Ways I’m Prioritizing My Health

[ad_1]

Since turning 40 my health has become even more of a priority. Here are some ways I’m prioritizing my health this year. Affiliate links included.

40 was a turning point

I don’t know if it was something physical or just the psychological effect of crossing “over the hill,” but within the last year, I’ve really started to want to optimize my health in a more deliberate way. I think this is common for people around my age, who might be done having kids and are well into their adulting years. I’ve listened to a lot of Jenna Kutcher’s health story on her podcast, and much of what she has said resonates with me.

When I was younger, I felt like the glass was half full. It appeared that real food, movement, and fresh air were all I needed to sustain good health. But now that I’m feeling my body age, I feel the need to help it along the way. Enter: a few more supplements, tools, and routines to achieve that goal.

You’ve seen the memes about sleep as you age:

In your 20s you just need a couch and a pillow.
In your 30s you need a bed with a pillow and nice sheets, perhaps a duvet.
And in your 40s you need a dark room at 65 degrees with white noise, blackout curtains, a Tempur-Pedic mattress, and melatonin. (Actually, if I just don’t drink alcohol, most of my sleep problems are solved!)

And speaking of alcohol, there’s this hilarious Reel. I’ve been open about how I have significantly cut back on alcohol over the past few years.

Routines

Life used to feel more like a squiggly line. These days I crave a more even feeling. I want a consistent bedtime and wake time, routines in my exercise schedule, and an easy-to-manage diet based on real food. The only night I stayed up close to midnight this last year was for the Survivor finale. Even on New Year’s I was asleep at my normal bedtime. Getting out of balance throws me off, and sticking to my weekly healthy habits makes me feel my best. You know you have some good routines in place when you come home from vacation craving some regular rhythms.

Ladywell

Sponsored by Ladywell. Use the code KATH20 for 20% off.

I recently was introduced to Ladywell, a new product that aims to balance and maintain hormone health. As I am now in my 40s with perimenopause on the horizon, I am more interested in learning about how hormone imbalances affect our bodies.

Hormones can impact:

Fertility
Mood & Emotions
Metabolism
Libido
Sleep
Headspace
Stamina & Energy
Weight Loss/Gain

Ladywell is designed for women of all ages to balance hormones related to PMS, PMDD, PCOS, fertility, postpartum recovery and perimenopause. The supplements are formulated by doctors, women’s health experts, and herbalists to bridge the philosophies of ancient Chinese Medicine and modern Functional Medicine to treat hormonal health imbalances. Everything is plant-based, third-party tested, and totally free of artificial ingredients.

Choose between an adaptogenic latte mix in a delicious vanilla bean that you can mix into warm milk or your morning coffee, or simple capsules. I found the vanilla latte to be delicious! I used my Nespresso frother to mix it up with milk for a warm afternoon snack.

The Ingredients

Here are some of the ingredients inside of Ladywell products:

Adaptogens – If there’s too much of one hormone, for instance, the adaptogens help to lower it. On the flip side, if there isn’t enough of a hormone, adaptogens can help replenish its levels.
Herbs – Nervine herbs specifically help support the nervous system. They help ease anxiety, depression, overwhelm, irritability, sleep issues and on-edginess. There are also superherbs with a long history of beneficial use.
Amino acids – These are the building blocks of hormones that ensure you have what your body needs to build the hormones you rely on.
Phytoestrogens – Phytoestrogens are plant compounds that can act like estrogens in the body. These flex to offer gentle support when estrogen is too low or too high.

Read about some of the specific ingredients here.

I met with Ashley Rocha, the founder of Ladywell, to ask a few questions.

Are Ladywell products safe to use if you’re using hormonal birth control?

Yes, these products do not contain hormones nor do they treat conditions. They simply act to support and balance the natural processes in your body. If you don’t have a deficiency or excess, your body will continue along its same path.

At 41, I’m probably getting close to perimenopause. Would you recommend Ladywell for me?

Yes, for sure! During perimenopause the level of estrogen — the main female hormone — in your body rises and falls unevenly. Ladywell can help to stabilize this swing and minimize the symptoms many women experience.

Who is Ladywell for?

If stabilizing hormone health is something you think you might benefit from, ask your doctor if Ladywell is a good fit for you.

Biohacking Wellness Products

I’ve also mentioned recently that I’ve discovered the magic that is HigherDose. I also learned about these from Jenna’s podcast, and love that they are both a wellness product and a feel-good product in one. It’s a win-win. I bought the sauna blanket myself, and the company sent me the PEMF Go mat as a review product. Obviously I am sauna blanket obsessed. I’ve been getting in it almost daily for 20-40 minutes. I only have great things to say about how I feel when I get out of the sauna!

The PEMF Go mat has been on our desk chair for a few weeks now. I usually turn the heat on low (it gets pretty warm sitting here!) and the frequency of the PEMF (pulse electromagnetic field) to Level 4. This is the 23 hz beta brain wave that helps stimulate mental function, increase concentration, and help with focus. I’ve also come down to sit in the chair on Level 1-2, which is the delta brain waves to help recharge and ground when I’m feeling frazzled. It’s hard to say if the waves are working magic because mental energy is so subjective, but sitting on the mat always makes me feel better!

AG1

Incorporating AG1 into my daily life has been perhaps one of the most significant changes. It’s the most expensive for the long-term as well. Thomas and I started taking AG1 as an experiment to see if we liked how we felt or if we noticed a difference in energy. Turns out we DID love it. Since the fall we’ve been having AG1 green smoothies almost every day for breakfast. These have: banana, spinach, whole milk, peanut butter, whey protein, and AG1. Nutritionally I feel really good about getting greens for breakfast, and the other ingredients provide a good base of protein, carbs, and fat for the day. These smoothies keep us full all morning long (because they aren’t light on calories and are packed with all the macros!). You can also drink it mixed with water, which I do when we skip our smoothie.

AG1 gets my nutritional endorsement because it packs so much into a scoop with 75 ingredients your body can easily absorb:

Do I think everyone needs this to be healthy? Definitely not. But if you’re wanting to optimize, I think it’s a great add on (obviously at a cost). And since it’s a multivitamin and probiotic in one, you can skip taking those supplements in addition.

Athletic Greens | Friday Fuel Roundup

Drinking Is Fun

But alcohol is not necessary! I have realized how much I love having a drink at 5:00 to “end the day” and that drink does not need to contain alcohol to make me happy. While I most certainly did not participate in Dry January while in Mexico, the rest of the month has been very dry! Having a ton of nonalcoholic options makes this so much easier. I had Uncool NA beers while out with friends. At home, Allay, Surely, Trail Magic, Athletic Brewing and Spindrift have been having a moment in our house. I can’t wait to see what NA options come out next!

Room For Improvement?

There is always room for improvement in my eating patterns. Breakfasts and dinners are solid, but I need to do a better job planning ahead with lunches. And of course the “sugar after a meal” habit that is more about a palate cleanser than anything else. I’m also always fighting for more yoga / stretching / meditation in my life. The obstacle is almost always time, and I think as my kids continue to get older, that door to do those activities will open wider. I can’t believe Birch is well on his way to 6!