When it comes to menstrual bloating one of the best things you can do is get active.
While bloating can make activity the last thing on your mind, the truth is by fighting through your initial reluctance you can quickly begin to feel better.
That’s because activity – the right activity – gets the blood circulating bringing beneficial nutrients to your abdomen.
So to recap: activity is good and lying on the couch all day is bad – and could even make your condition worse.
Of course, activity for activity’s sake is not the answer. There are certain exercises that are better than others for relieving bloating.
Here Are Five of the Best Exercises For Bloating:
1. Body Arch
Lie on your back, brace yourself with your hands on the bed and arch your body upward towards the ceiling. As you hit the highest point of the arch, your belly button will be the highest point of your body. That’s a good time to contract the abdominal muscles and then let go. Contract them three times, then return back down to the bed. Repeat. The abdominal muscle contraction will help make the bloating go away.
2. Abdominal exercises
At your gym, you’ll find at least three abdominal exercise machines. Work out on these machines and do four sets of 10 repetitions on each machine. You can also do abdominal exercises at home, such as crunches, situps, planks and more.
3. K2 Machine
This vibrating machine allows you to perform various exercises – such as pushups, leg lifts, etc., so you get the benefits of exercising while the machine also shakes out your bloating and inflammation. One 10-minute session on the K2 machine offers the body the equivalent of a 45-minute workout in the gym.
4. Fetal position
Lie on your bed, pull your legs up to your abdomen and hold them there for one minute. Then release them back to full length position. Repeat.
5. Hang upside down
While hanging upside down, massage your abdomen in a clockwise direction. You’ll stimulate blood flow to the area and that will facilitate a removal of waste products and relieve bloating. You could also do crunches or situps from the inverted position to further concentrate on the abdominal muscles and relieve bloating.
One more thing: while exercise can be very effective for relieving bloating don’t forget your nutritional needs. Taking a period vitamin can help you avoid the vitamin and mineral deficiencies that lead to bloating and other PMS symptoms in the first place.
Take a period vitamin consistently and you’ll feel better and more energetic both during your period … and even when you don’t have it.
Why continually put yourself through bloating and cramps and muscle aches, when a period vitamin can give your body the nutrients that support your reproductive system during your period?
