Menstruation- A Taboo In India

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Ever wondered why a shopkeeper gives you a pack of ‘Stayfree’ wrapped in paper? In India, one can openly buy alcohol and cigarettes, buying sanitary napkins still remains a shame.

It’s nothing but a natural process

Menstruation among women, despite being a natural phenomenon has always been encircled by secrecy and myths in many Indian societies. Menstruation, commonly known as periods, still continues to be a deep-rooted taboo in India. In a lot of places, menstruating women are made to abstain from any holy deed, religious or otherwise. They are not allowed to enter the temples and worship, because they traditionally assumed to be impure. The prejudice against menstruating women even goes to the extent of not allowing them to sleep on their beds, take bath or decorate themselves. More often than not, most women face an almost inhuman treatment every month for 4-5 days. The bias is ironical on many levels for a developing country like India where we talk about digitalization, women empowerment, reaching on the Mars and campaigns like “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao”.

How do we expect the nation to grow when in India, every year 23 million girls drop out of school as and when they start menstruating, according to report by NDTV. The report also says that 70% of girls remain unaware of menstruation until their first period. Most girls approach their mothers, but in rural areas, even the mothers, due to very limited knowledge of menstrual hygiene and its management, do not know how to explain it to their teen daughters.

Lack of awareness

Most women across India are unaware of the real reason behind menstruation. It has been instead treated as a taboo for generations together. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness continues to shadow young girls reaching their respective menstrual age. The taboo not just affects their social lives but chronically affects their health too. Surveys by the Ministry of Health in 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2012 found out that roughly 120 million menstruating adolescents experience menstrual dysfunctions which affect their everyday lives. Also, due to poor menstrual hygiene, nearly 60,000 deaths are reported every year from India. As a result of the unforgiving stigma, women are hesitant to seek medical help.

Sabarimala issue

One of the recently raised issues in Kerala, a high literacy rate in India burnt in a crimson red fire of period taboo for about four to five months. To contextualise, women between the age of 10-50 were strictly prohibited in the Sabarimala Temple owing to their menstruating bodies. The taboos which should have been vanished long ago are still prevalent due to some unsocial and unreasonable beliefs.

Time to break the myths

Breaking the wheel of poor menstrual hygiene may seem like a herculean task given the gripping clutch of the stigma that has manacled the society as a whole. Menstrual hygiene is a real deal because the lack of it can claim even lives. The deep-rooted stigma, myths and misconception have to be challenged in every household. Most importantly, menstrual awareness needs to be taught in school to everyone including boys. Mothers may need to realise that bleeding daughters are okay and their periods need not come in the way of their growth and education. The change needs to come from every mother who doesn’t tell her daughter “do not discuss your period to anyone”.

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Collagen is a protein that promotes active joints and younger-looking skin and may help in improving women’s health. Collagens are the most abundant proteins found in connective tissues of human and animal species. Collagen is the most predominant protein in the body. A number of different types of collagen have been discovered among which type I/III and type II are the major types for the skin dermis and for the articular cartilage, respectively.

Collagen is the most abundant protein found in joint cartilage and the dermis of the skin. It provides the structural framework of your connective tissues to keep your skin firm and resilient and your joints active and fluid. Chondroitin sulfate is a naturally occurring element of joint cartilage that gives cartilage its incredible shock-absorbing properties. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a molecule that helps provide hydration for your skin, lubrication for your joints, and is the gel-like substance that holds your cells together.

Natural food sources of collagen are meat, fish, and eggs, but the best sources of collagen are found in tendons and cartilage, so bone broth is a good option. Eating foods rich in vitamin C and amino acids can increase the collagen in the body. Fruits and vegetables like oranges, red peppers, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and strawberries are all rich in vitamin C.

Facts that prove collagen can help with women’s health:

1) Collagen protein helps with weight loss and is more filling than other types of protein.

The intake of hydrolyzed collagen stimulates the release of satiating hormones into the bloodstream.

2) Speeds up recovery time for torn muscles, joints, and ligaments.

Collagen synthesis rates in connective tissue and muscles during the healing of an injury have been shown to be significantly higher during the first three weeks immediately following injury. It also helps increase muscle mass, prevents bone loss, and relieves joint pain associated with exercise and rheumatoid arthritis,

3) Prevents Heartburn and Ulcers.

Collagen peptides in the GI tract pull in water and attract acid molecules, which aids in the breakdown of food particles and help move food through the GI tract.

4) Repairs the intestinal lining to heal IBS & Leaky Gut.

Proper intestinal healing requires an increased collagen supply, and studies have found decreased collagen levels in those with digestive imbalances. Also, glutamine, one of the amino acids in collagen, is a key amino acid in preventing inflammation in the gut lining and healing leaky gut syndrome.

Collagen intake may help in improving women’s health on the whole. Collagen supplements may help in aiding the body to fill up on its missing levels and push its production. Studies also indicate that collagen supplements may reduce wrinkles and alleviate joint pain.

Choose collagen supplement wisely for women’s health

All collagen is not the same. Many collagen supplements on the market lack human clinical studies, do not contain efficacious ingredient quantities or make misleading claims. A patented, clinically proven formulation would work best.

“Powdered Collagen is only absorbed about 30% on average”, says Durga Eswar, a dietitian. “I use a liquid Collagen that is 93% bioavailable which means 93% is getting absorbed in the body. Type II Collagen helps to promote healthy hair growth.”

Not all collagen is the same or equivalent. The collagen type, source, molecular size, composition, and manufacturing process differentiate the various dietary supplement collagen products in their indications and efficacy.

“Liquid Collagen is not just an ordinary collagen ingredient is a clinically studied dietary ingredient composed of naturally-occurring hydrolyzed collagen type II peptides, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid. This unique matrix is not a blend of individual ingredients. 2 grams daily is effective for joint health, while 1 gram daily is effective for skin benefits. The outcome of these studies was presented in scientific conferences and also published in scientific journals. Collagen should be non-GMO and free of gluten, soy, shellfish, fish, egg, milk, peanuts, and sugar,” says Durga who also promotes a liquid collagen brand.

Who can take Collagen supplements?

Everyone can benefit from taking collagen supplements. Diet, age, stress, digestive system, and physical activity (sports which impact joints), all affect our ability to provide the body with the nutritional raw materials it requires to properly support joint and connective tissue health. Collagen should be an essential nutritional component for those wanting to remain healthy and active throughout their life.

Research shows that hydrolyzed collagen type II increased the collagen content in the facial skin. This suggests that collagen supplements can increase all of the major types of collagen (I, II, and III) found in the joints, skin, and other connective tissues.

Though collagen supplements are generally safe for women’s health, it is always better to check with your healthcare provider before starting any supplements.

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