Maintaining optimal health gives us the freedom and power to achieve our goals. And to empower and to support those around us help us to live our most vibrant lives! For women, the tools that we need to maintain the optimal stage of wellbeing should be placed at the forefront of our minds. These include some small adjustments to make as we shift through different stages of life.
HERE, WE HAVE OUR TOP 4 TIPS FOR WOMEN’S WELLBEING:
1. Maintain social health:
Maintaining a supportive friendship group is even more important for women than it is for men! If we think about stressful periods in our lives, we tend to look for a girlfriend to lend an ear for us to feel better! Whereas men often search for different solutions (a lot of this comes down to hormones, but we won’t bore you with the details).
From the study, it has shown that the support from surrounding people impacts the survival rates significantly. Women who had a supportive circle of friends and received breast cancer treatment were four times more likely to survive than those who did outlive their socially isolated counterparts. Further research has shown that the more friends women have, the less likely they are to develop chronic illnesses as they age. And the loneliness is just as detrimental to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day! Moral of the story; invest time and love into your current friendships and never turn down an opportunity for supportive new friends.
2. Eat well:
This is important for everyone, especially women. Eating a wide variety of fresh, colorful vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes helps us to keep our hormones, energy, and skin in balance. For further hormone balancing and liver boosting benefits (essential for women of all ages, particularly those going through hormonal changes such as puberty, PMS and menopause), be sure to consume at least 1 serve (1/2-1 cup) of cruciferous vegetables daily: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bok choy, rocket, kale, Brussel sprouts and collard greens.
3. Move:
There is more than 65% of women put off exercise for fear of what others will think. Let’s empower ourselves and all women to challenge traditional gender roles by being more physically active, no matter what level we do it! Physical activity not only helps to maintain healthy body weight and muscle mass, but it also helps us tremendously. It supports us to manage stress, boost mood, enhance memory and cognition, support digestion and skin health, and enhance self-love. You can participate in social activities such as a social sport team, a gym, a pool, or organize regular walks with family or friends. Do whatever brings you the most joy. As we get older, weight-bearing exercise (such as walking and light weights) is protective against the development of osteoporosis and other chronic illnesses!
4. Relax and reconnect:
‘Remember to take care of yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup’. We must first take care of ourselves to be able to keep up with our busy lives and perform at our best! Regularly schedule the time to invest in your own wellbeing. Meditate, take a calming walk, a hot bath, get a massage, meditate, practice yoga, take up a craft, whatever it may be that allows you to feel relaxed and re-energized at the same time!