Do you have to eat unhealthy foods to get your period back?
Technically no, but here’s something to think about.
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Now, I am probably the last person on the planet to ever tell you to eat a cookie over an apple. The reason for this is because I understand that these foods are technically not mineral rich, contain fortified nutrients, are usually made with poor quality ingredients like vegetable oil, margarine, high fructose corn syrup, food colourings, etc. I get it, I know it, I hear it all.
BUT, there is a BUT.
I will also say that your mental health is as just as important as your physical.
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So how do “unhealthy foods” come into play?
It’s important to note that food is not just there as a source of energy. It is not just a handful or plateful of calories that contain fat, carbs and protein. Food is also a way in which we, as a civilization, have grown to use as a method to communicate, celebrate, and indulge. It is a source of pleasure, a way in which we connect with cultures, and for some can even be regarded as a love language.
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But in times in which one is healing from amenorrhea, it is important to note that most women recovering are at an energy deficit. (Not all, but most). If you’re in an energy deficit, you need to eat a particular set of calories to fill in the disparity of what your needs are now, versus what you have never filled. That cookie, that muffin, or those chicken nuggets, are sometimes the best solution because they are more calorically dense, but ALSO a method to desensitizing an individual and teaching them food isn’t “bad” per say, but rather, every food can have a time and place.
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So technically, yes, you can get your period back WITHOUT eating these foods. However my question to you would then be, do you really want to live a life where you can’t experience a bit of pleasure, completely afraid of the cookie? Or would you rather have the freedom to eat whatever you want, whenever you want, and have the mental capacity and autonomy to choose?🍪