From Sherry Thomas, M.D. 

The traditional way of dealing with menstrual cramps — the good ol’ heating pad — is so yesterday. And in the summertime, who wants to be hugging the equivalent of a toaster oven? The latest research suggests there are much better options for fighting off menstrual distress. Here are my top five recommendations:

1. Stay away from foods that can cause bloating. Some foods that are nutrition super-heroes the rest of the month may provoke bloating right before and during your period. That includes legumes (such as peas, beans and lentils) and cruciferous veggies (like broccoli and kale). Likewise, dairy products and whole grains can be bad factors during this time. Be extra careful to stay away from anything with lots of sodium, which is well-known for causing bloat.  But… this is a good time to be reaching for ginger. It has long been a traditional medicine for fighting inflammatory disease, and recent research says it can help tame cramps. It’s available as a supplement on the vitamin aisle.

Kaitlyn Luckow

Feminine hygiene products are necessary items that most women take for granted every day. In fact, we sometimes loathe the day we have to throw in some pads into our grocery cart because menstruation is still seen by many as taboo.

However, we forget how privileged we are to have access to these products to begin with. For many homeless and low-income individuals, feminine hygiene products become a luxury.

Feminine hygiene products are desperately needed in homeless shelters across the country because no one seems to think about this obvious need. 

Not only do feminine hygiene products provide items for individuals who need them most, but they also provide a sense of dignity that is usually forgotten. Hundreds and thousands of homeless and low-income individuals are forced to make the choice between a meal and buying feminine hygiene products every day, forcing them to lose a sense of dignity as they are forced to use whatever is free and available to them: usually an old piece of cloth or wadded up toilet paper.