This week's episode is a MUST LISTEN TO episode for anyone out there with a uterus and a menstrual cycle! Kylie & Meg had an in depth chat with Functional Dietitian, Jillian Greaves and get the low-down on all things menstrual cycle, energy levels, symptoms & what's actually happening in there during the month. Ladies, it's the health class we never got!
Jillian is a Functional Dietitian and Women’s Health Specialist. She provides comprehensive nutrition and lifestyle counseling to women, with a special emphasis on PCOS, hormone balance, and digestive health. Jillian helps clients identify and address the root causes of their hormone and digestive symptoms naturally using advanced lab testing, personalized nutrition and supportive lifestyle therapies as the first line of intervention. Jillian runs a virtual private practice and is the creator of the Empowered PCOS Program. It's her mission to empower women to take back control of their health, reclaim their confidence, and experience life at its fullest potential.
To learn more about Jillian and to connect with her, check her out on IG @Jilliangreavesrd or learn how you can work with her directly on her website at https://jilliangreaves.com/ !
TLDL action steps:
1. There are FOUR phases of the menstrual cycle- menstruation, follicular, ovulation and luteal. Each phase typically comes with different energy levels, symptoms and diet & lifestyle changes that should be made to support the changes happening in your body
2. Menstrual cycle is considered to be the 5th vital sign for people with uteri & who are cycling.
3. Menses (or menstrual phase) can be thought of as a time for rest; we typically have lower energy levels during this time.
4. Cycling people with uteri (lol, uteri) tend to feel more energetic and creative during the follicular phase. This is a good time for higher intensity exercise, eating regular & more well rounded meals and supporting healthy estrogen levels (i.e. cruciferous veggies, high fiber, high quality protein, etc)
5. Ovulation is typically when women are able to get pregnant (it's about a 6 day window). Uterus-having people typically experience higher libido during this time and higher energy levels. It's a good time to continue with food & exercise recommendations from the follicular phase.
5a. FAM (Fertility Awareness Method) is a pretty reliable method of birth control IF done correctly & efficiently
6. The luteal phase causes more inflammation in general, which explains why many of us feel bloated, moody and even less energy. RMR actually increases during this phase (aka we require more energy/might be hungrier during this time) and Insulin might not be used as well during this time (aka more prone to blood sugar fluctuations).
