The Werewolf Diet: Nutritional Wellness for Team Jacob

By the looks of things, we’re not getting rid of the vampire/werewolf/zombie craze anytime soon. In fact, now it looks as though these other-worldly creatures are infiltrating your wellbeing, as the latest fad in nutritional wellness reveals something that any Team Jacob girl would go for: The Werewolf Diet.

 

Diet and wellness expert Heather Neal details, ‘The Werewolf Diet is based on the cycles of the moon. The ebb and flow; the waxing and waning. The phases of the moon and their effect on nature and the human body. Or would that be the werewolf body? The theory behind the diet is that just as the moon affects the tide of the ocean, it also affects the water in our bodies. Supposedly, when the moon is full, or at the beginning of a new phase, there’s a 24-hour gravitational effect that can influence whether you can lose weight. Hmm. Reportedly Madonna and Demi Moore are moon-diet followers, so it must be totally legit.’

 

Neal continues, ‘There’s not only one Werewolf Diet — or Moon Diet, as some are calling it — there are two. There’s the basic plan or the extended option. The second option is really just a longer version that entails a different diet for each phase of the moon…Let’s start with the basic plan. It’s a simple 24-hour liquid fast that occurs in sync with the full moon. Water, juice, and nothing else for a full day. Sounds mildly feasible if you’re not the kind of person who will eat their arm off after more than two hours of hunger. The claim is you can drop six pounds during those 24 hours. The diet attributes this weight loss to the body’s increased ability to process toxins during the full and new moon phases, thus the drinking of more fluids. Apparently, it’s important to start the diet the exact minute the full moon starts. No pressure.’

 

According to Neal, ‘As far as the extended plan goes, you’re supposed to eat less when the moon is waxing and avoid eating when the “moonlight shines” (aka after 6pm) when the moon is waning, in addition to fasting during the full and new moons. Detoxifying teas are an added bonus for the new moon fast. There doesn’t seem to be any additional claims or reports to enhanced or greater weight loss with this more complex version of the diet. Although, also hidden in the diet’s website is the warning that you shouldn’t follow this diet for more than six days. I’m still working out how you follow a full moon flow for only six days.’

 

But is there anything in this idea? ‘Maybe it’s just me, but I think it goes without saying that this one’s a little out there,’ says Neal. However, she adds, ‘I guess it’s not so entirely off the wall though, considering how many things actually are affected by the moon. Like sleep cycles and baby births. (People tend to sleep 20 minutes less on nights with a full moon, and moms everywhere know the supposed increased risk of going into labour on a full moon.)…I suppose the only way to find out would be to go on a juice fast for 24 hours during a random day of the week and follow it up with another fast during a full or new moon, then compare the weight loss. But I won’t be signing up for that experiment, thank you very much. I’d turn into a werewolf after missing my first meal…I think I’ll stick with the sun diet: only eat on days the sun rises.’

Categories: cycle, diet, fad, moon, moon diet, nbsp, nutritional wellness, team jacob, Weight Loss, werewolf, Werewolf Diet

Every Embarrassing Myth You’ve Ever Believed About Periods

Where did you learn what you know about sexual wellness? Was it from a well-informed, reputable source? Of course not. As girls, we often pick up everything we know about sex from whispers in corridors and, frankly, our wellbeing can suffer as a result. Therefore, we spoke to wellness writer and U by Kotex* Community Leader Jordan Miller, and got her to address a few sexual health myths that are in severe need of debunking!

 

1. Will swimming in the sea whilst on your period get you eaten by sharks? ‘I will totally admit that I’m scared to death of sharks,’ says Miller. ‘But that has nothing to do with my period and a lot more to do with the movie Jaws. There has never been a documented case of a shark attacking a swimmer because she was menstruating. So, go ahead, dive in and have fun.’

 

2. Are you not allowed to wash your hair during your period? Miller notes, ‘Thank goodness this is a myth, since I can’t imagine giving up my daily shower, especially during my period. There’s no reason for you to change any of your regular grooming and hygiene habits just because you’re having your period. In fact, a warm bath or shower will help you stay clean, and some girls say it helps with their cramps, too.’

 

3. Is bed rest a must during your period? According to Miller, ‘You should get plenty of sleep during your period, but you should always get plenty of exercise, too. You’ll feel better if you get up and get out there (especially since exercise has been shown to alleviate cramps and brighten your mood)!’

