Why I just Don’t Care Anymore

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In my last post about all things menopausal, I discussed the painfully funny discovery of acne, post 50. Today I am going to discuss why getting acne at 50 didn’t put me into a state of panic, the way it would have in my teen years or even my twenties.

I just don’t care anymore.

Have I given up? Ready to trade in the fitted jeans for a pair of track pants and a leisurely stroll around Walmart…NO.  I just find that now that I have reached…and slightly passed the ripe old age of 50, things that used to send me into a downward spiral don’t have the same effect. Take the other day for instance. I had long hair and went in for a trim. I had showed the hairdresser a photo in a magazine they had in their lounge of a cute short haircut. I don’t remember telling her that I wanted this haircut…just that I though it was cute.

Well, twenty minutes later and the haircut was now on my head. 20 minutes, 6 inches and I couln’t care less. Back in the day that would have sent me to my to room for at least a week all the while calculating to the minute how long it would take to grow back. Fast forward 30 years and I don’t even think I glanced in the mirror when I got home.

Sure, there are a lot of changes that come with getting older, but I think it can be an incredibly liberating time. Why? Because you’re more comfortable in your own skin (even though it is starting to look more like your husbands skin, whiskers and all). What other people think of you matters less…and conversely..what you think of yourself, matters more.

So all those things you had promised you would do for yourself start becoming a reality in your 50′s.

Are hormones the reason. Maybe. Advancing age…possibly. Maybe it’s just the realization that even though the days sometime seem to last forever, the years go by in a heartbeat….and given the finite number of heartbeats that each of us has…I going to spend mine on the important things that make me happy…not the latest pimple or the length of my hair.

Keeping it Smooth

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We all lead busy lives and including enough fruits and veggies into our diet can be a struggle.  Canada’s Food Guide recommends that women between the ages of 19-50 should be eating seven to eight servings a day. To give you an idea of what that looks like on your dinner plate, you would have to eat 21 spears of asparagus or up to 140 grapes. That’s a lot of food to fit into your daily routine!

So instead of eating them, we revved up the juicer/blender and made these three delicious juices. They can accompany any meal or function as a tasty snack on the go. They all contain three to four servings of fruits or veggies (that’s almost half the daily recommendation) and are loaded with the vitamins you need to stay healthy. We suggest you try a few different recipes and keep a pitcher of your favourites on hand.

Here are the three we liked the best.

Spinach-Cucumber-Celery Juice (4 servings of vegetables)

  • 2 cups packed spinach
  • 1 cucumber
  • 1 celery stalk

Spinach is loaded with vitamin K, which helps fights atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), lowers blood pressure and works to decrease your risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. It’s also a great source of vitamin A, which works to protect the mucous membranes found in the respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts.

Celery  is a healthy source of vitamin A, dietary fibre and  is also mildly anti-inflammatory.

Cucumbers are 95% water which makes them a great source for hydration. They’re also an excellent source of silica, which helps promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues. Cucumbers are rich in vitamin A, K and potassium.
Citrus Style Immune Booster (4-5 servings of fruits)

  • 1 14 oz grapefruit, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 2 medium oranges, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 3 kiwis, peeled and cut into chunks

Grapefruits contains lycopene, which may have an effect in the prevention of certain cancers, although further research is needed. They are also a good source of dietary fibre and vitamin A and C.

Oranges, as we all know, are an excellent source of vitamin C, but they are also a good source of thiamin and potassium, and a very good source of dietary fiber.

Kiwis are also loaded with vitamin C, which is essential to the formation and repair of tissue, particularly cartilage, blood vessels, tendons and skin. One cup of sliced kiwifruit provides 5g of fiber. Eating fiber will help fill you up, keep your digestive system running and work to lower cholesterol.

Super Berry Anti-Oxidant Fighter (3-4 serving of fruit)

  • 1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 2 cups peeled and chopped mango
  • ¼ cup water

Blend together and add additional water to thin.

Fruits like blueberries contain antioxidants, which may help prevent cell damage by neutralizing free radicals.

Strawberries are not only delicious, but an excellent source of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to produce collagen that strengthens the capillaries that feed the skin which  results in  improved skin elasticity and resilience.

Mangos are a great source of fibre, vitamin A,C and B6. Vitamin A plays a vital role in eye health and   the maintenance of the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs. Vitamin B6 is needed by the body for more than 100 enzyme reactions involved in metabolism.

Menopause Weight Gain

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Menopause brings about many changes for women; some of these changes, like the end of the menstrual cycle are welcomed and others, such as hot flashes and weight gain are not.

There are various supplements and strategies that can help manage those troublesome hot flashes and night sweats. But for many women, it is much more challenging to keep body weight under control.

There are many factors that can contribute to weight gain in menopause. Hormones are partly to blame. A lowering of estrogen and testosterone can cause women to store fat. Lifestyle and genetic factors are also involved.

Stress also tends to become more prevalent in menopause. Whether triggered by personal, financial, or health reasons, stress impacts weight in a number of ways. Rising levels of the stress hormone cortisol make it easier to pack on weight, particularly around the mid-section.

Stress may also trigger unhealthy habits, such as overeating and eating unhealthy foods (comfort foods). It also has a negative effect on sleep, and lack of sleep is a recently recognized factor that can lead to weight gain, along with many other health problems.

Muscle mass also declines with age and since muscle helps drive metabolism and calorie burning, if you have less muscle you will burn fewer calories.

Despite all these factors that seem to be stacked against you, it is possible to keep weight under control by making some simple lifestyle modifications.

