Part 2. Foods for the Ovulatory Phase of Menstruation
The Ovulatory Phase
We are continuing with part 2 of our 4 part series on dietary requirements for the different phases of the menstrual cycle. These specific phases are follicular, ovulation, luteal, and menstrual. By eating the right foods at the right times, we can powerfully restore and balance hormonal health while restoring our body to its natural rhythm. This simple and yet ground breaking approach to hormonal health which was developed by Alisa Vitta in her book, WomanCode: Perfect your Cycle, Amplify your Fertility, Supercharge your Sex Drive, and Become a Power Source.
It is through the protocol advocated in the WomanCode that specific foods are propagated at different phases of the menstrual cycle to support each of these hormones and their optimum levels. The 5 different hormones that need to be supported to maintain a healthy menstrual cycle are estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing stimulating hormone (LH), and testosterone.
The second phase of the menstrual cycle is the ovulatory phase. This occurs when the egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube where it awaits fertilization. Levels of both FSH and LH are increasing during this phase. Estrogen levels also reach their peak and testosterone also increases. Since hormone levels are all rising during this level, it becomes extremely important to be able to detoxify the increased hormones and keep them moving through the body. This can be accomplished through an increase in the consumption of antioxidant and fiber rich foods.
This is where raw fruits and vegetables come in. Not only will fiber-rich vegetables help detoxify your liver, antioxidant rich fruits can help increase glutathione and furthermore assist in hormone detoxification. Some good options are broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, okra, spinach, asparagus, berries, coconut, and guava. These raw fruits and vegetables can powerfully support your body’s requirements for increased detoxification to enable a healthy ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle.