Girls only...?

Question

Have you noticed that since becoming vegetarian/vegan, your periods have become a bit different than what they used to be? I absolutely LOVE the changes, but am just wondering if it's common... no more cramps, lighter flow, less or no PMS, voila!

Answer 1

Hello, and yes, definitely!

The healthier you eat, the lighter your periods are. I think this is linked to vitamin C consumption. Also, if you're into dark green vegetables, you'll be getting lots of iron :)

Vegetarians and vegans also tend to eat less sugar and junk, and this also helps.

I read that women on the raw vegan lifestyle have super light, conmfortable periods.

Answer 2

Yes! The same thing happened to me and it is pretty great. I think the change is attributed to the fact that meat has a lot of hormones and fat in it so eliminating it changes your body chemistry. I noticed an even bigger change when I started using hormone free organic dairy products and eating less refined sugar. When I adopted a vegetarian lifestyle I started exercising more and was generally healthier (not as many nights out in smokey bars or drunken debauchery).
It's great to know that I am not the only one!

Answer 3

From what I've read, painful periods can be a symptom of food intolerances and/or vitamin deficiencies (particularly E, C, and Bs). It's possible that you had a problem with a food you were eating (dairy perhaps?), and now that you've given it up, your periods got better.

I never had a problem with mine before or after becoming vegan until I started traveling a lot. After a lot of shitty doctors trying to convince me to go on the pill (that wouldn't solve the problem! You don't get a real period if you're on the pill, not to mention it isn't vegan), I found a good doctor who told me it could be a lack of B-vitamins. When I'm home, I get plenty of it, but traveling (and drinking!) can really suck them out of you, so now I'm really careful to never leave home without my nut yeast!

Answer 4

Funny -- up until the age of 18, I was very irregular -- sometimes going as long as 6-7 months between periods. Then I became vegetarian, and they became about 2-3 months apart. My nurse-practitioner wanted to give me injections to induce them if they were any less frequent.

At around 30, I became vegan and as regular as the moon! :)

Answer 5

I can't believe that I am so out of tune with my body that I hadn't made mental note of this. You are right! I used to have 1-2 days of severe cramping during each period, but I never have cramps at all anymore. I am vegan for the animals' sake, but it sure is nice to get little perks like this for myself, too! :0)

Answer 6

Yes, yes!! Come to think of it, my periods are much shorter. I used to menstrate for a solid four - sometimes 5 days. Now, my period only lasts for two days, sometimes three. My PMS is still a tad much at times, but the cramps! They are few and far between.
And all this time, I could have avoided those symptoms by eliminating meat. Who knew??!!
:-)

Answer 7

What you eat can play a role in the way you periods act, and so can exercise (including sex), living in the same environment as other women, and simply getting older. If being vegetarian/vegan, makes your periods easier for than good for you and keep at it.

Answer 8

If you haven't been a vegetarian/vegan for a while your body is just getting use to the change.

Answer 9

I've been a vegan since I was 3 years old. Now I'm 14 years old. I never had PMS along my life. I don't have headache, I don't feel so tired in my period. And I can contol myself. No PMS at all.

Answer 10

Yes being a vegan is awesome i have the same symptoms. But a few months into it it gets even better ;) wink wink

ps
schools for fools but my period is awsome now