 

4. Does hot water increase your period flow? ‘The good news and the bad news: pretty much the only thing that will change your flow is your own body,’ Miller explains. ‘So you can’t make it lighter (sorry!), and you can’t make it heavier. And a nice warm bath or shower, or a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel can help with cramps.’

 

5. Is it impossible to get pregnant during your period? The commonly cited advice that you can’t get pregnant during your period ‘isn’t true, despite what a lot of people believe,’ Miller comments. ‘Tell your friends. Tell every female you know who’s sexually active or plans to be any time soon. You CAN get pregnant during your period. Once inside you, sperm can live for three to five days. Ovulation can occur during, or soon after, the bleeding phase. If you don’t want to get pregnant, either don’t have sex, or use birth control every single time you do.’

 

6. Are irregular periods bad for your reproductive health? Miller advises, ‘First, talk to your health care provider if you’ve missed your period. It can take anywhere from six months to a year to become regular after the first time you get it. And, for some girls, it never becomes completely regular. There are lots of things, including stress, illness and intense exercise, that can mess with your cycle. That’s why you should consult a heath professional first.’

 

7. Is there an age you have to be before you should use tampons? ‘If you’re old enough to have your period, you’re old enough to use a tampon.’ Miller asserts. ‘Just read the instructions and warnings and be sure to use it correctly. It helps to ask your mom or another trusted adult for guidance. Tampons shouldn’t cause pain or discomfort.’

 

8. Are all menstrual cycles are 28 days? Miller points out the 28-day cycle is ‘only an average. Days in the menstrual cycle vary from woman to woman. Your body will tell you what your cycle is, not other people.’

Categories: cycle, Hot Water, miller, Myths, nbsp, period, Periods, Pregnant, tampons, warm bath

Period Drama: What To Expect from Menstruation

Of all the signs that you’re becoming a woman, getting your period is probably the biggest. Starting menstruation not only affects your sexual health – i.e. enabling you to get pregnant – but it can also be a confusing time, and have an impact on your mental wellness. While some of your friends may be excited to start their periods, others are probably feeling afraid or anxious about it. However, you’ll feel more positive about your wellbeing once you know more about your reproductive system and what actually happens during the menstrual cycle.

 

Girls can start having periods from the age of eight up to 17, but most girls tend to get them between 11 and 14. Generally, you can expect to get your first period about two to two-and-a-half years after your breasts have begun to develop. Also, roughly six months before your periods start, you might notice that you have an increased amount of clear vaginal discharge. This discharge is common, and you have no need to worry about it unless it has a strong odour or causes itchiness.

 

About once a month, a tiny egg leaves one of your ovaries (which sit on either side of your uterus, or womb, and contain thousands of eggs, or ova). This process is called ovulation, and lets one of your eggs travel down the fallopian tubes and on its way to your uterus. A few days before this, your body’s oestrogen levels will stimulate your uterus to get ready for a pregnancy. The uterus builds up its lining with extra blood and tissue, making then thick and cushioned. If a sperm then fertilises the egg, it travels to your uterus and attaches to these cushiony walls, so it can slowly develop into a baby.

 

However, as you ovulate every month, most of the time the egg will not be fertilised by a sperm (which happens during unprotected sex) and will not attach to the wall of your uterus. When this happens, your uterus needs to get rid of the extra tissue lining and will shed the blood, tissue and unfertilised egg. When this goes through the vagina and out of the body, it is a menstrual period. This will continue to happen almost every month unless you become pregnant, in which case you get nine months off! You continue to have periods until you reach menopause (which happens, on average, at the age of 52).

 

All girls are different, meaning their menstrual cycles will last for different lengths of time and the actual periods will vary. Your menstrual cycle starts on the first day you have a period, continues during the time you’re bleeding and lasts up until your next period. After your first period, you might find your menstrual cycle lasts anywhere between 21 and 45 days and, after a couple of years, cycles shorten to an adult length of 21-34 days. It’s common to have irregular cycles when you’re just beginning to menstruate, as your body is getting used to all the changes. Cycles usually become more regular after a year or two, but some women do have irregular periods into adulthood. It’s it’s a good idea to keep track of your menstrual cycle with a calendar.

 

In terms of how long your actual period will last, this also varies. For some girls it’s a case of two or three days, while others can last up to seven. Your menstrual cycle, or how how much blood comes out of your vagina, can vary widely from girl to girl, too. Most teens will change pads three to six times a day, with more frequent changes when their period is heaviest, usually at the start of the period. If you’re concerned about starting your period or that you’re losing too much blood, talk to a nurse or GP for more information.

