Demanding Down Time: Respecting the Different Stages of Your Cycle

Let’s talk about periods.

Even among women, through the informal and mostly-anonymous forum of a blog, many of us find it very difficult to acknowledge and discuss our menstrual health and cycles. Some of us hate our periods, regarding them as inconvenient interruptions to our otherwise productive and active lives. Others have just developed coping mechanisms for dealing with the changes we experience during menstruation. Few of us, however, are able to celebrate our flow.

That’s understandable. Men do not experience the same hormonal cycle we do each month. Because we have fought for equality in this society, though, we are expected to behave equally. Therefore, we are indirectly or blatantly asked to behave in the same manner throughout the month, the year, and our lives. This is problematic. Our moods and energies shift in relation to the different stages of our cycle. During ovulation, we may feel more energized, productive, and creative. This is an excellent time to really engage with your masculine energy. When we menstruate, though, we tend to turn inward, yearning for alone time and wanting to nurture our bodies and ourselves. Most often—due to our own expectations of ourselves, as well as those imposed on us by our jobs, families, or friends—we ignore these desires and our changing needs. Coffee, sugar, and energy drinks become extremely attractive at this time as potential “cures” to our desire for rest. As we know from last week’s post, though, these foods actually make our bodies work more and crash harder, creating a difficult cycle of false energy and heavy fatigue. What’s more, we also crave “comfort foods” during menstruation, including salty and fatty foods like dairy, meat, and crackers, pretzels, or chips. These foods are contractive, and in excess can make us irritable or even aggressive. In other words, we crave foods on opposite ends of the energetic spectrum, and they compete with each other creating hormonal and mood imbalances. It’s no wonder we end up tired, drained, depressed, and angry during our periods.

It is time to change our perspective. Moving out of ovulation and into menstruation, begin to notice your body’s changing needs. Do you feel like you want more alone time? Does your body need rest? Are you craving different foods? Once you can answer all these questions honestly, acknowledge those responses and do your best to cater to them. In a society where our periods are, at best, nuisances that need controlling, and at worst, dirty, messy, shameful, and unnatural, it can be hard to ask for the time and space to nurture yourself during menstruation. But be strong. Nobody can advocate for yourself like you can. Take pride in every part of your cycle, because it is normal, healthy, and the most wonderful feminine gift—it allows you to bring life to this world.

Winter is a good time to redirect your focus to your menstrual health and to the phases that require more introspection and rest. Chinese traditional medicine encourages focus on the kidneys and adrenals during winter, which are closely linked to your reproductive organs. Your kidneys are more open to the nutrients you give them during winter. Also, as our bodies are already adjusting to the cold weather by craving warmer, more comforting foods as well as more rest, this is a great time to channel those same needs during menstruation. We can take care of our bodies better by acknowledging our changing needs throughout the month and throughout the year. These cycles are natural, and sustain us best when we move through them without resistance.

The Satiated Sage guides you through the sometimes overwhelming of food in order to understand what best nourishes your body in all its various needs. However, we can give our bodies a different kind of nourishment for healthy and happy menstruation (and winter months): rest. So the first of the recipe for today is to nap. Snooze. Slumber. Decompress. Chill. However you want to put it, do it, and don’t feel bad about it. You will be more energized when you wake, your mood may be more stabilized, and the day will be fuller and brighter if you allow yourself the time and space to truly, peacefully rest.

We can’t skip out on the food, though! With all these cravings, it would be a shame to ignore our tongues and tummies. For a couple delicious and soothing treats, try LSW recipes below.

* This one is a recycled favorite. We’re bringing it back for its simplicity, nutrition, and just plain yummy-ness!

Easy Morning Miso Soup

Why start the day with something cold and sweet, when the weather outside dictates that you stay as warm as possible?

1½ cups water

½ cup sliced button mushrooms

½ cup baby spinach leaves

2 sheets of nori, torn into bite-sized pieces (nori sheets are used to make sushi rolls – they can be found at most health food stores)

1 tsp fresh miso paste (we like the Miso Master brand – any flavor you prefer is fine)

Boil water as if for tea.

Place mushrooms, spinach, and nori in a bowl. Pour hot water over the vegetables and let it "cook" them for a minute or so. Then add miso paste and stir until dissolved.

Sit and sip, or put it in your travel thermos and take it to go!

*Here’s a new one from my own kitchen. It’s a tasty way to start the day or can make for a delicious treat at the end of the day. Plus, it’ll satisfy the sweet tooth without throwing your adrenals out of whack.

Honey-Nut Granola

3 cups oats (not instant)

1 cup sliced or chopped almonds (can use any kind of nuts or seeds desired)

¼ cup crunchy peanut butter (I recommend Arrowhead Mills brand. Nothing but nuts!)

¼ cup honey

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp ground cloves

½ tsp ground ginger

¼ tsp nutmeg

1 cup golden raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Heat a roasting pan over two burners on medium-low heat. Once hot, add the oats. Stir frequently for 3-5 minutes, until the oats become fragrant and begin to change color to a golden brown.

Add the nuts. Continue stirring and roasting for another 3 minutes (times may very depending on individual burner temperatures). Meanwhile, microwave peanut butter, honey, and spices for 20-30 seconds on high and stir together.

Once oats and nuts are sufficiently roasted (should be fragrant), turn off the burners. Pour the peanut butter-honey mixture over the oats and nuts, and mix together thoroughly. Spread the mixture evenly across the pan and put it in the oven.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 4-5 minutes. Be sure to check your granola often – it can burn easily, depending on you oven temperature and the depth of your pan.

Remove from oven, sprinkle with raisins, and mix again. Let cool on a wire rack. Crumble it into an airtight container, and it will keep for a few weeks.

Enjoy the down time, your beautiful feminine body, and the goodies above.

Here’s to a happy period!