The majority reported a moderate to severe impact of their cycle on workplace productivity, with 45.2% reporting absenteeism (5.8 days on average in the previous 12 months).
Hormonal imbalance
During our period cycles, our bodies go through various shifts in the sex hormones progesterone and estrogen. During the second half of your cycle, your hormone levels rise. However, days leading up to your period, sex hormone levels drop. This drop in hormone levels may contribute to brain fog.
Heavy menstrual bleeding often causes women to feel tired, commonly known as period fatigue. This is normal due to the decrease in oestrogen levels, which occurs around this point in your menstrual cycle. Your energy levels will usually return to normal within a few days as your hormone levels begin to increase again.
Brain fog—when you can't think clearly, forget things, or start making simple mistakes—is a common symptom experienced by people during their menstrual cycle. There are some potential reasons why period-related brain fog may happen, such as hormone fluctuations.
They uncovered that most of the 28 million tasks were completed between 9 and 11 a.m. But take note: While the majority of us are most productive between 9 and 11 am, this isn't the case for everyone. Everyone's brains and bodies are different.
It turns out our bodies require 100 – 300 more calories during our luteal phase (the week before our period is due). This is because our Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR – the number of daily calories needed to stay alive) during this time increases by 10-20%.
For one, you don't burn more calories on your period, contrary to some locker room chatter. If anything, Sims says you burn slightly more calories when your hormones are higher (known as the post-ovulation luteal phase) because your heart rate, respiratory rate, and core temperature increase.
The menstrual cycle itself doesn't seem to affect weight gain or loss. But having a period may affect your weight in other ways. Many women get premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS can cause you to crave and eat more sweet or salty foods than normal.
So, is it okay to eat more on your period? Long story short, yes! It is totally natural to want to eat more on your period. Eating some treats or a meal you are really craving, in conjunction with a balanced diet, will likely NOT impact your fat loss progress.
Skipping meals during your periods isn't a good idea because it can severely affect your energy levels, making you feel lethargic and irritable. This, however, doesn't mean you replace actual meals with junk food. Junk food contains high amounts of salt and sugar, contributing to issues like bloating and discomfort.
Because you do not burn more calories during your period, you do not need to eat more calories during your period. However, it is important to eat iron-rich foods as well as foods high in vitamin C (which helps the body absorb iron) to help replace iron lost during monthly bleeding.
“Those first days your estrogen and progesterone levels drop, which actually makes your physiology more similar to that of a male,” explains Sims. “You can hit higher intensities in workouts—faster and longer—and your core temperature is down.”
Scientists have even figured out the perfect formula for this break, down to the minute. It's the 52/17 rule: 52 minutes on, 17 minutes off. Downtime replenishes attention and motivation, creativity and productivity.
The bleeding tends to be heaviest in the first 2 days. When your period is at its heaviest, the blood will be red. On lighter days, it may be pink or brown. You'll lose about 20 to 90ml (about 1 to 5 tablespoons) of blood during your period, although some women bleed more heavily than this.
A healthy period starts with 3-7 days of solid flow, followed by a couple of days of lighter bleeding. There should be no bleeding at any other time of the cycle.
Period weight gain does not mean that you have gained the lost fat again. It is just water retention that happens due to change in the level of hormones and excessive intake of salty and unhealthy food items. Water weight gain is temporary and you lose it within a week after your monthly menstrual cycle ends.
Usually, menstrual bleeding lasts about 4 to 5 days and the amount of blood lost is small (2 to 3 tablespoons). However, women who have menorrhagia usually bleed for more than 7 days and lose twice as much blood.
FAQ - Eating Bananas during Periods
And they contain tryptophan, which helps to produce serotonin, a hormone that can make you feel relaxed. The only downside is that bananas can cause bloating if you eat too many of them.
Recent research suggests that diets high in inflammatory foods such as meat, oil, sugar, and salt can contribute to period cramps.
Your skin during menstruation
During the first days of your cycle, levels of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone are low. This causes dry, dull skin and can make lines or wrinkles appear more obvious. Moisturizing and hydration can be great skin boosters during the initial days of your cycle.