A woman has gone viral after revealing the one food that has completely transformed her periods, and now she no longer dreads that time of the month.
For most of her adult life, Alexa Loebel, 32, has struggled with brutally painful periods that lasted an entire week. She battled through consistent mood swings, lower abdomen pain, and a heavy flow, telling Newsweek that she was like "a couch potato with a heating pad" each month.
Like most women, Loebel presumed this was how her body dealt with her menstrual cycle, and she just learned to cope. That is until a few months ago, when her boyfriend Ben saw a social-media post about how eating steak during a period can help to alleviate symptoms as it is rich in protein and iron.
On day one of her period, the couple decided to cook steak to see if that would help. The effects felt almost instantaneous, and now steak night has become a monthly staple in the diary.
"Once steak entered the chat, I noticed something wild—the cramps didn't show up, and I could actually move and function the next day," Loebel, from New Jersey, said. "My energy was higher than normal that time of month; my mood more stable; and I felt way less groggy. The biggest surprise was that my flow lightened significantly.
"I do want to caveat that I'm aware that red meat can worsen cramps for some people, but, for me, the shift was so positive. It completely changed how I approach that week," Loebel said.
Given how much steak has transformed her period, Loebel has even considered implementing it into her diet more frequently than just day one. Now, she is working on being "more intentional and cognizant" of fueling her body with sufficient iron and protein throughout the month.
It also helps that Ben cooks a delicious meal whenever he prepares the steak. Indeed, Loebel would much rather stay at home than go out to any fancy steakhouses now.
So, why can steak have such a dramatic impact on a woman's cycle?
Certified nutritionist and personal trainer Lisa Schultz told Newsweek that red meat is a great source of iron; by replacing what the body loses, this can reduce fatigue, light-headedness, and even mood swings.
Schultz, who is also a weight-loss expert and life coach, said: "It fits into cycle-syncing nutrition. During the late luteal phase and the first few days of menstruation, estrogen and progesterone drop, prostaglandins rise (they trigger cramps), and you lose both blood and iron.
"If someone is borderline anemic or chronically low in iron, replenishing with a heme-iron source can make a huge difference quickly. Adequate protein and fat also calm the nervous system and reduce inflammation, so cramps and bloating feel lighter, and the period can seem easier," Schultz continued.
But it isn't just iron that steak can help with. Schultz said that a palm-sized serving of steak can also provide zinc and B vitamins, which support energy metabolism and immune function, and the protein helps to stabilize blood sugar.
Of course, red meat isn't for everyone, and for those looking to reap the benefits without sinking their teeth into steak, there are alternatives. Schultz recommended iron-rich choices, such as lentils, tofu, pumpkin seeds, or dark, leafy greens.
The Online Response
Following this revelation, Loebel shared a video on TikTok (@alexaraeloebel) in which she revealed just how much steak has transformed her periods. In the days since it was posted, the clip has gone viral with almost 10 million views and over 714,000 likes at the time of writing.
Loebel said she hoped the video might be helpful for other women who struggled, but she never imagined it would generate quite so much attention.
"I was immediately taken aback by the love and curiosity, from women looking for relief, to men wanting to support their partners better," Loebel added. "I've had other videos go viral, but this one felt different because it was personal and vulnerable.
"Everyone's body is unique, and what works for me might not work for others. But this showed me how well my body responds to iron and protein. Steak night makes getting my period feel like a mini celebration. It's become its own little thing that we look forward to; Ben gets his steak fix, and I get to feel like my period is more of a celebration than something to dread," she continued.
After going viral on TikTok, the video has generated over 3,300 comments so far, as many women also shared their own preferences for that time of the month.
One comment reads: "So you're saying steak frites and a salad every single month??? Heard."
Another TikTok user wrote: "I started doing this! Steak is amazing for us."
A third replied: "It's a game changer, it's insane."
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