Coffee consumption before, during, and after your period can have important implications for your overall health and wellbeing. Women’s menstrual cycles are complex biochemical processes that can be impacted by a lot of different external factors, such as nutrition, stress, and sleep. Coffee is one of those factors that can play an important role.
Coffee is known to be an effective stimulant, having the ability to enhance energy levels, boost alertness, and improve mental performance. However, some research has suggested that drinking coffee during your period can actually have an adverse effect on your menstrual cycle. Here’s why you shouldn’t drink coffee on your period.
Changes in Energy Levels
One of the main reasons you might consider avoiding coffee during your period is that it can cause a drastic change in your energy levels. While the caffeine in coffee can boost your energy in the short-term, it can leave you feeling drained and fatigued as the effects dissipate. Your body is already dealing with the hormonal and physical changes associated with your menstrual cycle, and the last thing you need is to be dealing with an additional energy crash.
Additionally, caffeine can affect your body’s absorption of certain vitamins and minerals, such as iron, magnesium, and B vitamins. These are key nutrients that your body needs to function properly, and a reduction in their absorption can lead to feelings of fatigue and exhaustion, which can be further exacerbated during your period.
Increase in PMS Symptoms
Caffeine has been linked to an increase in premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, such as cramping, bloating, and headaches. This is because caffeine is believed to disturb the body’s natural hormonal balance. The stress hormones produced by the body can lead to increased inflammation, and this can exacerbate PMS symptoms.
Caffeine can also disrupt your body’s cortisol levels, which can lead to mood swings and irritability. When combined with the hormonal fluctuations already occurring during your period, the effects of caffeine can be exacerbated and result in a more pronounced PMS experience.
Impacts on the Cardiovascular System
Drinking coffee during your period can also have a surprisingly negative impact on your heart health. Caffeine is known to increase your blood pressure and heart rate, as well as negatively affecting your body’s ability to regulate its own temperature. When combined with the oxytocin and estrogen surges that occur during your period, this can lead to an elevated risk of developing high blood pressure or heart disease.
Additionally, some research has found that caffeine can decrease the body’s production of progesterone, which is a hormone that helps reduce inflammation and protect the body from disease. When your progesterone levels are low, this can increase the risk of inflammatory diseases like arthritis and lupus, as well as heart conditions.
Impacts on Sleep Quality
Another reason why you may want to avoid drinking coffee during your period is that caffeine can disrupt your sleep. This is because caffeine affects the hormones that regulate your sleep-wake cycle. Caffeine boosts the production of the stress hormone cortisol, which can make it difficult to relax and fall asleep. Additionally, caffeine can delay REM sleep, which is the most restorative stage of sleep.
A lack of high-quality sleep can have a few different implications during your period, including fatigue, headaches, bloating, and mood swings. Therefore, avoiding caffeine during this time may be beneficial for improving your overall sleep quality.
Impacts on Nutrition
The caffeine in coffee can also have a negative impact on nutrition. Caffeine can reduce your body’s ability to absorb key nutrients, such as iron and calcium, which can impede your body’s ability to repair itself after physical activity. This is particularly important during your period, when your body may already be lacking in important vitamins and minerals.
Furthermore, excessive consumption of coffee can lead to an increase in appetite and cravings for unhealthy foods. This can further impede your body’s ability to restore and repair itself during your period, as well as result in unhealthy weight gain.
Impacts on Digestion
Coffee can also negatively affect your digestion during your period. Caffeine has been linked to an increase in abdominal pain and gas, as well as an increased risk of constipation. Furthermore, coffee is a diuretic, which can lead to dehydration, cramps, and bloating during your period.
Caffeine can also reduce your stomach’s production of hydrochloric acid, which is a key compound for optimal digestion. This can impair your body’s ability to break down food and absorb key nutrients, making it difficult to get adequate nutrition during your period.
Impacts on Mood
Finally, caffeine consumption can also have an effect on your mood during your period. As previously mentioned, caffeine can increase the production of cortisol, the stress hormone. When combined with the hormonal fluctuations already occurring during your period, this can lead to feelings of irritability, anxiety, and depression.
Additionally, caffeine can interfere with your body’s production of serotonin, which is a key neurotransmitter responsible for mood regulation. This can further contribute to feelings of irritability and depression during your period.
Impacts on Skin
Caffeine consumption can also have negative impacts on your skin during your period. Caffeine is known to decrease blood flow to the skin and impair the body’s natural repair processes, leading to increased inflammation and dryness. This can further exacerbate any skin issues that you’re already experiencing due to your menstrual cycle.
On top of this, caffeine can also have an effect on your hormones. The hormones responsible for producing sebum, which is a natural oil that helps to keep your skin moisturized, can be disrupted by the caffeine in coffee. This can lead to an increase in acne, dryness, and other skin issues.
Impacts on Fertility
Another potential concern with drinking coffee during your period is its impact on fertility. Caffeine has been linked to an increased risk of infertility, as it can interfere with hormone production and disrupt the menstrual cycle. It’s believed that drinking more than two cups of coffee a day can reduce your fertility by as much as 30%.
Caffeine can also affect your ability to conceive, as it can reduce the amount of nutrients that are available for your body to use for conception, as well as increase the time it takes for your body to get pregnant. Additionally, it can increase your risk of miscarriage if you do become pregnant.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many reasons why you shouldn’t drink coffee on your period. From impacting your energy levels, to increasing your risk of PMS symptoms and fertility issues, the side effects of coffee can be difficult to manage. Therefore, it’s important to be mindful of your caffeine intake during your period and consider avoiding it altogether.
