Conventional menstrual products are a nonsense . We say it plainly. They are responsible for a lot of vulvo-vaginal conditions, such as allergies, candidiasis, infections, irritations… In addition to being very polluting .

Enough is enough! Enough of women (and other people who menstruate) having to live their periods in silence and, in addition, with pain, illnesses and associated discomforts.

We want to do our part to break the taboo of menstruation . We have been dealing with this issue in a completely natural way for a long time and we will continue to do so.

One of the ways we have chosen to make this possible is by offering sustainable period products for pre- and teens . We think it is very important that they have these options from the beginning. If you have someone at home experiencing their first period and you have questions, please ask us for anything you need.

Reasons to change your menstrual products

Before we talk about sustainable and healthy alternative options for menstruation, we are going to give you three compelling reasons to make this change.

• Health

Health comes first! And, although we are at Alma Eko, a project with an ecological vocation, the main reason that leads us to propose this change is health. As we have already mentioned, conventional menstrual hygiene products are not good for our health, basically because they interfere with the microbiota of the vulva and vagina .
But we are not only going to talk to you about intimate hygiene products. In addition, as a collateral benefit of using these products, invasive treatments for fungus or candida, for example, can be eliminated from your life . And we also want to propose alternative solutions to drugs for pain management . .

• Respect for the environment

The menstrual hygiene products we are going to suggest generate infinitely less waste than conventional products. The most widely available pads and tampons are products that cannot be recycled and are highly polluting due to the materials they are made of.
The products we are going to suggest are reusable for years, saving the planet a huge amount of waste for each woman who uses them. Imagine if we all used them!

• Economy

You've probably noticed. If these products last for years, the initial investment is a little higher, but over the course of your fertile life, you'll save a ton of money.

Hygiene product and accessory options

Let's talk about specific hygiene products for your period that are better for your health and the environment:

• Menstrual cup

This is possibly the star product in the world of sustainable menstruation. It has been a revolution in the last decade. It replaces conventional tampons and is completely harmless to our body (as long as it is made of medical silicone).
The cup does not absorb , but rather retains menstrual flow. This is very important, since tampons not only collect menstruation, but also absorb the vaginal mucosa, a bacterial barrier that is absolutely necessary for our health.
At Alma Eko you will find the menstrual cup from the Spanish brand Cyclo , made of medical silicone, of course, and in three different sizes, including S, for teenagers.
This cup can be used for up to 10 years and is an investment of less than €30. Do you realize the savings?

 

• Cloth pads
  

For those who prefer not to insert anything into their vagina or combine the cup with other options, there are two alternatives. Let's start with cloth pads.
Let's put the first fear to rest: they won't swell up like diapers. They are made from technical fabrics that offer great absorbency in a small volume, and they always contain a waterproof, leak-proof layer on the inside (this layer never comes into contact with the body).
They are made from fabrics that are kind to our body and we can use them for approximately 3 years . Again, a larger initial investment, but one that is much more economical in the long term.
At Alma Eko we have two options for cloth pads , those from the Cyclo brand and others made by La Recortá, a local artisan. In addition, you will find different sizes (day, night and panty liner) and a special pack for first menstruation .
Click on the links to see what care they require. You will see that they are easy to maintain.

• Menstrual Panties

They are a very practical option and are certainly here to stay. Their strong point is that they are extremely comfortable . It is like wearing normal panties, so you won't feel any discomfort from them moving around.
They are ideal for doing sports with them and, if your flow is not very heavy, you can spend the whole day with them outside the house because they have great absorbency capacity.
At Alma Eko we have the Spanish brand Cocoro . You will see that we offer different models, so you can choose the one you like best and, as always, with options specially designed for teenagers.

