I’ve actually bookmarked this (and a few of your other recent posts) to come back to. So powerful and so practical at the same time. Really glad I found your page this morning!
Absolutely love this reflection and yes, you’re right, I was in my luteal phase when writing that 😄 We are pretty aligned so it seems haha.
Ok, a long answer, but I always want to be nuanced.
To your question (beautifully timed with where you are in your cycle and your self-awareness): yes, strong PMS symptoms often point to something deeper. Not necessarily a “problem,” but a pattern. The luteal phase and your bleed as your body’s monthly report card. Anything you’ve been skimming over, whether nutritionally, emotionally, energetically tends to show up here more clearly. And it's just information to work with, not something to stress about.
And during the luteal phase naturally increases hunger, so that is very normal. Progesterone rises, your metabolism speeds up, and your body is doing a ton behind the scenes (think: preparing for potential pregnancy, regulating temperature, rebuilding tissues). So you actually need more food during this time, especially warm, grounding, and nutrient-dense meals.
That said, if the hunger feels very intense or relentless, it might be pointing to something deeper, maybe not enough calories or protein throughout the month. It could be your body asking for more consistent nourishment (or rest, or boundaries) throughout the month, not just now.
In Ayurveda, we see the luteal phase as a call to slow down, build, and listen deeper. And it sounds like you’re already doing that beautifully. ❤️ Ayurveda is always individualized so I can only give some general advice.
Here’s what I (as an Holistic Health Coach, not a doctor) can recommend:
✨ Journal (or observe) your patterns for 3 months. Not just what you eat, but how you feel, physically and emotionally. What’s the hunger really asking for? What is your body craving? How do you feel after eating? Did you experience more stress than usual? This can all affect your cycle.
✨ Experiment. Start by increasing portions in your luteal phase. If that doesn’t help, try adding more protein and fat throughout the month, I don't know your diet but for example not just salads (been there, lived on those for years thinking it was “healthy”). Since shifting to heavier, more grounding (stews, rich soups, root veggies) foods, I’ve felt more stable and less depleted.
I’ll be sharing more soon on foods for each Dosha and how to nourish yourself through each phase of your cycle.
You’re doing amazing, just the fact that you’re listening already shifts so much. Hope this was helpful. Keep going 💛
Thank you Anouk for this detailed answer. I will focus more on the reasons behind the hunger as my nutrition is great I believe (not sure if you are familiar with RCP protocol) but basically I call myself a “broth queen” and I am aware of the cold and hot food from TCM.
Thank you for bringing this meaningful information to the world.
I’m not deeply familiar with the RCP protocol yet, it’s something I’ve been hearing more about and would love to explore further to broaden my perspective. I really appreciate you sharing what’s working for you.
Broth queen, I love that. It sounds like you’re deeply in tune with your body’s needs and drawing wisdom from multiple traditions, which is so powerful.
So then focussing on the reasons behind the hunger sounds like a great next step 💛
I’m currently in my bleed phase—though I haven’t bled in 2 years, and this is where I was last week.
I was on “vacation” with my kids and I found myself breaking down in grief, sadness and rage.
I realized that I feel disrespected by them often and that I need to feel honored and valued as a member of our family.
I have allowed them to disrespect me because I felt guilty about their early traumas, and not leaving their dad sooner.
No more. I came home from that trip and laid out my expectations, requirements and demands as well as uncompromising consequences.
Last night my youngest noticed my energetic shift—I was hugging him goodnight and he said “you feel different” I asked how and he said it was “a feeling like you’re so safe” in other words he felt safe in my energy.
My nervous system is no longer on constant high alert and I’m able to be who I actually am.
Now I can build the online business I’ve been working towards, and it took that moment of clarity under the stars, tearfully raging at the sky.
Thank you for your share! So powerful! I got goosebumps about your youngest feeling the shift. You are giving yourself and them such a gift. And the energy that you freed up, will return to you and flow beautifully into your business! I am cheering for you.
I’ve actually bookmarked this (and a few of your other recent posts) to come back to. So powerful and so practical at the same time. Really glad I found your page this morning!
Hi Laura, welcome! I am so happy with your words (thank you!) and that my writing brings something of value to you :).
