Iron-rich meals for the first three days
The first three days of your period are when you lose the most blood, and with it, iron. Iron deficiency is extremely common among Indian women, and its symptoms — fatigue, breathlessness, brain fog — are easily mistaken for just being busy.
What to put on your plate
Lean on iron-rich staples: rajma, chana, masoor dal, palak, methi, beetroot, dates, jaggery, sesame seeds and ragi. If you eat meat, eggs, chicken liver and fish are excellent sources of easily absorbed iron.
Help your body absorb it
Pair iron with vitamin C — a squeeze of lemon on your dal, amla, guava or oranges on the side. Try to keep tea and coffee an hour away from iron-rich meals, as they reduce absorption.
“Day one is not the day for a skipped lunch. It's the day for a warm bowl of dal and a second helping.”
If you regularly feel exhausted during or after your period, ask your doctor for a haemoglobin and ferritin test before starting any supplements.
6 min readWhat your energy is trying to tell you this week
Your energy levels across your cycle aren't random — they're hormonal intelligence you can learn to read.
4 min readA gentler morning routine for irregular cycles
When your cycle doesn't follow the textbook, your mornings shouldn't have to either.