The topic of women’s health has finally become a topic at all; I believe, thanks to the large number of women that make up Gen X. Female doctors, practitioners, observers, patients, writers, activists, etc., who are themselves entering Perimenopause or are into Menopause, have recognized the deep dark void that once was “Women’s Health” and are doing something about it. These women (and a few men) are studying the effects of hormones on our entire bodies’ systems; what happens when they are plentiful and what happens when they start to wain.
Estrogen, being the biggie, along with her cohorts, testosterone, and progesterone are being widely studied along with Thyroid health/changes, nutrition and health, exercise, stress, mental health changes, and so on.
The aging woman is a hot topic and unfortunately, like so many things that start out positive, has become fodder for the internet machine and the ever popular $$$.
How did our grandmothers get to their 90’s without tracking macros; without meeting protein goals; without “lifting heavy?” Is it possible that, like so many things, perimenopause (the period in time when hormones begin to decrease and symptoms begin to appear) and menopause (the point at which you no longer have a period) have become “BIG BUSINESS?”
Why is it that now we can’t just take a walk, we have to count our steps? Why is it that we can’t just sleep when tired, drink when thirsty, eat when hungry? Because tracking steps, sleep numbers, and protein/calories has become big business. there is an app for everything; something to buy- a course, device, product, protein powder, etc.
There are millions of women in this Perimenopausal target age group, that providing content for them, and things to purchase, is huge money.
I have noticed that the doctors and nurse practitioners, that I have been “following,” are now offering things that cost money (I appreciate that they can make money on-line with their content creation). They have slowed down on just advice content and started advertising protein powders they created, courses and events that cost money. They have a captive audience now and they are cashing in.
So how does one live a healthy long life like Grandma without falling into the commercial trap? Because let’s face it, if you are eating as much protein and drinking as much protein as they are now selling you, your calories are through the roof. If you have now been convinced that cardio is bad and you must fear Cortisol above all else, you just may not be doing something you really enjoy that is good for your body and mental health. If you buy the weighted vest and lift heavy, but skip the walks because that influencer sold you that story then you just may be missing out on using your muscles, that you have and keeping them, while doing real life lifting and moving.
Eat REAL food (grandma didn’t have processed- even protein powder is shelf-stable).
Do exercises that you enjoy
Go outside (without sunscreen for a while)
Drink H2O when thirsty (the water bottle and bottled water industry created the 8 cups a day idea)- your kidneys are amazing and too much water actually causes hyponatremia - low sodium, which has a whole range of health issues. Your urine should be clear or lite yellow, but not all day long.
Go to bed early/Get out of bed early
Put your phone down, stop comparing yourself to others
embrace your body’s changes- wrinkles and all
Of course, go to the doctor or your primary care provider and/or plastic surgeon if you are unhappy with the symptoms of perimenopause and aging- get HRT, get advice, get your labs drawn, get botox.
AND by all means, don’t listen to me. Listen to YOU. I’m just an RN on the internet who has some knowledge and a lot of passion about perimenopause/menopause health and wellness. While, you, on the other hand, are living your experience. Trust your gut, and above all, trust our grandmothers.