Sooo, yup— we’re going there today. Let’s talk about periods. And the feminine care products that come with them. Fun stuff, you guys!

But really, when you tap into your menstrual cycle and get to know it really well, it uncovers all kinds of helpful information about your mood, energy, hunger, desire to move, hormones and sooo much more each month. It’s like tapping into our own secret code, and getting to really understand our bodies from the inside out. 

I’ll share some of my favorite books and resources below on cycle tracking and how it can impact literally EVERYTHING in your life. But for now, if you’ve never done so, I’d really encourage you to begin keeping track of your cycle. Not just the days when you have your period, but everything before and after, too. Keep a notebook and make note of your physical symptoms for a couple of full cycles: how your sleep is, your energy, any cramping/bloating, your mood/irritability, hunger and cravings, skin health/breakouts, thirst levels… everything you can think of to track.

It doesn’t need to be long or complicated, but just keep a daily log of these things for a few cycles. You might notice certain trends, which are signals for ways to better care for yourself in different phases of your cycle. And guys, it’s REALLY cool once you begin to notice how your energy, hormones, mood and more ebb and flow throughout the month. 

More than that, we want to be conscious about what we’re using to care for our bodies when it’s “that” time of the month. Because, most cotton products and feminine products are full of bleach and harsh chemicals that can leach into your body, especially with tampons that are internal.

Many of the chemicals found in your standard feminine care products are endocrine disruptors that can really mess with our hormones, and add to our toxic load. And I’m only talking about the unscented ones! “Fragrance” is also another huge endocrine disrupter… most commonly found in, well, everything feminine care. (And everything targeted to women in general,  like candes, bodywash, perfumes, etc… but that’s a post for another day.)

But the good news? There are so many better options these days, from reusable period cups to organic cotton tampons and pads to period underwear, there is an option for whatever your preferences are. 

My favorite natural feminine care products:

1. Best pads
2. Favorite organic tampons: these or these
3. Period cup: Don’t be intimidated by this! I promise, it’s SO easy and way lower maintenance than pads/tampons once you get the hang of it. In fact, this is what I use most of all. I love that it comes in 2 sizes. I was weirded out at first, but I love that I don’t have to keep buying products (so much $ saved over your lifetime!), it doesn’t leak, and I can never feel it.  

Other great books & resources on all things natural periods, hormones & fertility here: 

1. Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler
2. Woman Code by Alisa Vitti
3. In The Flo by Alisa Vitti
4. Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden
5. Favorite period tracking app: The Flow App & Glow App

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While you’re at it, it’s never a bad idea to upgrade your self-care and skincare products!

Check out my all-time favorite natural and non-toxic skin and personal care products, and take 10% off your first order using code ‘simplyrealhealth’ at checkout!

photo by Carina Skrobecki