Getting through the Christmas period

  • By Catriona Dickie
  • •
  • 23 Dec, 2017
  • •

A quick Google search will reveal millions of articles on what not to eat on your period, and there is overwhelming evidence to suggest that all of the fatty, sugary and delicious foods that are bad for our bodies will probably be present in a well-stocked kitchen over Christmas. But that doesn't mean that we can't be kind to ourselves and make sure we get plenty of energy-giving nutrients, too.

Tis the season to indulge, and I am definitely not saying anyone should miss out on the joys of overdosing on Cheeselets, chocolate coins and mince pies. But if Aunt Flo does turn up uninvited, reaching for unhealthy snacks may not be the answer. Fitting all these nutrients in may seem overwhelming, especially over Christmas, but the good news is that many of the specifics our bodies need during this time of the month are part of our traditional turkey (or nut roast) dinner already:

Turkey

During each cycle, women (and people who menstruate) lose 30-80ml of blood and we need iron in order to replenish this. When our iron levels are depleted, we become tired more easily – this explains that sluggish feeling when it's our time of the month. It's common knowledge that red meats are full of iron, but turkey is rich in iron too.

Nut Roast

For the vegetarians and vegans among us, the main event is likely to be a nut roast. Nuts and seeds are full of omega 3 and fatty acids which can help reduce cramps. If you've used the unsalted variety, even better – excess salt is one of those aforementioned foods to avoid.

Leafy Greens

Leafy green veg are packed full of iron which gets lost when we are menstruating. Foods like spinach, kale, collard greens and Swiss chard are the best, as is the omnipresent Brussels sprout. Not only are they rich in iron and B vitamins; their high fiber count also can help with digestive issues often associated with your menstrual cycle.

Chocolate

Okay, there is a caveat to this one – I'm not talking about fun tubs of mini chocolate bars that will inevitably be hanging around during the festive season. Dark chocolate with the highest percentage of cocoa you can find is what you need, because it won't be as full of sugar. Dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants and magnesium which reduces mood swings and helps regulate serotonin.

Salmon

Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast, anyone? Like nuts, salmon is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids that not only have heart benefits, but can also provide menstrual relief.


Of course every woman's body is unique and our bodies need different elements to stay healthy and balanced, but there are some core nutrients that could literally ease the pain of being on our periods.

Join us for Period Poverty Training!-4th Mar Plymouth and 12th Mar Bristol!

By Chloe Tingle • February 25, 2019
We are hosting two period poverty training courses this spring. See the details on eventbrite.

Staff Training at CoLab

By Rebecca Batala • January 30, 2019
Here's a little insight into what our Staff Training at CoLab was like...

WOW Exeter 2018...the highlights

By Chloe Tingle • October 18, 2018

WOW Women of the World festivals have been popping up across the world, if you get the chance to go along to one we would strongly recommend it.

WOW – Women of the World  festival celebrates women and girls, and looks at the obstacles that stop them from achieving their potential.

Around the world, individuals and communities are insisting on the simple proposition that women and girls must have equal rights and asking the question: why is gender equality taking so long?

Southbank Centre's WOW – Women of the World  festival is a global network of festivals which provides a platform for celebrating what has been achieved, and exploring all the ways we can change the world for the better.

What’s not to love?

Our Founder, Chloe, and her Mum Angela went along to represent No More Taboo with a stall across the two days. Here’s her highlights:

“Although we didn’t get much time to take in all the discussions as we were kept busy wo-manning the stall (thanks Mum for helping out)! We had some great discussions around gender, equality, inclusivity and of course periods with new customers, supporters, other panellists and some old friends who came to see us.

In fact, we were really pleased to catch up with Plan International UK who were opening the festival with a discussion about Period Activism exactly one year on since the launch of our #BreaktheBarriers research and Period Poverty Conference that we ran in collaboration with Plan.

By Your Leave

By Catherine Blom-Smith • October 1, 2018
We look at what introducing menstrual leave to workplaces in the UK might mean.

It Must be Lush

By Iloni Kingston-Smith • September 17, 2018

On the first weekend of September, No More Taboo set up shop at Lush Cribbs Causeway for their Charity Pot weekend.

The Lush Charity Pot is a wonderfully creamy shea-butter hand lotion where all the sales money (excluding VAT) goes towards a chosen charity or non-for-profit. This scheme is designed to help boost grass-roots, small and local organisations, like ourselves, financially so that we can continue to do the work we do such as our Tackling Period Poverty programme.

As we were Lush’s chosen organisation for the weekend of the 1-2 September, one of our volunteers, Iloni, and one of our advisors, Carolyn, went along to wo-man the (suitably Lush-styled aesthetic) stall that Lush had kindly provided for us. We took along a range of our products, stacks of leaflets and information as well as our enthusiasm for talking about all things to do with periods.

Over the weekend, we sold over £200’s worth of stock with Ruby Cups and Honour Your Flow re-usable pads proving most popular with Lush customers. On top of this, Lush sold so many of their Charity Pots that £340.60 was raised for No More Taboo – which was amazing! 

