Gut Health - Period!

This article has been researched and written by Arelang Naturals^® in-house writers.

Gut health is like the backstage crew of your body, silently making sure everything runs smoothly. But a fun fact is that it also has a starring role in regulating hormones and period cycles. That's right, your gut and hormones are like BFFs who are inseparable, and if one of them gets out of balance, it can lead to some serious menstrual drama.

Hormones are like the conductors of your menstrual symphony, and any disruption in their balance can cause irregular, painful periods, mood swings, acne, feeling awful, and cramping.

This is where your gut microbiome comes into play, as it produces and metabolises hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which are crucial for menstrual health. Your gut also regulates the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin, which helps regulate mood and appetite, and cortisol, which regulates stress levels.

Studies have shown that gut health affects your menstrual cycle in several ways. One way is by regulating estrogen levels. The gut microbiome produces an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase, which can increase estrogen levels by breaking down estrogen metabolites that would otherwise be excreted from the body. An overgrowth of certain bacteria in the gut can lead to an increase in beta-glucuronidase, resulting in higher estrogen levels, which can cause irregular menstrual cycles and all the other issues that all of us women face.

Another way your gut health affects your menstrual cycle is by regulating inflammation levels in your body. Chronic inflammation can disrupt the hormonal balance in your body, leading to menstrual irregularities.

Furthermore, your gut microbiome also affects insulin levels, which play a crucial role in menstrual health. Insulin resistance can lead to an imbalance in hormone levels, which can cause menstrual irregularities.

Any disruption in your gut microbiome can lead to hormonal imbalances that can affect your menstrual cycle in ways that you never anticipate.

So how can you keep your gut health in check to regulate your hormones and menstrual cycle? It's all about eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fiber, probiotics, and prebiotics. A fiber-rich diet filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes nourishes the good bacteria in your gut and provides prebiotics, which is essential for the growth and maintenance of beneficial bacteria. Probiotics are live bacteria that can provide numerous health benefits, so including foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and miso in your diet can be beneficial.

It's also important to limit processed foods and sugar, as they can feed harmful bacteria in your gut, leading to an imbalance in the microbiome. Stress can also disrupt the balance of bacteria in your gut so practicing stress-management techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing can help maintain a healthy gut. Adequate sleep, hydration, and avoiding unnecessary antibiotics are also key players in keeping your gut microbiome in check.

Often, the food that we eat does not positively impact gut health and therefore our monthly menaces. So in addition to our diet, it is important to supplement with the correct nutrition to ensure things are in balance. Natural supplements like Rekindle for Women are plant-based, zero sugar, and give your body all the nutrients it needs to keep hormones and estrogen levels in check, so you can be the boss lady you are meant to be.

In conclusion, maintaining a healthy gut microbiome is essential for regulating hormones and menstrual cycles. By following these tips, you can keep your gut health in check and promote a healthy menstrual cycle.

All said and done, we must give a round of applause to our gut health for being the unsung hero of our menstrual cycle!