MAY 2022 WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUE

Feature: Resilient Mothering, How Moms Are Forging Ahead in a Changing World      

Byline: Carrie Jackson                    

The long slog of the pandemic has been particularly tough on mothers that have had to reimagine what it means to be a parent, employee, partner or friend and still find time for themselves. Almost 70 percent of mothers report that worry and stress from the pandemic have damaged their mental health. To rise to the challenge, they’ve re-ordered priorities, shuffled home and work activities to accommodate both, reached out to other moms, shed personal habits that weren’t working, adopted self-care steps and learned the practical benefits of gratitude. With a sidebar on such self-care strategies as sneaking in breaks and cultivating a supportive network.

Healthy Ways: Fending Off Fibroids, Natural Approaches Offer Relief

Byline: Marlaina Donato                                      

For the four in five American women that develop fibroids during their child-bearing years, natural approaches can diminish or eliminate such debilitating symptoms as pelvic and back pain, a swollen abdomen and excessive menstrual bleeding. Key strategies include eating vitamin D- rich and non-inflammatory foods, avoiding processed foods that contribute to estrogen dominance, using traditional Chinese herbs and acupuncture, getting abdominal massages and eliminating sources of toxins like lawn chemicals and plastic food containers.

Fit Body: Staying Hydrated, It’s not Just About Drinking Water 

Byline: Sandra Yeyati                                                            

Compared to people half a century ago, we are more likely to experience day-in-day-out, low-grade dehydration due to such factors as air conditioning, electronics and processed foods. Keeping ourselves hydrated gets easier when we start each day and each meal with a big glass of water, drink green smoothies and work into our diets naturally hydrating foods such as melons, celery, cucumbers, berries and tomatoes. Drinking the right filtered water is also key.

Healthy Kids: The Blended Family, Tips for Creating a Successful Stepfamily             

Byline: Ronica O’Hara                      

One in six children today lives in a blended family, so the stakes are high for their well-being, and yet two out of three blended marriages fail. What helps a stepfamily succeed, it turns out, is going slow and steady to allow relationships time to develop; having clear disciplinary roles in which each parent works with their own biological children; structuring settings in which talking can happen naturally, such as meals and nature hikes; and celebrating holidays and special events that can knit a restructured family together. With a sidebar on a dialogue strategy that helps turn animosity into harmony.

Wise Words: Jeffrey Bland on Rejuvenating Our Immune System

Byline: Sandra Yeyati                              

The founder of functional medicine describes how a balanced immune system is capable of moving forward or backward so that it is neither overaggressive nor sluggish in responding to invasive conditions, toxins, infections or stress. Restoring our full natural immunity involves removing sources of toxins, getting regular exercise, eating foods rich in phytochemicals and activating lymphatic draining to cleanse the immune system. 

Conscious Eating: Intermittent Fasting Basics, How to Improve Health by Eating Less Often                                            Byline: Sheila Julson                             

Fasting, once largely a religious practice, has become the most popular dietary strategy among Americans, outpacing low-fat keto diets and “clean eating”. By strategically restraining themselves from eating for hours to days, intermittent fasting improves people’s metabolic health, cholesterol markers and insulin levels. Any healthy diet, from paleo to vegetarian, can be used in non-fasting periods, and breaking a fast should include a meal with protein and healthy fats. In addition, women need to be aware of hormonal factors in choosing their fasting plan.

Green Living: Easy Container Gardening, How to Grow Edibles in Pots and Planters 

Byline: Marlaina Donato                                     

Everyone from beginners to green thumbs can enjoy growing vegetables, flowers and herbs in pots, which is a healthy and cost-effective approach that also beautifies a balcony or patio. Planting in containers lowers the risk of plant disease, makes critters less likely to stop by for a munch and requires considerably less weeding and work. Pots can be terra cotta favorites or repurposed kitchen ware; seeds can be bought or easily collected and high-quality soil can be a DIY mix. With a sidebar on pot and plant selection.

Natural Pet: Saving Birds from Cats, Simple Strategies to Protect Feathered Friends

Byline: Karen Shaw Becker                  

Cuddly kitties are also natural-born killers when out on the loose, responsible collectively for about 2.4 billion bird deaths a year in the U.S. Happily, their feline instincts can be thwarted if they wear a rainbow-colored ruff color, which make them easier for birds to spot and which cut bird kills by 42 percent in one study. Other approaches include feeding cats a fresh meat diet high in fat, which lowers their appetite for wild prey, and by playing active games with them for five to 10 minutes a day. Walking a cat on a harness also keeps birds safe as does using an enclosed “catio” that limits a cat’s access to both predators and prey.

Inspiration: Mothering the World                       

Byline: Marlaina Donato 

The quality of nurturing permeates both the human and the natural world and goes much deeper than raising beloved offspring. Whether it be a well-balanced child, a verdant backyard garden or the premiere performance of a symphony, tending to what we love can yield great things. We must also attend to our personal well-being to nurture our own potential. 

Eco Tip: DIY Salt Scrub Recipe with Himalayan Salt and Essential Oils         

A salt scrub is an easy and inexpensive way to exfoliate dry skin, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and pores, and improve the overall tone of skin, even in dry areas like feet and hands. This simple DIY recipe includes not only sea salt, but Himalayan pink salt, which contains 84 trace minerals and nutrients. Grapeseed oil, almond oil, jojoba oil and vitamin E increase the scrub’s moisturizing effect, and essential oils add fragrance and healing qualities.