Celebrate Women's Health!

Mother’s day is May 11th.  Let’s take this month to pay tribute to women and their unique exercise and nutritional needs.  Women at all stages of life have special health needs.  Whether you’re a mom, athlete, busy working woman, planning for pregnancy, currently pregnant, breast-feeding, and/or pre, peri or post-menopausal; your dietary needs will vary.  I'm encouraged by the uptick in research with menopausal symptoms and treatments.  One size does not fit all, our systems are complex, and when those activity and nutritional needs are not being met our bodies let us know.

• Frequently feel tired after a full night of sleep-   The timing of meals and snacks, plus the type of foods you eat can make a huge difference in your energy level.  Furthermore, addressing sleep issues with your doctor may be necessary.


• Skin is dry / prone to skin rashes or acne -  Essential fats, B-vitamin deficiencies and hydration can affect the health and appearance of your skin.  Your diet may be lacking in essential fats if it tends to be dry and itchy.  B-vitamin and mineral deficiencies can affect the appearance of skin and its ability to heal properly.


• Fertility issues, difficulty with conception- our body requires a nurturing environment in order for conception to take place.  Addressing stress, weight issues and supportive nutrients when can greatly improve the ability to conceive.


• Inability to lose excess weight, even with regular exercise- Getting your metabolism in sync with your exercise can make a huge difference in weight loss.  Gaining muscle, improving sleep and changing the type of foods, along with timing of meals and snacks can enhance how your body burns calories.


• Exercise performance is not improving- Nutritional requirements must change to meet training needs; the proper balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat, at the proper intervals can alter both recovery and performance.  Additionally, adequate calories to support exercise should be evaluated.  Adjustments to training methods along with dietary modifications can get you off your performance plateau.


• Emotionally out of sorts or feel unfocused- Our brains are nutritionally demanding, when depleted, symptoms can manifest in many ways.  Calorie balance and essential fat intake is so important to supporting our emotional health.  However, these feelings could be related to menopause, consider a referral to a practitioner well-versed in addressing menopausal symptoms.


• Digestive issues- Food sensitivities can change and develop as we get older, our digestive systems may not function as efficiently as before.  A temporary elimination diet may allow your inflamed gastrointestinal tract to heal and be less sensitive.  Moreover, minor dietary adjustments can be made by reducing or eliminating offending foods to enhance your digestion, and make it easier to eat a varied and healthy diet.  Additional benefits can come from changing how you eat by practicing mindful eating.

Happy Mother's (Women's) Day!

Free introductory 15-minute appointments are also available.