That’s right. We are absolutely going there and talking about it.
Poop.
If you find yourself struggling with painful periods or PMS that is off the charts, then we need to have an honest conversation about how often you are going to the bathroom.
I know some of you are squirming at the mere thought of talking about your bowel movements, and you can’t believe I’ve said “poop” and “bowel” in the span of four sentences now!
However, this is one of the most important areas for you to be honest about because it can be a game-changer for alleviating symptoms and moving the needle in the right direction.
Now, I don’t know about you, but I grew up with some serious mixed messaging from my doctors about what is normal in terms of how often you poop. Some would say every couple of days is good and regular. Others agreed that even once a week is fine.
You guys.
Once. A. Week.
You eat roughly three times a day, but pooping once a week is totally fine. That math does NOT add up.
You should be pooping EVERY DAY. I mean it.
Some of you are probably agreeing with me but wondering how on earth this connects with your painful periods and wicked PMS. Believe me when I tell you it has everything to do with your pain and hormonal imbalance.
Many women suffer with these painful symptoms around their period due to something called estrogen dominance.
It sounds just like what it means. You are dealing with levels of estrogen that are too high in your body, and it’s causing your debilitating cramps, swollen and tender breasts, bloating, and anxiety.
One of the biggest factors that can contribute to this perpetual state of estrogen being king of the hill is the fact that you are not pooping on the daily.
You see, your liver metabolizes the estrogen in your body and then sends it into your intestines to be carried out and expelled. However, if it makes its way to your large intestine and sits there for too long it’s going to end up re-circulating back into your body.
That is the job of your large intestine: to soak up and absorb all that is left before expelling it. However, just like anything else it can get overdone. You’ve gotta keep things moving to make sure that estrogen does in fact get out!
There are a few ways to help aid this process:
Drink Water - preferably at least half your weight in ounces
Relax - digestion is a process that requires your body to relax long enough to do its job
Fiber - help bind up that excess estrogen and get it out of the body
Magnesium - aid the propulsion of smooth muscle to get things headed in the right direction
Now get things moving! You may be surprised how much better you start to feel.