How we can take a tip from Autumn to optimize our menstrual cycles
I hope you have had a beautiful bustling summer filled with outdoor activities and all that nourishing sunshine! Unless you live closer to the equator, chances are that you experience seasonal shifts as we get closer to and further away from the sun.
Could you imagine if it stayed forever summer?
If you’re anything like me, after a summer filled with active days and late nights, you might start to crave the warm and coziness that comes with the welcoming of Autumn. Did you know that your body also experiences its own seasonal shifts?
Just as summer fades into autumn, our ovulatory period transitions into our pre-menstrual period. If your system is out of alignment, the pre-menstrual phase may be the most dreaded phase. Estrogen dominance and low progesterone are common contributors to many of the symptoms you may experience in the pre-menstrual phase, like PMS, bloating, water retention, weight gain and cravings. Let’s chat if you’re dealing with these, schedule a free 15 minute discovery call!
Mimicking the seasonal responses following our inner seasons can be a great way to honor the cyclical flow of your cycle.
One of the ways you can move your hormones into a better state of balance is living more in alignment with the "seasons" of your menstrual cycle.
What does this look like? Well, in short
Winter= Your Period
Spring= Follicular/Pre-ovulatory phase
Summer= Ovulatory phase
Autumn= Luteal/Post-ovulatory phase
In Autumn, you may find yourself being more productive and get organized for the coming intensity of winter. Now is a great time to wrap up the garden, get outdoor jobs finished, prepare meals, organize the pantry, clean out the fridge, make plans, etc.
Now let’s see how this seasonal transition, might translate to your Inner-Autumn.
The luteal phase is a great time to start gearing up for your period or “Inner winter”.
To prepare for your inner-winter you can:
Pick up bulk groceries, placing an emphasis on warming foods and spices
Batch cook bone broths (check out my friend Kelsi’s Broth Academy for more info on that!)
Meal plan and batch cook foods you can easily heat up once your winter arrives.
Make your favorite high-magnesium, blood sugar-balancing sweet treat to enjoy when a craving or cramp may come along (I love a good chocolate avocado mousse or a pumpkin spice custard)
Begin making plans for the coming month, leaving time to rest for the initial days of your coming cycle.
Want to learn to cook more seasonally to support your fertility?
In my brand new course, Resilient Motherhood: a self-paced guide to preparing for conception and beyond, I not only walk you through exactly how you can live fully in-sync with your cycle (and normalize your cycle if it’s irregular), but I also have a full 28-day Cycle-balancing meal plan that I’ve created specifically to support the needs of each phase of your cycle to better support hormone balance and optimal fertility.
Want to learn more about how you can optimize your fertility?
Happy Autumn equinox, sending you blessings for warm and cozy days ahead!
