What vegetables are best to eat during menstruation?
May 31, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lv Aiming
Introduction
A physiologically appropriate diet should be warm in nature. Recommended foods include kelp, red dates, sorghum rice, coix seed, lamb, and apples. Cold or slippery foods—such as pears, water chestnuts, water caltrops, winter melon, cabbage, and hemp seeds—should be consumed sparingly.
During menstruation, iron deficiency must be prevented by balancing animal and plant-based foods. Menstruation causes substantial iron loss; therefore, consuming iron-rich foods is essential. Consequently, dietary planning during the menstrual period should emphasize a balanced combination of meat and plant-based foods.
In daily life, women tend to feel physically weaker during menstruation—a unique physiological phase for females. So, what vegetables and foods are recommended for women during their menstrual period?
What Foods Are Recommended During Menstruation?
During menstruation, women should avoid cold foods—even in the peak of summer, cold beverages and chilled foods should be avoided. Generally speaking, consuming cold foods during this period may impair digestion and damage the body’s yang energy, leading to internal coldness. Since cold causes stagnation, it can result in poor menstrual flow, scanty periods, or even dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation). Therefore, the diet during menstruation should emphasize warm, nourishing foods—such as kelp, red dates, sorghum rice, coix seed (Job’s tears), lamb, and apples—while minimizing intake of cold- or slippery-natured foods like pears, water chestnuts, water caltrops, winter melon, cabbage, and hemp seeds.
Iron deficiency must also be prevented during menstruation, with balanced intake of both animal and plant-based foods. Menstruation involves significant iron loss, making it essential to consume iron-rich foods. Iron plays a critical role not only in hemoglobin synthesis and numerous vital enzymes but also in immune function, cognitive performance, aging processes, and energy metabolism.
Foods rich in highly bioavailable iron include fish, lean meat, animal liver, and animal blood. In contrast, plant-based sources such as soybeans and spinach contain non-heme iron, which has relatively low absorption rates. Thus, during menstruation, dietary planning should prioritize appropriate combinations of animal and plant foods. To meet the heightened iron requirements of this phase, women should moderately increase their intake of animal-derived foods. We hope this article proves helpful to you!
