5 Things to Reach for When Your Period Knocks You Out

Wellness

Sep 25

Chocolate counts. So does canceling your plans.

Periods have a way of arriving whether or not your schedule has room for them. The cramps, fatigue, cravings, and general desire to cancel every plan can make even a normal day feel significantly harder.

There’s no single food, supplement, or routine that makes every period symptom disappear. But there are a few things that may help you feel more comfortable while your body does what it needs to do.

Magnesium-Rich Foods

Magnesium plays a role in normal muscle and nerve function, which is one reason it often comes up in conversations about menstrual comfort. The research on magnesium supplements for period symptoms is still developing, but regularly eating magnesium-rich foods is an easy place to begin.

Pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, black beans, edamame, leafy greens, and whole grains are all good plant-based sources. If you eat animal products, yogurt is another source, while milk and fish such as salmon and mackerel can contribute magnesium too.

If you’re considering a magnesium supplement, check with your healthcare provider first. More is not always better, and supplements can cause digestive side effects or interact with certain medications.

woman getting movement while on period | The Sectional — Photo credit: Mart Production

Gentle Movement

Working out may be the last thing you want to do when you’re cramping, but movement doesn’t have to mean forcing yourself through an intense class.

A walk, light stretching, yoga, or an easy bike ride may help ease menstrual discomfort and lift your mood. The goal isn’t to ignore what your body is telling you. It’s simply to move in whatever way feels supportive that day. Sometimes that’s a workout. Sometimes it’s ten minutes around the block.

Chocolate

Chocolate isn’t medicine, but it can help make an uncomfortable day feel a little better.

Dark chocolate also happens to contain magnesium and iron, although you don’t need to turn every craving into a nutrition lesson. Sometimes you want chocolate because chocolate tastes good.

The Cycle Period Drink | The Sectional — Photo credit: The Cycle

Staying Hydrated

Staying hydrated matters throughout the month, but plain water isn’t always the most exciting thing to reach for. This is where a drink that feels like a small ritual can be just what you need.

The Cycle’s Period Comfort blend is what we’ve been drinking lately. According to The Cycle, the brand has landed in more than 600 retailers nationally, including Sprouts Farmers Market, less than a year after launching.

Each of its blends starts with organic sea buckthorn puree, a source of omega-7, and includes botanical ingredients traditionally used in women’s wellness. The Period Comfort blend includes nettle leaf, raspberry leaf, motherwort, and lemon balm. It is tropical, lightly sweet, caffeine-free, and made without added sugar or “natural flavors.”

The company was founded by Anastasia Sartan, who grew up with sea buckthorn in Eastern Europe and returned to the berry after being diagnosed with PMDD, a severe form of premenstrual disorder, and looking for additional ways to support herself. On a day when you’re already reaching for the heating pad and canceling your plans, something enjoyable to sip is a nice part of the ritual.

woman resting on period | The Sectional — Photo credit: Arina Krasnikova

Actual Rest

Rest is probably the least exciting recommendation on this list, but it may be one of the most important.

Hormonal shifts, bleeding, discomfort, and disrupted sleep can leave you feeling more tired than usual. You don’t need to earn the right to take things down a notch. Going to bed earlier, saying no to plans, or spending an afternoon on the couch doesn’t mean you’re lazy.

None of these things will make every period effortless. Think of them as small ways to make yourself more comfortable.

And if your pain is severe, getting worse, interfering with everyday life, or accompanied by unusually heavy bleeding, bring it up with your healthcare provider. You deserve more than being told that suffering through it is simply part of having a period.

Our editors are always sourcing pieces we genuinely love. If you purchase something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Holy Smith

Holy Smith is the Senior Wellness Editor at The Sectional, where she writes about wellness, nutrition, and living well without overcomplicating it. She's spent over a decade in the wellness space, and currently leads Pose, Portrait Coffee's monthly wellness gathering. She's now expanding into maternal wellness with coursework in fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum nutrition.