Categories: cycle, menstrual, menstrual cycle, period, Periods, puberty, uterus

Do You Know Fact From Fiction When it Comes to Fertility?

There are so many myths when it comes to sexual health, and some women find it hard to know what steps to take to protect their wellness and wellbeing when there is so much misinformation out there.

 

Even although over half the world go through menstruation, it is still a hugely misunderstood area of human physiology. As a result of this, fertility myths abound, and it can be hard to sort fact from fiction.

 

For example, some people believe that women are fertile all of the time, when in truth most women are only fertile for a few days in each cycle. This is the time when the egg released from the ovaries. Sperm can live in the female reproductive tract for a few days, though, so it’s actually possible to fall pregnant during a few days of each month.

 

Unfortunately, people often feel that infertility is bound to be a woman’s fault, but this is simply not true either. In actual fact, 40 percent of infertility is down to females and 40 percent is down to males, with the remaining 20 percent being a combination of both male and female infertility, so things are actually pretty equal.

 

Women can also ovulate more than once in a cycle, although this is very rare. The second egg would normally be released around 24 hours after the first, and in this case twins can be conceived. This type of conception would result in fraternal (non identical) twins. If an egg splits after it has been fertilised, this can lead to identical twins.

 

People also think that ovulation can only occur on day 14 of the cycle, but this is just an average. Some women ovulate very early in their cycle and others ovulate much later.

Categories: cycle, Fertility, health, identical twins, Myths, nbsp, ovulate, people, Women

Contraception: The Facts Everyone Should Know

Contraception should tick a lot of boxes in one go – it should be cheap, easy to use, convenient, reversible and without any side effects. Beyond anything else though, it should protect against STDs as well as pregnancy. The type of contraception you use needs to fit your lifestyle perfectly, as well as your future goals for having a family or not. There are numerous choices out there, each with their own set of pros and cons – it’s simply a matter of sifting through until you find one which best suits your needs. From barrier methods to monitoring your natural cycle, choosing the right contraception is vital for a happy and safe sex life.

 

Natural methods are popular with women who don’t want to worry about hormones disrupting their natural cycle. They can be a little cumbersome but once you get the hang of them, they can be very effective. Natural methods of contraception include the rhythm method, which requires the woman to record the length of her menstrual cycle for several months. In doing this, she can then subtract 19 days from the shortest cycle and nine from the longest – this period of time will give her her most fertile period. During this stage, if she abstains from sex, she will be able to prevent pregnancy. The Basal body temperature technique goes by the body temperature recorded with a special thermometer. A woman’s body temperature rises after ovulation, and women are advised to avoid sex for up to three days post ovulation – this method is tricky to get right and easy to fail with though. The pull-out method, often favoured by teens, is a method which involves the male withdrawing his penis just as he is about to ejaculate. There is no special device needed nor any prescription, but there is a high failure rate and the risk of STDs as well. This method isn’t recommended as a safe and effective form of contraception.

Oral contraceptives contain two hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, which regularise your periods, prevent ovarian cysts and reduce the pain and bleeding during the menstrual cycle. For many women, they are a miracle in the fight against painful periods. However, there are other side effects such as nausea or vomiting, breast tenderness and the risk of blood clots. Your GP is the best person to advise you as to whether or not the pill is the best form of contraception for you – while there are risks, they are also very efficient in protecting against pregnancy. Likewise, the contraceptive injection is very effective and can last up to two to three months. Some women find that these injections cause irregular periods, weight gain, leg cramps and depression – this is also worth discussing first with your GP. The IUD is a copper device which is fitted into the womb and creates an inhospitable environment so that a fertilised egg can’t settle and impregnate itself. They are fitted by a professional and can last up to ten years, so they’re great for women who don’t want to consider children for a long time. However, there is a risk of cramps, heavy bleeding and even infection. If you don’t want to go down the hormonal route, there is still the barrier methods. Including male and female condoms, this method protects against STDs as well as pregnancy and can be hugely effective in achieving both. It’s important to remember that no methods besides abstinence can offer 100 percent success, but the barrier method is a popular choice which many find to be effective and fits well into their lifestyle.

Categories: barrier methods, body temperature, contraception, cycle, hormones, menstrual cycle, method, natural cycle, Natural Methods, Sex, Women