MOONS

“Rest” looks different for everyone!

Staying in-tune with your body during the Menstrual Phase means doing whatever feels restorative and nurturing to you ✨

It’s your Luteal Phase and the week before your period.

You’re feeling super bleh, too tired to cook and craving something…sugary or salty. Do you reach for that giant bag of Doritos and a sleeve of Oreos? (🙋‍♀️)

Here are some reasons why:

1. After ovulation, your estrogen levels drop and progesterone rises, which affects your insulin levels (aka you’re likely to have blood sugar highs and lows). This looks like cravings, mood swings, sleepiness, and brain fog.
2. When estrogen drops, the neurotransmitters that determine our mood drop as well. These neurotransmitters are seratonin (happy and calm), dopamine (pleasure and motivation), and norepinepherin (fight-or-flight). This drop can cause PMS symptoms like anxiety, depressed feeling, fatigue, low energy, and sleep problems.

Soooo you reach for those glazed donuts to give you that extra boost of energy. The problem is that these foods will give you energy for a short period of time, but you’ll ultimately crash again.

To curb the cravings and mood swings, make sure your blood sugar is balanced during the Luteal Phase by eating more healthy fats, fiber, and protein.

A lovely breakdown of the luteal phase from Integrative Nutrition Health Coach .wellness ✨

The luteal phase is the approximate two weeks before our periods start again - it is the phase where we wrap things up and prepare for the end of our current cycle, before we begin a new one again. While this phase can be one that brings about symptoms for a lot of women, that doesn't have to be the case. When we slow down and tune in to our body's needs, we are often met with a much dreamier luteal phase. 

A few things to remember: 

- Because of the presence of progesterone, your caloric needs will increase, needing about an additional 300 calories per day. Keeping blood sugar levels steady and stable in this phase is going to make a huge impact on how you feel each day, including stable moods and energy.

- Remember that you are a cyclical being and how you move your body should shift as you move through your cycle. If you feel lower energy and feel that you have to caffeinate in order to  "get through" a workout, chances are that workout isn't going to serve you best. You may have to reduce reps, weight, or length of your workout. 

- Suppressing emotions and feelings can lead to PMS symptoms. That thing that was nagging you all month is going to be magnified in this phase. I always advise letting emotions flow in this phase. Spend time writing out your thoughts, have a cry on a nature walk, or talk it out with a friend. 

-Lastly, note in your calendar when you are approaching the last week of your cycle and be sure not to overcommit yourself. Having too much to do in a week when you have lower energy, and needing more space is a recipe for bringing on those unwanted symptoms. 

While the luteal phase may be the ending of another cycle, it can be a great time to begin to care for yourself and tend to your needs, allowing yourself the necessary slow down time we all require.

NEW PRODUCT DROP! We're so proud and pleased to share with you our new Mindful Menstruation Kits. A collection of our favorite products and most valued information, each kit includes a box of duets™, a set of phases, a pack of stickers, and most importantly—a beautiful, hand-illustrated guide to the full menstrual cycle written with Hormonal Health Coach .wellness. From hormones to energy levels, supportive herbs, movement recommendations and nutrition guidance for each phase of your cycle, the information in this kit will completely change your relationship with your own menstrual cycle. Plus it's the perfect gift—whether for the young menstruator in your life or a grown friend who's just getting into cycle knowledge! This was a labor of love, and we hope you feel that when you receive it!

Yesterday’s full moon shines a bright light on what needs to change in our lives, what boundaries we need to set, and the energy we need to embrace in order to move to the next level both personally and collectively.

Take some time this weekend to bathe in this glorious full moon’s afterglow and write down your intentions with deep calm and purpose.

Love, MOONS

Normally we make menstrual care. Right now we're making waves—by challenging the censorship of menstruation on TV.

We put portraits of menstruators in blood-stained underwear on a 12’ tall truck and drove it around the FCC building in DC, because the truth of our bodies and our experiences should never be censored.

Join us! Share your stain story, sign the petition to uncensor this content, explore our goods, and help make the menstrual experience better for all. Link in bio 🌙