every phase #18 - ovulatory - the 5th cycle

over the moon

Once upon a dramatic rise in estrogen...

There was one lucky follicle that matured beautiful and full and was released into one of the fallopian tubes.

She diligently made her way down this tube and found herself standing at the pearly gates of the Uterus where, thanks to those rising estrogen levels, the uterine lining had grown lush with a host of protective immune system cells that had just sprouted.

The dreamy saturation and sense of playful adventure seen in this piece have it living up to the popular reputation of the ovulatory phase--the period of magnetism and communication.

And unlike most enchanting fairy tale stories, there is no villain.  Even with the villains we think we may have or are conditioned to 'fight' against, i.e. PCOS, fibroids, endometriosis. etc.  Beautifully illustrated in one of my favorite quotes...

"If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do us no harm."

- Old African proverb

When you love yourself and nourish your mind body and spirit, they work together to take care of the happily ever after part--and the best part is, it isn't fiction, it's real life!

This is the fearless phase.It is the best time to ask for a raise, write a month's worth of marketing, or post a video of yourself giving a talk about something you're passionate about--anything that involves opening up. Your attraction factor is multiplied by a thousand, so it's almost guaranteed to be a fairy tale ending. 

Key Supplement for the Ovulatory Phase

DIM stands for 3,3′-diindolylmethane, and it is a powerful health-promoting compound derived from cruciferous vegetables. One of its key functions in the body is to help moderate and enhance estrogen metabolism. In other words, it helps the body efficiently process and eliminate used-up estrogen, which is important during the ovulatory phase when estrogen is high.  

Estrogen dominance is a condition in which levels of estrogen are high relative to the amount of progesterone in the body, and it is one of the most common conditions in women with hormone imbalances and period problems. The liver is the body’s main organ of elimination and it processes and eliminates excess estrogen. DIM helps the liver do its job more effectively, which helps prevent estrogen dominance and related symptoms like acne, PMS, and heavy or irregular periods. Research also suggests that DIM may help protect against certain estrogen-fuelled cancers.  

DIM is found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, and rutabaga, and prioritizing these foods in the diet is profoundly good for hormone health and overall health. DIM can be taken as a supplement as well, and it may be especially beneficial to take as a  supplement during ovulation, when the liver is working hard to eliminate the high volume of estrogen produced during this time. Like all the phase-based supplements I recommend, there is no wrong time to take DIM, but you may get the most benefit by taking it during the three or four days in the middle of your cycle when ovulation occurs. 

*Info above from floliving.com

More info on the Ovulatory phase here

More info on infradian rhythm + hormonal health: Womancode + In the flo