Transitioning from 30 to 40 is like the moment where you try to clutch sand in your palm. You know the harder you clutch it, the more swiftly it flows. It all goes by so quickly that you cannot slow down the time when you are about to touch the 40-year-old mark.
Most women are already juggling work, marriage, kids and personal life. So much so that they even forget to take care of their mental and physical health. Saying that 40 is the new 30 is easier said than done. Health benefits will only be reaped by the ones who indeed adopt healthier habits. When women start entering their forties, their metabolism (the process of digesting food and converting it into energy) rate starts to slow down. Muscle weight also starts decreasing and the bones too, start to wither down.
Women also experience lethargy and less energy to do stuff. This is because of the hormonal changes and prominent medical conditions.
40 to 50 is also an age where women’s menopauses start kicking in too. Thus their bodies go through a lot and in between all this, taking care of your body can be a little painstaking. Setting up a schedule to follow without fail every day is not everybody’s cup of tea. If you are wondering to know how to be a healthy woman after 40, then here are some ways that women can remain physically and mentally healthy even after 40.
Tips for Becoming a Healthy Woman After 40
Pay Attention to the Nutritional Intake Here are some tips on how to be a healthy woman after 40:
1. Pay Attention to the Nutritional Intake
- By the age of 40, you should pay attention to the green intake in your body. There should be more green vegetables like spinach, beans, kale, cabbage, etc.
- There should be a wide range of vegetables that you should make sure to include in your diet. For example, red and orange beans and peas, starchy and non-starchy.
- Make sure to introduce or increase the number of fruits you have daily.
- Include all types of grains in your diet, especially whole grains.
- Make sure that the dairy products you are consuming are either low on fat or fat-free like curd, milk, cheese and fortified soy products
- Make sure that you have a good enough amount of protein in every meal. This could be in lean meat, eggs, seafood, beans and peas, nuts and seeds and last but not the least, soy products.
- Always prefer healthy oils like olive oil over other more fatty oils. It is important to maintain your cholesterol levels.
Other than what to feed your body, there are a lot many things that you need to take care of to maintain yourself. Let’s look at the other factors that affect your health after 40.
Also read: Losing Weight After Abortion
2. Readdress Your Birth Control Practices
Readdress Your Birth Control Practices When addressing this factor, it is important to consult your doctor. It's important to talk to him or her about possible changes that your body must be going through. If you are taking high dose contraceptive pills, you might want to switch to an IUD, estrogen patch, or other low dose methods. Some birth control methods may raise women’s risk of blood clots, heart diseases and other risks. Other pills should be avoided by women who are obese or perimenopausal.
3. Taking Care of the Menopausal Phase
Taking Care of the Menopausal PhaseThe menopausal phase comes with a lot of horrible symptoms like dryness of the vagina, mood swings, irritation and hot phases. You should remember to consult your doctor and find solutions to ease yourself and avoid discomfort. There is an option of short-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that is used to treat severe menopausal symptoms. But you should be careful that this method is only for women who are at low risk of breast cancer, heart disease, strokes, and blood clots.
4. Take Care of Your Bones
Take Care of Your BonesYour bones start withering by the age of 40 and hence you should keep an eye on your bone health. As menopause kicks in, it is the prime time for you to prevent osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones. This is important for you to understand that lifestyle plays a crucial role in maintaining your health. Bone weakness can be reduced by following measures including adequate calcium and vitamin D in your diet, exercise, smoking cessation and avoiding heavy alcohol intake.
Also read: Tips to Start Exercising After a Break
5. Balancing the Sugar Dissolved in Your Blood
Balancing the Sugar Dissolved in Your Blood Changes in your body like mood swings, low energy levels, and disturbed sleep can be a sign that your blood sugar level is out of control. It is important to watch that we are eating nutritious food items that keep our sugar levels balanced. Food items like seafood, nuts, butter, broccoli, and flax seeds. You should try to avoid empty carbs like bread and pasta.
6. Stop Drinking too much Coffee, You're Over Caffeinated
Stop Drinking too much CoffeeYou might have heard and read quite often that too much coffee harms you. But it is about time you start implementing that in your life. It is advised that you have around 35-80mg per day but not more than that. Again, decaf does not mean the drink is not caffeinated. Too much coffee causes effects like insomnia, and irritability, and takes away the chance to fuel your energy as it acts as an instant energizer.
7. Do Not Opt For Supplements Without Talking to Your Doctor
Do Not Opt For SupplementsIt is easy to get lured by shortcuts and magic supplements out there in the world. But you should always tread with utmost caution when it comes to supplements as they contain harmful substances like titanium dioxide and hydrogenated oils which are awful for your body. You should discuss your metabolism and vitamin levels with the doctor before opting for supplements.
8. Feed Yourself Every 4-6 Hours
Feed Yourself Every 4-6 HoursAs important as it is to eat and kick start your metabolism an hour after you wake up, it is equally crucial to keep it going throughout the day. You should keep eating every 4 to 6 hours. To keep your body fully fuelled and energized you must keep eating post breakfast. Metabolism should be kept continuous.
With everything happening in women’s lives, they need to cautiously juggle life and work and simultaneously maintain their health.
Also read: Tips to Building Muscles After 40
