Last night's RealWomen on Health! Show was a veritable bonanza of well care tips for women of all life stages. It all started when Jasmine, the wellness coach, shared how she cured herself of her migraines with the help of a naturopath and a single allergy test ."After doing a scan, my naturopath found that gluten was my primary trigger, secondarily it was soy and third it was dairy. She advised me to rid it out of my diet. Desperate for relief, I went cold turkey and thus began my journey for inner healing. I found complete relief in six weeks. In fact, if I eat gluten, I will get a migraine within 24 hours. I am no longer fatigued, fall asleep at the wheel or an hour after I eat breakfast," explains Jasmine.
Migraines are a women's health issue. Women outnumber men 3 to 1 suffering from migraine headaches. Jasmine was one of them, however, thanks to her resolve and determination to deal with the pain and fatigue, she no longer suffers.
By the way, there are many reasons why women suffer more than men from migraines. While ovulation and menstruation may be one reason, pharmacologic triggers and dietary triggers are others to consider. Stress can be the final "straw" but usually not the only factor.
"Mainstream medicine failed to help me, I took charge of my health and as a woman, that feels good. I learned in Chinese medicine, the stomach and head are on the same chi line. The fact that whatever I was eating gave me acid reflux, then triggered my migraine was fascinating to me"explained Jasmine.
Once Jasmine told her story, several women on the show revealed their own fabulous well care tips:
1. My PR partner, Deborah, a high achieving exec in Fairfield County Connecticut, told us about her 15 year regimen of regular elimination detoxing that has kept her energy levels high. She said that it's best to do any detox in partnership with a doctor or naturopath who knows your clinical status. Since Deb rarely passes up a new biz pitch or a chance to competitive golf...the proof is in the pudding. She has more energy than a twenty year old!
2. Margo is a entrepreneur with a passion for helping patients become empowered, and savvy, working with their healthcare professionals. Her well care tip was two-fold: cook from scratch with natural ingredients and 2) learn how to partner with your doctor. In fact, to help you, she has written a book and tool kit on how to be a savvy patient.
3. My friend, Ann, couldn't say enough about her love for the girls' weekend away as a well care tip. On a monthly basis, she plans weekends with her girlfriends - shopping, eating and the occasional well-deserved glass(es) of wine - the boost of mental and psychic energy that allows her to tackle the pressing business issues she's confronted with daily. In addition, it's been proven that social support is a necessity for women's health and wellness. And, it has nothing to do with the red wine:)) Did I mention Artemis Woman? She's the co-founder of this five year old women's wellness company, one of 2009's Inc 500 fastest growing companies.
4. My spunky sister, Kara, jumped on the line from San Francisco with a really fun tip: get a dog. She recently buckled under the weight of her young daughter's demands for a yellow retriever, and...well, the rest is history. She's in love! The dog, Sandy, requires daily walks or runs, for 20 minutes to an hour or more. Kara says that caring for a dog helps her stay fit, and brings her in touch with people and places you might not otherwise ever meet or see! Going on a bike ride with the dog is demanding, too - I've been with her when the dog has chosen a swampy bird reserve over the well-travelled and dry bike paths!
Finally, I've taken to the sport of rowing or sculling.
I just started to learn the sport two years ago, and I'm addicted. The upper body and stomach work out is great, but what I most enjoy is getting my heart rate up to 60% - 70% target zone without high impact!
For me that means 155-165 beats a minute for 20 min daily. I measure the beats a minute with a heart monitor and, if I can't get to the rowing club on any given day, I substitute on-the-water time with a run, with intermittent walking. You'd be surprised how fast your heart rate can get in the zone...but, if you don't have the stamina to sustain that level for 20 min, you can try interval training. The important point is to sustain target heart zone for 20 min daily, whether you walk or run.
With Women's Health Week in full swing, our RealWomen on Health! show community created a sense that no matter what our age, lifestyle or health, we need to support each other with wellness practices that give us a sense of well-being, and vitality through what's most important to us - whether as a mom, a working woman or a caregiver.
Join us in September with the National Women's Health Resource Center as we discuss healthcare reform and what it means for women. I'll keep you up to date on the timing, just follow us here or subscribe through the feed on the right!
