Jersey Barcelona's Key Ideas from In the FLO
by Alisa Vitti

Our entire notion of time is built on the male 24-hour cycle, often known as the circadian rhythm. Women, however, have a second biological clock that males do not have since we are able to carry children in our wombs. This second biological clock is the menstrual cycle and all of its phases. There is a 28-day pattern to this female-specific infrared rhythm. In a society where the 24-hour cycle is the only thing we acknowledge, it makes sense why we get increasingly exhausted and anxious.

We are not little men, as Vitti stated! On a biological level, our bodies operate differently. Of course, we have repeatedly proven that we can also do what men can do, but our bodies go about it in a unique and different manner compared to men. Our monthly cycle causes changes in our biological systems. 

Balanced hormones are crucial because they can inspire creativity, improve moods and psychological wellness, and transform our own bodies amazingly. The key difference between biohacking for men and biohacking for women is that in the case of men, they are trying to maximize energy, concentration, and stamina during their very short 24-hour circadian hormonal pattern. Us, as women, we are already maximally efficient by design, so we simply need to nurture our cyclical patterns and the endocrine system’s nutritional needs.

• Estrogen - The key component of the hormonal cycle, estrogen, is generated in the ovaries, responsible for making the uterine lining thicker and important in numerous biological processes that prevent ailments like heart disease and bone brittleness.
• Progesterone – It balances estrogen, encourages recuperation, and improves mood.
• Testosterone - It is a hormone that women have in considerably lower amounts than males. When these hormone levels rise, you become more sexually active and are more likely to become pregnant.

• Follicle-Stimulating Hormone - Promotes the maturation of ovarian follicles. You may become infertile if this is out of balance.
• Luteinizing Hormone - Releasing of ovarian follicles is stimulated by the LH.
• Insulin - Menstrual abnormalities are linked to an unbalanced insulin level.
• Cortisol - It is the key stress hormone produced by our systems. Small amounts of this are beneficial, but large dosages can interfere with ovulation, lower progesterone levels, and harm the reproductive system.

Reconnect with our POWR. This is the Prepare, Open Up, Work, Rest nature which is analogous to our 4 phases.

• Phase 1, Follicular Phase (Prepare) - This begins when the red days stop. A hormone is released by the pituitary gland in the brain to promote the development of follicles on the surface of the ovary. Most of the time, just one follicle will develop into an egg. From day 10 of your cycle onward, this is possible. Your uterus' lining also gets thicker during this time to get ready for pregnancy. This is like a new beginning.

Phase 2, Ovulatory Phase (Open Up) - A mature egg is produced from an ovary during ovulation and travels down a fallopian tube toward your uterus after being prompted by an increase in estrogen and LH hormone. During this time, you feel sociable and talkative. As testosterone levels fall, LH hormone levels rise.

Phase 3, Luteal Phase (Work) - The corpus luteum, which is a group of ovarian cells, releases progesterone and a tiny quantity of estrogen after ovulation. As a result, the uterine lining thickens to get ready for pregnancy. The corpus luteum continues to generate progesterone after a fertilized egg implants in the uterine lining, maintaining the uterus' thicker lining. In the absence of pregnancy, the corpus luteum dies, progesterone levels fall, the uterine lining breaks down and a new menstrual cycle starts.

Phase 4, Menstrual Phase (Rest) - Your uterus's lining dissolves during menstruation and drains out into your vagina. In addition to certain uterine lining cells, your period also contains blood and mucus.

Here are a few important key points from the book of Alissa Vitti according to her pioneered Cycle Syncing Method you, as a woman, should know:

Your hormones and the food you eat have a link that has an impact on both your physical and mental well-being. Change your diet accordingly at each stage. Various hormones increase and decrease during each phase, so it stands to reason that your body would need different nourishment for recharging itself. Your weekly meal planning and your 28-day cycle need to be coordinated. Contrary to males, who can flourish by eating similarly almost every day, women have distinct food intake needs during each week of the month due to the cycle-related variations in their metabolism.

In every phase, change the workout style and intensity. According to studies on women in their reproductive years, we should switch up how we exercise each week because of changes in our metabolism, temperature levels, and cortisol throughout the cycle.

For women in their reproductive years who want to improve their hormonal health, caffeine should be avoided. The CYP1A2 gene, which creates the enzymes required to breakdown down caffeine, is mutated in more than 50% of the population. This mutation prevents you from producing enough of the enzyme, which keeps caffeine in your system for a longer period of time and can cause a variety of negative side effects, like anxiety. Caffeine can also speed up the emergence of asymptomatic breast disease.

Women require specialized micronutrient supplements because of the way our bodies are built. Magnesium is essential for women who experience hormonal imbalances because it increases insulin sensitivity, which has impacts on the entire hormonal system. Vitamin D is a need if you have fibroids or any other hormone-related health issue. For all women with hormonal disorders, vitamin D is essential because it functions in the body like a regulating hormone. Probiotics are also a must.

It's necessary to keep track of your cycle so you can identify the symptoms you have and when they occur. This will help you figure out why you are experiencing those symptoms as well as what you can do to change your diet, supplements, and lifestyle to get rid of them naturally. Use the Cycle Syncing Method for maximum benefit in health, fitness, work, sex life, and parenting.

Make your morning routine effective based on the four transitions you go through each month during one turn of the infradian biological rhythm. 

The book "In The Flo" is a must-read! There is also a MyFLO app to track your cycle, so you can start eating cyclically.

It's time for us, women, to reclaim our power! Do not ignore your body's urges to return to its natural state. Millions of previous generations of our grandmothers must have suffered because they were unaware of this. But today, at this moment, and in the days to come, we do not need to. Remember the sacrifices of the past in order for us to be equipped in the present moment. The knowledge and power are ours; we just need to grab them and use them to our advantage. Let us build a community and let this knowledge circulate amongst all of us.

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