  • Boost muscle mass. Do weight training or resistance exercises to help build and maintain muscle mass. Increasing your muscle mass will raise your metabolism, so you will burn more calories and you will develop a leaner physique. Joining a gym is great, but if you are pressed for time/money, there are plenty of exercises that you can do at home, such as push-ups, squats, lunges, and chest presses.
  • Make better dietary choices. You don’t have to count calories or follow a restrictive diet, just make better choices and limit portion sizes. For example, start your day with oatmeal and berries, a large salad with chickpeas or grilled chicken for lunch and baked fish with mixed veggies for dinner. Choose healthy snacks between meals such as nuts/seeds, yogurt, dark chocolate and healthy energy bars, such as Luna Bar or Larabar.
  • Use supplements to complement your diet. Supplements that provide soluble fibre, such as femMED Weight Management, can help to reduce appetite and cravings and promote better blood sugar control – all factors that are helpful for managing weight.

These strategies will not only benefit your waistline, but they promote better heart health and improve your overall well-being.

Acne at 50? Are you kidding me?

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Menopause. Just when you gained control of the hot flashes, crazy mood swings and full beard, you discover menopause does indeed have a sense of humour… pimples. Remember how a pimple often was the first sign of an impending period…well guess what? Even when you haven’t had a period in 2 years, the pimples keep coming. Menopause really is the gift that keeps on giving.

So what is a somewhat sane person to do? Well after reading extensively on the subject, I discovered that much like a teenager, the root cause of all these pimples is…you guessed it…hormones. Once you enter the years leading up to and including menopause, your hormones begin the fluctuate leading to breakouts, much like you previously had before your period. Combine this with the fact that as we age, our skin cells turn over (shed) at a much slower rate and you have the perfect storm for a pimple filled face. Not all women experience this, but as we all know, even one pimple, is one too many.

So let’s review the golden rules of skincare and what you can do to keep your acne at bay.

Simple Ways to Minimize Acne

• Wash your face with a mild cleanser twice daily using warm, not hot, water.

• Be careful not to scrub your face, as this may cause more irritation.

• Clean your bed sheets, especially your pillowcase, weekly with mild, chemical-free detergent.

• Do not pick or pop pimples. This may cause secondary bacterial infections and lead to more scarring.

• Only use cosmetics, skin or hair care products, labeled non-comedogenic – meaning they do not clog pores and are less likely to cause acne.

• Keep your hands off your face. Your hands contain dirt and bacteria, which is easily transferred to your face.

• Manage your stress. Although stress doesn’t cause acne it has been shown to aggravate acne, which is why breakouts occur during more stressful times.

• Eat to nourish your skin. Recent studies are now suggesting that high- glycemic foods such as refined grains and processed sugars may, in fact, trigger acne breakouts. Low glycemic foods such as whole grains, lean meat, and fish may keep acne at bay because they stabilize blood sugar and prevent insulin spikes.

• Consider a hair, skin and nail supplement like femMED’s Hair, Skin & Nails to provide essential nutrients for optimal skin.

• For severe cases, where there are multiple lesions or cysts, consult a dermatologist.

• Resist the temptation to treat acne topically without first addressing the underlying cause of breakouts – hormonal imbalance.

For those women suffering from the symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, consider a natural health product, like femMED Hormonal Balance or Menopause Relief.

Well there you have it. Stay tuned for my next blog on why menopause might make you more like a man or as I call it; “Why I Just Don’t Care Anymore”

 

 

 

femMED Celebrates International Women’s Day

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Founder and CEO Shawna Page created femMED when she found that searching the aisles on her own for the right products was frustrating and confusing. Out of that frustration, femMED, the first user-friendly, brand of comprehensive supplements designed specifically for women was born. Today femMED celebrates International Women’s Day and those women who through hard work and tenacity, made it possible to for a woman to follow her dreams.

International Women’s Day (originally called International Working Women’s Day)was first observed on February 28 in 1909.  Its focus varied from a general appreciation and love for womankind (as celebrated on Mothers’ Day or Valentine’s Day) to acknowledging the economic, political and social achievements and milestones of women in society.  Today, 104 years later, International Women’s Day is still celebrated around the world.

In celebration of IWD, we have chosen a few of the top  contributions by women.

  1. Radioactivity
    Marie Curie was a physicist and chemist best known for her work on radioactivity; She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the only woman to win in two fields, and the only person to win in multiple sciences. It appeared that she died for her work. Marie Curie died from aplastic anemia, which is caused from long-term exposure to radiation.
  2. Windshield Wiper
    As Canadians, we appreciate this one a lot, and have Mary Anderson to thank for inventing the windshield wiper in 1903.  Imagine the perils of driving in the rain, sleet or snow without this invention?
  3. Disposable Diaper
    Entrepreneur Marion Donovan created the alternative to cloth diapers with her invention of the disposable diaper in 1946.  Although some moms and dads have reverted to cloth diapers for either environmental or personal preferences, parents the world over owe Marion a debt of gratitude.
  4. Dishwasher
    Josephine Cochrane did more for the hands of women around the world than Vaseline with her invention of the first mechanical dishwasher in 1886.
  5. Barbie doll
    Ruth Handler, in 1959 created the first Barbie.  Handler first suggested the idea  to her husband Elliot, a co-founder of Mattel Toy Company who was unenthusiastic about the idea. Ruth persevered and the first Barbie made its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. The doll was named after Handler’s daughter Barbara . It is estimated that over a billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide in over 150 countries, with Mattel claiming that three Barbie dolls are sold every second.
  6. The brassiere (aka the bra)
    Mary Phelps Jacob forever earned the respect and adoration of women when she invented the bra.  Women of all shapes and sizes have embraced this invention, yet according to research from 2008,  75–85% of women wear a bra of an incorrect size.

These are just a few of the contributions that women have made to the world at large. Women continue to make their mark in the areas of health, business, and industry today.