Everything You Were Never Taught About Your Period The Refined Collective Podcast

I am so excited to be chatting with my soul sister Kate Eskuri today! This episode we’re talking all about PERIODS. Ladies, you’re going to learn so much more than you ever did in health class. Kate is a registered nurse, holistic health junkie, and the voice behind The Foundation Blog. She is currently getting her doctorate degree in integrative health and healing and is passionate about helping women maximize their health by simple and foundational health practices. Our hope is that this conversation will empower you to do research and make informed decisions for that time of the month.
Finding The Balance
Kate took a year off from being a nurse in the Mayo Clinic to work on her sister Jenna Kutcher's Goal Digger Podcast. During this time, she realized her passion for integrative health. “What are you doing when you’re putting off something else?” She knows that areas of Western medicine need improvement, but also recognizes that this medicine is the reason we are alive today after seeing it in action in the ICU. However, chronic conditions that plague our country prove a need for a shift toward the holistic. We need to look at sleep, stress, and diet. “I feel very at home in this spot in the middle.” Becoming A Woman
“Everything in my life was very natural but yet I was still controlling this really natural and beautiful cycle.”
Kate never felt any shame around her period. “I just felt honored and excited about it.” Her periods were regular but were more frequent than they should have been. “It takes a while to normalize your cycle.” Wanting to prevent this near constant bleeding, she tried the NuvaRing but ultimately settled on the Mirena IUD which allowed her to continue ovulating. Cons of Hormonal Contraceptive
“I completely trust my fellow woman to make the choice that is best for her. There is an option that is right for everybody.” The hormones in contraceptives are not the exact hormones your body would make.  Hormonal contraception often suppress ovulation and ultimately suppress hormones that are natural and have important benefits. “You’re inhibiting a very natural process that goes a lot deeper than just your period.” The Phases Of Your Cycle
Ladies + Gents--the below is just an overview...you gotta listen to the whole episode to get the goods of each phase of your cycle!
1. Menstruation/Winter
Day 1: shedding the uterine lining. You’re maybe feeling moody or withdrawn, experiencing cramps, and a need to slow down. It’s like the ‘winter’ season of the cycle. Follicular/Spring Day 3 or 4: Follicle stimulating hormone is working on the dominant egg. More energy in this phase, almost like stepping back into your skin. This time is good for creative projects and you’ll experience clear thinking. “You feel energetic and attractive... it’s just a really vibrant time.” Ovulation/Summer Body releases egg as the pituitary gland signals for it to release. “You can’t kind of ovulate—you either ovulate or you don’t.” High energy, high sex drive, you feel attractive. Your hormones even make you more attractive to those around you. There is a study that shows a correlation between a woman’s scent during ovulation and a man’s attraction to her. Luteal/Fall Progesterone—can make you moody and somber, but it’s really important. “It is the yin to estrogen’s yang.” Progesterone is calming, helps sleep, reduces inflammation, + builds muscles. “The shift from being so estrogen dominant at parts of your cycle to progesterone dominant causes an influx of emotion—what we see as PMS.” Getting To Know Your Period
“Your period health says a lot about your overall health.”
Track Your Cycle! Kate journals every morning and will write about how she is feeling on the previous day of her cycle. A few key words is all you need—nothing flashy! Kate uses the Ava app and Kat uses the My Flo app.  “Your period