Hi, ​,  

Do you find you have new or more health concerns as you hit perimenopause? You are not alone! Women in midlife often start to make their health a priority in ways it wasn’t in their 20s or 30s.

I remember the days when I could get out of bed without my knees creaking, or eat pizza without needing to follow it up with antacids!

The major things women often overlook when thinking about their health are osteoporosis and heart disease. There is a lot of focus put on breast cancer, but the reality is a significantly higher percentage of women will be impacted by heart disease than all cancers combined.

I’ve talked about heart disease and osteoporosis before, so this week I want to make you aware of other major health concerns you need to be on the lookout for as you enter menopause. It is the third significant disease caused by declining estrogen, and it's Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is a brain disorder in which memory and the ability to reason and think independently become impaired.

Now, I am not trying to scare you. But the reality is, that there is a link between our cognitive function and estrogen. In order to keep our brains healthy, we need to be educated! The best way to keep your cognitive function healthy is to first understand your risk factors. Risk for Alzheimer's increases if you are female, have a family history, or have had previous head trauma, and your risk also increases with age.

There are steps you can take now to keep your cognitive function healthy, and those include:

• Discuss your risk factors with your doctor.
• Eat a diet that avoids refined and processed foods
• Play games, do puzzles, and learn new skills or information. In fact, a recent study found that if you engage in a mental activity that you find difficult, you help to keep the myelin sheathing (the protective layer of fatty tissue) on the neurons in your central nervous system robust and healthy.
• Exercise will help increase the blood flow to your brain, another preventative measure when it comes to keeping your brain healthy.

Taking the right steps today can help your brain stay healthier, longer. So go do a puzzle, take a walk and eat some veggies. Your brain will thank you!

~Vanessa

Is there a connection between menopause and diabetes?

There is a lot of confusing information about the relationship between peri/menopause and other health concerns. Find out what you may not know in this week's read!

National Herb Day May 7

Have you been dealing with hot flashes and night sweats? Are you ready to try just about anything? There's a natural herb you may have seen at the grocery store that has been used to help with night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings, and memory loss. It's sage! Sage is a part of the mint family and contains Vitamin K, which can help with blood clotting and bone health. It is also full of antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Research shows that drinking a cup of sage tea a day can level up your body’s antioxidant levels to help with some of the peri/menopause symptoms you could be experiencing. Try making this tea before bed to see how it helps with your night sweats!

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp dried sage leaf (or 1 tbsp fresh sage)
• 1 cup boiling water

Directions:

1. Pour boiling water over the sage leaves.
2. Cover and allow to steep for up to 15 minutes.