Should You Work Out During Your Period

Should you be working out while you are on your period? The uncomfortable visit from mother nature can make any day a little more miserable; unpleasant emotions, bloating, and abdominal cramping are all nature's way of telling your body to sit still and wait for it to be over. Or so many people seem to believe.

The good news is that your life shouldn't have to change at all during your period. Think of it this way; nearly half the world's population goes through it every 4 weeks, but the world keeps turning! Okay, that math may be a little bit off, but the message remains the same! Your period is no reason to hold back from any normal part of your daily life. Exercise is no exception.

Exercise as a medication

Exercise is like life's preventive medication. Rather than waiting to get sick and taking a medication to solve the problem, regular exercise prevents a whole host of health risks and diseases, “nipping it in the bud”, as the expression goes!

There are no studies which show exercise having a negative effect on the body, health, or the discomfort you may experience during your period. Participate in any activities you feel like, and don't worry about your period symptoms being made worse.

Even further, are you better off exercising during your period?!

The truth is that exercise can actually help to manage cramps and bloating during your period. So not only can you exercise during that time of the month, but you should!

Some of the most powerful benefits of exercise arise because working out increases your blood flow, and increases oxygen transport and delivery. This is why period cramps can be subdued with exercise. Cramps are the result of decreasing hormone levels, causing the muscles of the uterus to contract, restricting blood flow and oxygen transport to the area. This helps to shed the lining of the uterine wall.

To make matters worse, cramps can be intensified when blood clots and lining are in larger pieces. Women with a more narrow cervical canal will especially experience more pain. Exercise can combat this effect, even in the face of these hormonal changes which trigger painful cramping.

By doing exercises regularly, before and during your period, you'll be able to beat some of the nasty symptoms without any medication or other interventions!