IS COFFEE HARMFUL FOR THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE?

We are in Italy and the tradition of espresso at the bar or at the coffee machines at work is a MUST unfortunately, however many studies, although not definitively due to the great variability in the ability of caffeine to induce symptoms in individuals, have verified that abuse of coffee or high-caffeinated beverages during your menstrual cycle can affect the course of your period. Let's see what caffeine can do:

  1. alter sleep
  2. alter mood
  3. impair digestion
  4. lead to dehydration
  5. reduce nutrient absorption

In some studies done with a group of women who took a quantity of caffeine greater than 300 mg, which corresponds to about 3/4 cups of coffee per day, it was noted that they could suffer from alterations in the length of the cycle itself with the possibility of increasing flow especially if combined with an above average BMI or the use of alcohol. 

Caffeine can alter the sleep-wake cycle
 Caffeine can alter our mood
 Caffeine can impair digestion

CAFFEINE CAN ALTER THE ALARM SLEEP CYCLE

Caffeine has  an important role in managing the energy of the nervous system, it keeps us awake even when we feel tired and remains in circulation for a long time in our body. Think that the effect of a cup of coffee is 5 hours on average, so if the last coffee is drunk in the afternoon, the concentration of caffeine can be too high in the evening and make sleep disturbed also due to  frequent urination. Let us always remember that during menstruation estrogen decreases and therefore fatigue is felt more especially if combined with it there is also a sleepless night or with continuous awakenings.

CAFFEINE CAN ALTER OUR MOOD

During menstruation we can also suffer from mood changes because hormones have a great impact, especially in younger subjects, in the management of our feelings. Unfortunately , caffeine doesn't help much at this stage  as it provides us with energy at high peaks to have equally fast relapses. When his brain signal decreases and adrenaline drops, even worse if the coffee is sweetened, it can be making emotional management difficult these days more delicate.

Caffeine is also an activator of the sympathetic nervous system, that of the alert of fear and anger. 

Too much caffeine could drain our ability to manage the release of energy so it could increase the action of the opposite system, the parasympathetic, able to make us tired even if we have not actually made mental or physical efforts. This can also trigger symptoms of apparent lethargy and depression in some more genetically predisposed individuals. 

CAFFEINE CAN ALTER DIGESTION

Digestion during the flow is not among the best for both physiological reasons due to bodily sensations, but also psychological that can slow down the metabolism of the digestive system. Caffeine is not an ally of regular digestion. In fact, during menstruation a lot of blood is concentrated in the reproductive area, other organs may be left uncovered by the support of oxygen and nutrients so the intestines may become even more sluggish than usual. During this period the cells of the pelvic wall release prostaglandins, the molecules connected with the sensation of pain and with premenstrual cramps, if vasodilation increases due to the abuse of caffeine these molecules can be transported to other areas such as the intestine triggering therefore belly pains which in some cases can lead to constipation or diarrhea. 

Caffeine can cause dehydration and this factor can increase the feeling of tiredness and feeling of bloating and physical and mental energy making these particular days difficult for some people to deal with, so it is very important not only to dose caffeine these days but also to hydrate more.

Caffeine can also reduce the absorption of nutrients by the stomach and intestines, decreasing the absorption of important minerals such as magnesium and potassium which are essential in managing blood flow and muscles of the pelvic wall, as well as decreasing the absorption of iron by the intestine and we know how important this element is during the cycle.

Back to Blog