmama wh bottomless king coffee please 🖤 #tiredmama 

what are you guys up to today?! I’m installing our new shower filter that I can’t wait to share about, running errands, cleaning, thinking about dinner, the usual Sunday things 💗💗💗
    HANDLE NAME CHANGE!! I’ve been wanting to do th HANDLE NAME CHANGE!!

I’ve been wanting to do this for a while as a fresh start with all the changes to my “brand” in the last year. It feels right to just use my name 😀 (fun fact: I haven’t taken my hubbys last name yet because of business paperwork that I’m too lazy to figure out 😅 name changes are complicated) 

@theglowingfridge started out of my love for the plant based lifestyle but so much has changed in the last 9 years and I’ve been itching to update. Nothing else will change and my blog will still remain as is, if you still use my recipes and such. Love you all and thank you for supporting me through all these changes 🤍🤍🤍

#namechange #handlechange #branding
    what I eat for gut health, happy hormones, healthy what I eat for gut health, happy hormones, healthy skin & hair, and to be a patient mama 🖤

When my blood sugar is on a nasty rollercoaster, I’m not the best mama that I know I should be for my girl. I’m more irritable and short. So I prioritize protein, healthy fats and carbs at each meal. This helps me feel balanced and provides energy to play and chase after her all day! I need all the fuel I can get.

- breakfast tacos with pastured eggs
- collagen king coffee ☁️ 
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- my homemade tahini maple cookies (I have a reel with the recipe!!) but I’m truly addicted 🍪 
- always sipping on @gerolsteiner_usa 💧

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    I don’t get ready everyday… But when I do I f I don’t get ready everyday…

But when I do I feel better, duh! And more confident. More productive. Happier in general. Of course I have super lazy days but I try to get myself together because I’m more likely to leave the house, you know mamas? I hate when people ask “why do you get ready if you’re home all day”.. 

I’m sharing different content like this because I feel like it and don’t want to be stuck in a box 😀

#grwm #sahm #selfcare
    I mean if you drink it everyday… It should be o I mean if you drink it everyday…

It should be organic, mold-free, tested for mycotoxins and taste delicious, etc. King coffee goes a step further with a therapeutic dose of reishi spores, the most powerful and potent part of reishi mushroom! Most other companies use the lucidum part of reishi, in case you’re wondering 👑

Want more info? DM me “king” and I’ll send you the deets 🤍🤍🤍

#kingcoffee #reishicoffee #reishi #healthycoffee #organic

    Shannon is a health enthusiast and plant based nutrition advocate, living in Chicago. She studied Health and Fitness at Purdue University and loves everything about the plant based vegan lifestyle, especially creating colorful, nourishing, happy hormone recipes in her kitchen. Read More…

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