Illustration by Marta Pucci
Ladies! Did you know that you can support your body through specific foods according to what phase you are in your cycle.
Dietary therapy is of huge importance in Chinese Medicine because of its influence on health. If chosen and cooked correctly for your constitution, food can be of medicinal strength.
In this blog I am going to go through the first half of your menstrual phase, Day 1 to just before ovulation which varies between day 12-day 14. This is a time where there is endometrial regeneration, follicular recruitment, and egg development. Your body is preparing for the excitement of Image from Brackenbury Clinic
ovulation, possibly fertilisation and implantation.
From an energetic perspective this is the most yin phase of your cycle where your body draws on your reserve to build healthy lining, nourish and mature follicles. Below is a list of food that have yin nourishing and blood tonifying properties.
Yin & blood nourishing foods.
Grains: Barley, Millet, Brown Rice
Vegetables: Alfalfa sprout, artichoke, asparagus, kelp, mung bean sprout, pea, seaweed,
string bean, sweet potato, tomato, water chestnut, yam, courgette, mushrooms, cabbage, celery, dandelion leaf, dark leafy greens (swiss chard, pak choi, chinese broccoli, spinach, kale), shiitake mushroom, watercress.
Fruits: Apple, apricot, avocado, banana, lemon, lime, mango, mulberry, pear, persimmon, pineapple, pomegranate, watermelon, Goji berries
Beans and bean products: Adzuki, black beans, black soya, kidney, Tofu
Nuts and Seeds: Coconut milk, sesame seed, walnut, pumpkin, flax seed
Meat: Fish (particularly tuna, salmon, mackerel) ,Beef, duck, eggs, pork
Herbs & Spices: Marjoram, nettle,
What your meals could look like....
Mon
Breakfast: Oats with coconut milk, goji berries, ground pumpkin and ground flax seed (1tbsp of each).
Lunch: Scrambled eggs with parsley, grilled asparagus and tomatoes.
Snacks: Chopped up apple, banana with some walnuts.
Dinner: Miso Soup with wakame (you can get packet miso soups at the asian store), grilled salmon with string beans and tomatoes with brown rice
Tues
Breakfast: Poached eggs, smashed avocado with peas with ground pumpkin and ground flax seed (1tbsp of each sprinkled on top) with some dukkah.
Lunch: Chicken barley soup
Snacks: Pear and banana.
Dinner: Pork and apple casserole with roast courgettes, cabbage and sweet potato mash.
Wed
Breakfast: Omelette with tomato & mushrooms.
Lunch: Salad with alfalfa sprout, watercress, spinach, kale and pan fried tofu with Japanese
sesame dressing. Sprinkled with 1 tbsp each of pumpkin and flax seeds.
Snacks: Dried apricot and almonds
Dessert ideas:
And of course we can't forget about dessert! Here are some recipes you can whip up for
those dinner parties, weekends or just to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Happy cooking and meal planning!
Click here for food/recipe ideas for the next part of your cycle.
Need more help? I ain't no masterchef but I am definitely qualified to help you with acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Give me a buzz and let's chat.