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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

    Wellness, Motherhood, Holistic Nutrition, Gut Health
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    💌 shannon@theglowingfridge.com

    SHANNON // Beauty / Motherhood / Wellness
    They don’t actually do anything 😵‍💫 You They don’t actually do anything 😵‍💫

You might think your coconut oil or argan oil are helping to heal your hair when it reality they don’t have a small enough molecular structure to deeply penetrate or repair from within. So they just sit there. And they’re difficult to wash out. Not to mention many of the popular hair oils are extremely flammable and synthetic 🔥 you don’t want to be putting this on your scalp ladies!

Rejuveniqe Oil is a light, non-greasy combination of 13 clinically proven rare oils & ingredients including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, and powerful nutrients. Think Abyssinian, carrot seed and meadowfoam oils. It’s perfect for all skin and hair types because of its unique structure. This oil mimics the body’s own oils to absorb more deeply and moisturize more effectively. It helps balance greasiness or dryness, depending on what your scalp needs ✨ and can be used as a skin & lip hydrator too 👄

On dry hair, this unique intensive treatment (without harmful silicones) can be used to:

• balance natural oils
• improve scalp texture
• hydrate & feed the scalp
• reduce itching, flakiness & skin irritation
• shinier, polished hair
• provide anti-aging benefits
• stimulate hair growth

Do you struggle with a greasy or dry/itchy scalp? Comment OIL to get started on weekly oil treatments 🦄🦄🦄

#hairgoals #hairinspo #hairinspiration #healthyhair #healthyhairjourney #hairgrowth #hairgrowthtips #hairgrowthoil #hairgrowthproducts #blondeshampoo #naturalblonde #monatofficial #hairoiltreatment
    IT’S TRUE ✨ I want to help more mamas be home IT’S TRUE ✨

I want to help more mamas be home with their babies. I want to help more women feel empowered to make money online. It’s the way of the future and social selling is just getting started. I want to help more stay at home mamas feel like it’s OKAY to want to have your own money to get your nails done and buy the organic groceries and expensive healthy snacks and get hydrafacials once a month. It’s okay to want more and it’s okay to want to take care of yourself. 

I do affiliate marketing too, but I make more in network marketing. Why? Because we have higher commissions (15-30%), bonuses and return customers due to it being a consumable product that people are obsessed with. You’re already sharing your collagen and electrolytes and favorite supplements… It’s a no brainer to also share the transformative vegan haircare you’re using. 

🚀🚀 Comment READY or fill out my opportunity form to see if it’s a good fit.

#networkmarketing #socialselling #monatmarketpartner
    ARE YOU OILY? If you’re dealing with oily roots ARE YOU OILY?

If you’re dealing with oily roots and product buildup it’s time for a DEEP cleanse to rebalance.

Oftentimes when we’re oily it actually means our scalp is lacking moisture and overproducing oil to try and make up for it. Or it’s hormonal and needs to be managed. This calls for DEEP cleansing washes and oil treatments to get the scalp back to a better place.

My scalp scrub is the SECRET SAUCE. It purifies the oil and removes the residue that’s weighing your hair down without stripping or harsh ingredients. It dissolves dead skin cells, stubborn buildup and removes pollutants while infusing with moisture. You use your custom shampoo and conditioner after 👏🏻 

Let’s get your scalp healthy, happy and balanced again. Say goodbye to harsh clarifying treatments (been there done that). 

Comment OIL to get started or take my hair quiz✨

#oilyscalptreatment #oilyscalpshampoo #healthyhair #healthyhairjourney #hairtransformation #hairtips101
    ITS A MIRROR 🪞 It reveals every area you need ITS A MIRROR 🪞 

It reveals every area you need to work on.

Don’t know how to talk to people? Time to learn and practice and start conversations. 
Too nervous to talk on your stories? Time to start talking on stories and work that muscle. 
Too nervous to go live? It’s not as bad as it seems. This is what all my girls tell me. Just do it. Stop overthinking it.
Don’t know how to make a good reel? It’s called Google or YouTube. There’s a million Instagram accounts to help with this exactly. Find your creative style and go with it.
Don’t know how to find people? That’s just an excuse. You should never run out it people to talk to. It’s actually impossible.

➡️➡️ If you’re ready, comment READY or fill out my opportunity form 🚀🫧🦄🩷🧴✨

#networkmarketing #workfromhomemama #monatopportunity
    A LOT can happen in a year 🥲 Your life can com A LOT can happen in a year 🥲

Your life can completely change and turnaround for the better. But you have to do something different and step out of your comfort zone. Get out of your safe bubble. Before I joined this business I was a lonely new mama trying to figure out motherhood and making the decision to be a full time stay at home mama. It was the best decision I ever made. I still wanted something more though. I knew there were ways to make money online but my ways of affiliate marketing were not enough. So I prayed about it for a year straight, just waiting. Before the year was up, Monat literally FELL into my lap. The universe handed it to me and I knew instantly this was where I supposed to go. The freedom and flexibility is unmatched. I’ve worked really hard the last 10 months and while I’m still just getting started, my team is growing fast. I was able to go on my first fully paid for trip to Miami this summer with Monat. A real dream come true and pinch-me-moment. I feel confident again, I’m learning the skill of sales which everyone should master and I’m helping other women do the same. It’s really a no-brainer to do a business like this in today’s world. My life is forever changed 🥲🥲

➡️➡️Are you ready for a life change?! Comment NWM or fill out my opportunity form 🚀🚀🚀

#monatopportunity
    HERE’S HOW ⬇️ Healing the scalp starts with HERE’S HOW ⬇️

Healing the scalp starts with the right custom products and treatments. It means removing the buildup, waxes and silicones that cheap crappy products leave behind. It means allowing the scalp to breathe again by not using powder dry shampoos that clog the hair follicles and leave behind residue. 

HOW TO START:

1. Hair Oiling with Rejuveniqe oil - this is a liquid vitamin to feed and rebalance the scalp. It’s a proprietary blend of omegas, vitamins and plant oils that deeply penetrate the hair shaft and repair from the inside out. It’s a multipurpose oil for all scalp imbalances. Not to mention it preps the scalp for new growth.
2. Nutrient-dense shampoo - this will make the biggest difference. The products I use deeply cleanse and help control oiliness. There’s nothing else like them, trust me, I’ve tried them all. They’re oil-based, infused with rosemary (helps with growth) and functional.

🦄🦄🦄 If you’re in need of a hair transformation, comment HAIR or take my hair quiz and I’ll make a custom regimen for you 🩷

#monatofficial #hairtransformation #hairgrowth 
#oilyhairtips #hairoiling

    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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