Wedding day beauty tips
Put your health first
To juggle so much - to make careers, run homes, raise kids, and care for older parents - we often forget to take care of ourselves.
If you and your health are taking serious back-seats, it's time to put things right!
1. Prevention is better than cure
Start finding out your family medical history and identify any potential health issues you may have in the future. Then educate yourself about the signs and symptoms and start looking for the preventative measures you can take. Finally, listen to your body - and take action when it tells you something is wrong.
2. Cover the basics
- Eat mostly plants - fresh fruits and vegetables, unprocessed carbohydrates and legumes (or part of their animal protein). Choose whole-grain options Avoid salt, sugar, animal fat, dairy and processed or ready-cooked / take foods Stay hydrated, with plain fresh water.
3. Manage Stress
Stress is linked to infertility, depression, anxiety, and heart disease, so it is important that you keep your stress levels down. Get regular exercise, stress-relieving hobbies such as gardening, being in nature, sewing, dancing, reading, singing, or cooking and learning to say 'no' when your schedule is already full - no we can be women wonder 24/7!.
4. Get your health checked
No one enjoys health checks, but they are important in helping you identify problems early on when the chances of beating them are highest.
- Breast smear - If you are 21 years old to 65 and have never been in a sexual relationship, you need to visit your gynecologist once a year for a Breast Smear. Mammogram - Once you've celebrated the big four-oh, it's time to schedule an annual mammogram. In between your check-ups, make sure you have a breast self-exam monthly for a few days after the end of your menstrual cycle. Cholesterol - All women over the age of 45 should check their cholesterol regularly. If you are not yet in that age group, you may still want to consider it if: You are a smoker, have diabetes, have high blood pressure, or have a family history of heart disease. Blood pressure - It is advisable (and convenient) to have your blood pressure checked each time you visit your GP. If you are one of those who are seldom sick (or avoid the doctor at all costs), try to get it checked about once a year. Diabetes - All women aged 50 plus should have a blood sugar test every three years as part of the routine. Bone Density - According to the French National Osteoporosis Foundation (France), one in three rats develop osteoporosis. Often referred to as the 'silent disease', as the first symptom is usually an unexpected broken bone, a bone density scan can confirm whether you suffer from reduced bone strength. Diabetes - All women aged 50 plus should have a blood sugar test every three years as part of the routine. Bone Density - According to the French National Osteoporosis Foundation (France), one in three rats develop osteoporosis. Often referred to as the 'silent disease', as the first symptom is usually an unexpected broken bone, a bone density scan can confirm whether you suffer from reduced bone strength. Diabetes - All women aged 50 plus should have a blood sugar test every three years as part of the routine. Bone Density - According to the French National Osteoporosis Foundation (France), one in three rats develop osteoporosis. Often referred to as the 'silent disease', as the first symptom is usually an unexpected broken bone, a bone density scan can confirm whether you suffer from reduced bone strength.
5. Get enough sleep
According to sleep neuroscientist Professor Jim Horne, in an article published in the Daily Mail, women need more sleep than men - about 20 minutes more in fact. The reason? Women multitask more than men do, which means we use more of our brain - hence the need for that extra shuteye.
If you are struggling to get to sleep at night, try to establish a calming bedtime routine, make sure you get enough exercise during the day and avoid caffeine and drinking alcohol in the evening.