However exciting the money side of things were with this event, what I personally took away as being the real highlight of the weekend was the number and nature of conversations we shared with customers. 

Mothers and daughters came and chatted to us about how they agreed it was so important to use re-usable products for personal and financial reasons as well as for the planet’s sake. Boyfriends accompanied their other halves as they prodded and probed the range of menstrual cups on display. Older women commented on how it’s such a relief to be able to talk about menstruation in public and with people you’ve only just met. They regaled of a time when periods were even more hush-hush and celebrated with us out mission of there being No More Taboo.

We would like to thank Lush Cribbs Causeway for being such wonderful hosts, encouraging every customer that came through their doors to consider buying the Charity Pot or simply to chat with us. Each member of their staff team was incredibly warm and so keen to find out more about what we do. On behalf of all of us at No More Taboo, thank you.

Over the Moon(cup)

By Catriona Dickie • July 26, 2018
What is a Mooncup?

If you're following No More Taboo, chances are you are already aware that a Mooncup is a silicone menstrual cup. It is inserted vaginally and used throughout your period. There are two different sizes: size A, for those who are either thirty and over or have given birth vaginally, and size B, for under thirties who have not birthed a child vaginally. 

Why Use One?

The main reason I wanted to convert to a Mooncup is because I was feeling concerned about the amount of waste my period was generating every month. During the twelve years I've been menstruating I must have thrown thousands of tampons into landfill , and as I became more aware of the impact this is having on the planet, switching to a sustainable sanitary product seemed like a straightforward lifestyle change that would really make a difference.

Another advantage for frugal (or rather, perpetually skint) me was that for a £20 upfront investment I'd have an item that would last up to 10 years. And while a box of own-brand tampons is only a pound a pop, there's always a risk that a trip to Boots will result in an impulse buy and before I know it I've bought a new nail varnish and a Graze box and end up spending a tenner.

I also love to travel and have more than once found myself in a situation where I'm in a country without ready access to tampons. I'm not a big fan of pads and had found myself obsessively carrying around a box of tampons with me at all times and becoming anxious when I didn't have one on me. The great thing about the Mooncup, for me, is that all you have to do is empty it out and with a quick rinse or wipe it can be used again.

Finally, Mooncups are not known to carry any risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome, which I think we'll all agree is what nightmares are made of for those of us who menstruate. 

Putting it In

I was lucky enough to come on my period on a lazy Saturday afternoon. With no plans for the day that involved leaving the comfort of my home, I was able to fiddle around with folding and inserting and looking up advice online. After three failed attempts , the cup stayed put and I heard the satisfying sound of the vacuum seal closing in. Minimal leakage did occur over the course of the day but once I got the hang of the fold-and-insert method I was confident enough to wear my proverbial white jeans, like those women in the adverts who bleed blue menstrual blood.

Out and About

As I write this I've been using my Mooncup for about 6 months, and it did take me about 3 cycles to completely get used to it. I think after over a decade of using tampons, which are a lot smaller and more streamlined, this is probably normal. For me it was worth persevering and the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, of which I can't think of any aside from the following: I have dropped it down the loo while taking it out a couple of times. This has never been much of a problem until last weekend when I dropped it down a portaloo never to be seen again. So much for that 10 year investment.

Verdict

What can I say, I'm a convert. For anyone willing to spend £20 I'd really say its worth giving the Mooncup a chance and persevering with the tricky first days. As for me, I'll be buying another to replace my lost menstrual cup and will be using organic tampons at festivals from now on.  

Feeling Inspired?

Are you ready to give the Mooncup a chance? Buy your Mooncup, or another menstrual cup, from our shop , where all profits go towards tackling period poverty in the UK.

If you're wondering how else you can reduce your plastic consumption, read about how me and Catherine challenged ourselves to a plastic-free fortnight. 

Big Green Week with UWE Bristol

By Catherine Blom-Smith • July 19, 2018
Watch this space for information on how No More Taboo will be involved in Big Green Week, UWE's annual festival of eco ideas, events and smart living. 

For more information, take a look at their website:  https://www1.uwe.ac.uk/whatson/biggreenweek.aspx

Environmenstrual Week of Action

By Catherine Blom-Smith • July 19, 2018
A whole week of period-related and enviro-conscious action! What could be better? This event will run from the 13th of to the 20th of October. Watch this space for details on how No More Taboo will be involved. 

Read more here:  https://www.wen.org.uk/environmenstrual-week-of-action/

No More Taboo Workshop at WOW!

By Catherine Blom-Smith • July 19, 2018
At this year's Women of the World Festival, our founder Chloe will be holding a workshop at their event in Exeter. She will be talking everything you need to know about cups! This event is on Sunday 14th October. Find out more at this link:  https://www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/women-of-the-world/

Summertime Sailin' on the Red Sea

By Jenna Yates • July 19, 2018
Find out how we've been getting ready for the highlight of our summer, Shambala Festival, where we'll be helping you safely navigate the festival period... Jump on board for a period-friendly weekend trip away with the monthlies!
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