Led by charity Living Streets, the campaign urges people to swap short car trips for walking/wheeling and highlights the #Try20 challenge to add 20 minutes of daily walking.

How exciting that May is National Walking Month - I didn’t know this was a thing!

Walking is one of my favourite ways of getting the 5 Virtual Vitamins.

At The Menopause School we regularly talk about 5 Virtual Vitamins as part of a straightforward and cheap menstrual health toolkit. I designed this framework because at every talk or session I do one of the top questions is, ‘what supplements should I take for menopause symptoms?’.

Before adding extras or bonus items to the tool kit make sure you have the basics sorted first. I know it sounds boring and slow, but it is what it is - can’t lie.

These 5 virtual vitamins help menstrual health in so many powerful ways. They don’t take long to do or sprinkle into everyday life and most of them are free!

How Walking helps menstrual health - across life stages

1. Vitamin O (Oxygen): When we walk, our breathing becomes rhythmic. This "breathing on purpose" floods the system with oxygen, helping to shift the body from a stressed (sympathetic) state to a calm (parasympathetic) state.

How it helps menstrual health - being in a calmer state more often lowers cortisol and helps the ovaries work more efficiently.

2. Vitamin M (Movement): Walking encourages blood flow to the pelvic region without the worry of an 'oops moment' of high-impact exercise.

How it helps menstrual health - it helps reduce the "heaviness" often felt during the luteal phase, naturally easing cramps and physical discomfort.

3. Vitamin N (Nutrients): Did you know walking helps with "Vitamin N"? A post-meal stroll assists the digestive tract, reducing the bloating that often accompanies hormonal fluctuations.

How it helps menstrual health - a healthy gut is essential for the body to process and clear out used hormones efficiently.

4. Vitamin S (Sleep & Rest and Destress - think all the sss): Walking, especially outdoors, exposes you to natural daylight. This regulates your circadian rhythm (melatonin production), leading to deeper, more restorative sleep.

How it helps menstrual health - better sleep is the foundation for brain and ovary hormones to work really well and increase the chances of having energy highs.

5. Vitamin L (Laughter): Walking with a friend provides an opportunity for connection and laughter, which helps release oxytocin—a happy hormone—which acts as a natural buffer against the stress hormone, and helps us reach a calm state quicker, and for longer.

How it helps menstrual health - the brain feels safe and keeps the rhythm of the menstrual cycle where it should be

Which Virtual Vitamin do you need most today? Step outside and take your dose. 🌿 #VirtualVitamins #WalkOut #the5thVitalSign