Did you know that our immune system responds differently throughout our cycle? During our follicular phase, the first phase, our oestrogen levels rise and our immune system is ready to fight off any infections or viruses.
During the second half of our cycle, as our hormone levels decrease, our immune system is not as strong. The reduced immune response is intended so our bodies won’t attack a fertilised egg as a foreign invader. If our hormones are balanced, we shouldn’t notice this shift, but if there is an imbalance, we might notice it as we are more likely to come down with a cold right before our period.
What can we do?
- Increase self-care in our second phase of our cycle, the luteal phase by getting enough sleep, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and sugar.
- Talk to us or a health care professional about what supplements would be best for us to boost our immune system such as Vitamin C, Vitamin B, Magnesium, Vitamin D, Omega 3’s and Antioxidants.
- Prevent oestrogen dominance by increasing our intake of fibre, adding more healthy fats (the omega-9 fats in olive oil help our bodies metabolise oestrogen) and eating more cruciferous veggies like broccoli and cauliflower (they contain compounds that support oestrogen detoxification).
