Lifestyle Changes
Alleviating pain is not just a one-off effort. You can change activities in your daily life to help prevent period pain.
The first tip is to stay active. It’s important to get active before your period comes. Waiting until it arrives will discourage you from getting movement in while you’re in pain.
Try to fit in 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least three times a week. This can include your walking commute to work, walking the dog around the neighborhood, or exploring trails around you with friends and family.
Try meeting new people by joining a Zumba or Pilates class. Compete with yourself by taking up running or strength training. Get some inspiration from what’s around you and move your body in whatever way is fun (but challenging) for you.
Another lifestyle change is the way you eat or your diet. Consider reducing your consumption of red and processed meats, high-fat dairy products, caffeine, and alcohol.
There are anecdotes that suggest that a plant-based diet can help reduce pain and the size of fibroids. The change does not have to be overnight.
Try eating plant-based the week before your period and avoiding substantial amounts of caffeine and alcohol.
If you are not already tracking your period, start tracking it and also note any symptoms/pain that you feel throughout the month. If you notice less pain, consider incorporating plant-based meals in your weekly meal plan.