Wow! So much here and such a great post. Thank you for bringing these things to the forefront for further exploration! 💙
Hi love, thank you for sharing, I am glad it resonated. There’s more coming on these themes, so stay close. 🌙
Reading this article felt to me like you wrote it during your luteal phase — or maybe it’s just that I’m reading it while I’m in mine. 😀
I’m currently in a phase of better understanding my cycle and becoming more open to my emotions. I’m trying to rest and listen to my body more.
I’d like to ask you a question:
If certain PMS symptoms show up strongly, could that point to an underlying issue that persists throughout the rest of the month?
For example, I tend to feel much hungrier during my luteal phase. Even though I try to eat well and regularly, this still repeats.
Can I take that as a sign that I’m not eating enough (nutritionally) in general? Or could it be a symptom of something deeper than just nutrition?
Absolutely love this reflection and yes, you’re right, I was in my luteal phase when writing that 😄 We are pretty aligned so it seems haha.
Ok, a long answer, but I always want to be nuanced.
To your question (beautifully timed with where you are in your cycle and your self-awareness): yes, strong PMS symptoms often point to something deeper. Not necessarily a “problem,” but a pattern. The luteal phase and your bleed as your body’s monthly report card. Anything you’ve been skimming over, whether nutritionally, emotionally, energetically tends to show up here more clearly. And it's just information to work with, not something to stress about.
And during the luteal phase naturally increases hunger, so that is very normal. Progesterone rises, your metabolism speeds up, and your body is doing a ton behind the scenes (think: preparing for potential pregnancy, regulating temperature, rebuilding tissues). So you actually need more food during this time, especially warm, grounding, and nutrient-dense meals.
That said, if the hunger feels very intense or relentless, it might be pointing to something deeper, maybe not enough calories or protein throughout the month. It could be your body asking for more consistent nourishment (or rest, or boundaries) throughout the month, not just now.
In Ayurveda, we see the luteal phase as a call to slow down, build, and listen deeper. And it sounds like you’re already doing that beautifully. ❤️ Ayurveda is always individualized so I can only give some general advice.
Here’s what I (as an Holistic Health Coach, not a doctor) can recommend:
✨ Journal (or observe) your patterns for 3 months. Not just what you eat, but how you feel, physically and emotionally. What’s the hunger really asking for? What is your body craving? How do you feel after eating? Did you experience more stress than usual? This can all affect your cycle.
✨ Experiment. Start by increasing portions in your luteal phase. If that doesn’t help, try adding more protein and fat throughout the month, I don't know your diet but for example not just salads (been there, lived on those for years thinking it was “healthy”). Since shifting to heavier, more grounding (stews, rich soups, root veggies) foods, I’ve felt more stable and less depleted.
I’ll be sharing more soon on foods for each Dosha and how to nourish yourself through each phase of your cycle.
You’re doing amazing, just the fact that you’re listening already shifts so much. Hope this was helpful. Keep going 💛
Thank you Anouk for this detailed answer. I will focus more on the reasons behind the hunger as my nutrition is great I believe (not sure if you are familiar with RCP protocol) but basically I call myself a “broth queen” and I am aware of the cold and hot food from TCM.
Thank you for bringing this meaningful information to the world.
I’m not deeply familiar with the RCP protocol yet, it’s something I’ve been hearing more about and would love to explore further to broaden my perspective. I really appreciate you sharing what’s working for you.
Broth queen, I love that. It sounds like you’re deeply in tune with your body’s needs and drawing wisdom from multiple traditions, which is so powerful.
So then focussing on the reasons behind the hunger sounds like a great next step 💛
I’m currently in my bleed phase—though I haven’t bled in 2 years, and this is where I was last week.
I was on “vacation” with my kids and I found myself breaking down in grief, sadness and rage.
I realized that I feel disrespected by them often and that I need to feel honored and valued as a member of our family.
I have allowed them to disrespect me because I felt guilty about their early traumas, and not leaving their dad sooner.
No more. I came home from that trip and laid out my expectations, requirements and demands as well as uncompromising consequences.
Last night my youngest noticed my energetic shift—I was hugging him goodnight and he said “you feel different” I asked how and he said it was “a feeling like you’re so safe” in other words he felt safe in my energy.
My nervous system is no longer on constant high alert and I’m able to be who I actually am.
Now I can build the online business I’ve been working towards, and it took that moment of clarity under the stars, tearfully raging at the sky.
Thank you for your share! So powerful! I got goosebumps about your youngest feeling the shift. You are giving yourself and them such a gift. And the energy that you freed up, will return to you and flow beautifully into your business! I am cheering for you.