 

• Eco-friendly tampons

It is not an option that we have in our store because, as we have already told you, for us health comes first , but we want to tell you that they exist. In the market you can find several options of ecological tampons: organic cotton (disposable, very similar to conventional ones, but without toxic components), cloth and natural sponge (and we may miss some other option that we do not know about). The last two options are reusable. We do not recommend them because, although they are more respectful with the environment, they are not so much with our body , since they continue to absorb the mucus of the vagina and we have already talked about how this is harmful to health.

• Bags for carrying cloth pads

We didn't want to leave this section without proposing a solution for using cloth pads outside the home. You may be worried about what to do with them when you have to change and you're not in your bathroom. The solution is easy. Opt for reusable waterproof bags or this toiletry bag specially designed to carry cloth pads . It has two dry/wet compartments, so you can carry clean and used pads separately. In both cases, you can make sure that nothing in your bag or backpack gets dirty.

 

Drug-free pain management options

This is a big issue. We should start from the premise that menstruation does not have to hurt , and yet society has normalized this pain and, in addition, demands that we hide it .

If you have painful periods, there is something wrong. We invite you to go to a professional . The problem is that, in many cases, it is the same professionals who normalize this pain, and offer pharmacological solutions without delving into the causes of these pains. So we urge you, if you experience menstruation pain, to find a professional who will treat this issue with the importance it deserves.

Another aspect that worsens the pain and discomfort we experience during menstruation is our pace of life . We are cyclical, with 4 very different menstrual phases in which our body and mind do not always function the same. However, in this world where productivity takes precedence over everything, these phases, this cyclicity, have no place. They want us to be linear and for our performance to always be the same.

There is still much to be done in this regard. Together we can continue to explain the importance of this . Until the message gets through, we do not want to tell you not to take medication. If you need it and it helps you, go ahead. But we do want to suggest alternative solutions.

• Anti-inflammatory nutrition

Most of us are not aware of how much our diet affects our menstrual cycle . Everything in general, but it has a big impact on menstruation in particular.
This topic could take a whole book. So let's stick with one key: a large part of the pain and discomfort we feel is related to the inflammation of our uterus . Let's reduce it by helping ourselves with an adequate diet. At least during the premenstrual and menstrual phases, opt for an anti-inflammatory diet . How do you achieve this? By reducing or eliminating the consumption of ultra-processed products, cereals (especially with gluten), sugars, refined flours, starches, dairy products and even legumes.
We also suggest you introduce infusions that help your menstrual cycle into your diet. At Alma Eko we have the soothing and anti-inflammatory infusions from Cyclo. Two preparations with specially selected herbs, spices and fruits. Click on the links to learn about their specific properties.

• Adapted physical exercise

Menstrual pain often incapacitates us. We can't get off the couch. We tend to think that rest is the best solution, and the truth is that in many cases it is. But, other times, getting moving can be very beneficial . But, of course, it can't be just any type of exercise, they must be movements adapted to our situation.
We invite you to try yoga routines, stretching and dance sessions specially designed to relieve menstrual discomfort and also to reduce inflammation in the premenstrual phase (which can be a preventative treatment for menstrual pain). Basically, these exercises are designed to increase heat and relax the pelvic area. They can be very effective.

• Local heat

In the previous paragraph we have already uncovered another of the keys, heat in the pelvic area. In general, menstrual pain is caused by small contractions in the uterus that occur to expel menstrual flow . Local heat makes the job easier for the uterus. The reason is simple: this heat makes menstrual flow more liquid and, therefore, easier to expel. Seed bags are very effective for applying heat to the area.

• Natural hormone regulators and alternative pain treatments

If you have tried the above options and you continue to have pain and discomfort related to your menstrual cycle, it may be time to consider more robust options. There are hormone regulators and alternative pain treatments made with natural ingredients that can help you. We have decided not to propose specific solutions in this regard because we believe that, in this situation, it is best for you to go to well-trained professionals who can guide you on the best solution for you.

We hope that among all these tips you will find some suggestions that will help you have a healthier and more sustainable menstruation. You can find all Alma Eko products for a sustainable menstruation at this link .