Signed,
Regulated

Dear Regulated,

It is not unusual for there to be changes in a woman's bodily functions throughout her menstrual cycle. It's good that you have become aware of your patterns, and there are a few things that you can do to help you work around them. First of all, watch your diet, both before and during your period. Make sure the food that you eat is varied, sufficient and balanced. Many women find it helps to eat more whole grains and whole flours, beans, vegetables and fruits, and less or NO salt, sugar, alcohol, and caffeine. You may also benefit by eating smaller, frequent meals or snacks rather than two or three bigger meals. Adding different types of fiber to your diet will help with the diarrhea and constipation. Soluble fiber like pectin, found in many fruits, absorbs water, thickening the stool, and insoluble fiber like bran from whole grains softens the stool. Try eating lots of fruit before your period, and then adding bran to your breakfast the week after. It may take some experimenting and adjusting until you find the exact diet that works for you during those two weeks. Be persistent, and you will probably be more comfortable in the long run.

Alice

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