Menstruation is an inherently inflammatory process, and if you’ve got underlying inflammation going on in your body, this can cause menstruation to feel a lot worse for some folks. On today’s episode of the Funk’tional Nutrition Podcast, Erin sits down with Le’Nise Brothers to answer your questions about intense periods, including hormonal shifts throughout your cycle, PMS vs PMDD, pain symptoms to pay attention to, and strategies to help feel better throughout your cycle. If you have PCOS or endometriosis, suffer from painful periods, or are wondering how you can better support your body throughout your cycle, this will be a helpful episode to tune into! Le’Nise Brothers is a registered nutritionist, mBANT, mCHNC, specialising in women’s health, hormones and the menstrual cycle, yoga teacher and host of the Period Story podcast. She works with women who want to get control of sugar cravings, mood swings and hormonal acne, bloating and headaches, as well as increase their energy levels. Le’Nise has helped many women with hormonal issues ranging from PMS, PCOS, fibroids, endometriosis, heavy, painful, missing & irregular periods, post-natal depletion, perimenopause and menopause. She set up her practice Eat Love Move to help empower and educate women to understand their bodies, advocate for better healthcare and heal. In this episode: -One of the overarching themes of this episode [2:37] -Why Le’Nise started her podcast, Period Stories [6:32] -The opportunity in our menstrual cycles [11:12] -Energy & mood during ovulation & what that means [15:44] -PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) [19:51] -What’s the difference between PMS and PMDD? [21:38] -The effect of progesterone with PMDD [24:28] -Strategies that help PMDD [25:05] -What is “normal” with PMS and periods? [26:22] -Painful cramps during menstruation what to do to help [34:38] -Period pain symptoms that might indicate something deeper at play [37:13] -The importance of advocating for yourself [38:44] -Estrogen dominance & its impact on periods [42:22] -What is seed cycling & does it really help with hormones? [49:24] -Overthinking with food and our cycles [53:13] Resources mentioned: Organifi supplement powder (save 20% on your order with code FUNK) https://organifi.com/FUNK Bio-Kult Boosted probiotic supplement (save 15% on your order with code FUNK15) https://www.bio-kult.com/bio-kult-boosted/p9 More about Le’Nise https://eatlovemove.com/ Find Le’Nise on Insta https://instagram.com/eatlovemove Find Erin on Insta https://www.instagram.com/the.funktional.nutritionist/ Period Story Podcast https://eatlovemove.com/period-story-podcast/ Related episodes: 48: Exploring Female Hormones & Birth Control with Dr. Jolene Brighten https://www.erinholthealth.com/funktional-nutrition-podcast/2019/2/14/48-exploring-female-hormones-amp-birth-control-with-dr-jolene-brighten 61: Using Your Cycle to Plan Your Life: Menstruation, Ovulation & Tracking Hormones https://www.erinholthealth.com/funktional-nutrition-podcast/2019/5/22/episode-61-using-your-cycle-to-plan-your-life-menstruation-ovulation-amp-tracking-hormones 147: Inflammation & What You’re NOT Eating https://www.erinholthealth.com/funktional-nutrition-podcast/2021/3/15/episode-147-inflammation-amp-what-youre-not-eating