WOMEN’S TRAINING

KATE MILSOM

Kate is 220’s staff writer and a keen endurance triathlete and bikepacker. Kate has particular interests in cycling, nutrition and sports injury and advocates for inclusivity within sport.

We debuted our women’s training column back in November 2020 with advice on how best to maximise performance throughout the month (issue 383). This month, we go one step further in outlining the best nutrition strategies to pair with this training during specific points of the menstrual hormone cycle.

POWERFUL NATURAL PROCESS

One of the largest physiological differences between the sexes is the constant, predictable fluctuation of female hormones caused by the menstruation cycle. Historically, this has been linked to mood swings and food cravings, which are usually accompanied by rolled eyes and the excuse that ‘it’s just that time of the month’.

But what if periods aren’t something