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Columnist and Health

Should your menstrual phase dictate what you eat and how you exercise?

The idea of varying your lifestyle throughout your menstrual cycle to help relieve PMS or period pain seems intuitive, but the evidence reveals a nuanced picture, finds columnist Alexandra Thompson

By Alexandra Thompson

17 April 2025

A woman eating a bowl of fruit while wearing exercise clothes

The cyclesyncing trend involves changing what you eat and how you workout throughout your menstrual cycle

Nensuria/Getty Images

For several days a month, my appetite knows no bounds – then my period arrives. The relentless hunger is as reliable an indicator that it is approaching as any menstrual tracking app I’ve tried. Despite eating more at this time, I had never considered whether I should be swapping foods in and out, or changing my exercise routine, to support my body on its menstrual journey. That was until I came across the concept of #cyclesyncing on social media – but is there any evidence that we really…

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