3 tips for easing digestive issues during your period

Whether we like it or not, menstruation is a natural and inevitable part of a woman’s lived experience. From mood swings to bloating to cramping, most women have experienced at least one unpleasant side effect associated with their period. Believe it or not, one of the most common is digestive issues, namely constipation. While this is completely normal, when you’re on your period, the last thing you should be having to deal with is more discomfort. Here are three tips you can easily follow to kick your constipation to the curb and have a more comfortable period.

1. Adjust your diet

You might be able to combat your constipation and other digestive issues by altering your diet. Certain foods promote a much stronger, healthier digestive tract and can help you feel better sooner rather than later. Some of these foods include:

  • Apples – Apples contain pectin, a soluble fibre known to aid digestion. It bypasses the small intestine before being broken down by good bacteria in your colon
  • Bananas – Bananas contain just the right amount of fibre to regulate bowel movements and improve digestion
  • Beetroot – one cup of beetroot contains roughly 3.4 grams of fibre, which can help promote regular bowel movements
  • Chia seeds – High in fibre, chia seeds work similar to a prebiotic, fighting off bad bacteria to clear the digestive tract and allow healthy bacteria to flourish
  • Papaya – Papayas contain a digestive enzyme called papain, which easily breaks down digestive fibres. Sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are often told to eat papaya for this reason

2. Stay hydrated

Drinking enough water is key to maintaining your overall health, but it can also be a helpful step in managing and curing your period-induced digestive issues. Dehydration is a leading cause of constipation, because when a person doesn’t have enough water in their system, their intestines aren’t able to add enough water to the stool. This often results in hard stools that are difficult to pass. If you want to get things moving again, chug some water. Aim to drink at least eight glasses or more of water per day to promote proper digestion and regular bowel movements.

3. Try a laxative

If the natural remedies of changing your diet and drinking plenty of water aren’t cutting it on their own, consider trying a laxative to treat your digestive issues. Natural laxatives like ColonMax are made from herbs and help the body combat constipation. Laxatives work by pulling water from your body and redirecting it to the intestines where the stool can absorb the moisture and then become easier to pass. By promoting toxin and waste elimination as well as the hydration of the bowel, laxatives will greatly restore digestive function and have you feeling better in no time.

Having your period can be tough enough as it is. You don’t need anything that’s going to make it harder. If you’re currently suffering from period-related digestive issues, don’t just learn to live with them – by using these simple steps, you can reclaim control of your body.

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