Women’s Health Month

May is Women’s Health Month, and I want you to be your best self. Here are my recommendations. 

First and foremost, give yourself some grace. These past two years have been hard on all of us physically, mentally, and emotionally. So, before I begin the lecture, I want each of you to take a minute to be thankful. We survived. A million of our fellow citizens did not. And to all of you who have lost loved ones and friends, you have my deepest condolences.

But I want more for you than just to survive. I want you to thrive. You are going to spend a third of your life in menopause, and I want you to adopt habits that will ensure that this part of your life is productive, healthy and joyful. So let’s get to it!

1. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Take a brisk walk with friends.  Enjoy the sunshine (a good source of Vitamin D with sunscreen on your face of course). Choosing an activity that you enjoy, and doing it with people you like, will increase the likelihood of you actually following through. For good measure, add in core work and strength training. A strong upper body improves your posture and decreases the risk of falls as you get older. Remember, everything that is good for your heart is good for your brain.

2. Eat a healthy diet full of whole foods, and no, I don’t mean the store. Choose whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and limit the amount of red meat in your diet. Avoid highly processed foods. Good substitutions for rice, pasta, and potatoes are cauliflower, whole grain pastas, or better still spiralized zucchini, farro, and quinoa.

3. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. Fewer than five drinks per week is ideal. Make that glass of wine last longer by adding a bit of seltzer. You’ll not only save calories, but you will also save a few brain cells.

4. If you smoke, please stop. Smoking not only increases your risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, it also causes premature aging, stains your teeth, and increases your risk of developing osteoporosis.

5. Find community. People who stay engaged with others are happier, maintain more of their cognitive ability and experience less depression.  

That’s it. These are things that are under your control. Healthy aging is earned, not guaranteed. I want you to be good and feel good. You deserve it. And if you’ve done all of these things, and you’re still not feeling your best, come see us at myalloy.com. We got you.  

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