TOO YOUNG TO BE OLD

Age 36–50

The transition into this phase can leave some women a bit confused – they feel they are too old to be young and too young to be old. Their most productive time is spent in childrearing, doing household chores, managing careers and establishing a work-life balance. In the process they very likely neglect their health and well-being.

Establishing good food habits is very important. Choose a variety of vegetables, including dark green, red and orange; as well as beans and peas. Include grains in your daily diet, half of which should be whole grains. Stick to fat-free or low-fat dairy. Have protein at every meal. Use healthy oils, such as olive oil.

Your body is your most important tool. According to Pamela Peeke, assistant professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland, US, four or more hours of exercising per week can reduce a woman’s risk of breast cancer by 60 per cent. Risk of colon cancer can be cut by 30-40 per cent if you include three to five hours of cardio per week.

As you approach 40s, women yearn to ensure the significance and value of their contribution to the family and workplace. You are continually feeling misunderstood and under-achieved in every sphere of life. While it can be termed as ‘midlife crisis’, it needn’t be. Find richer ways to apply your talent and skills. Pick up a hobby or revive an old one. Make sure you have enough ‘me’ time singularly and ‘we’ time with your partner and family.

Find time to meditate in spite of your busy schedule. Meditation is self-observation. It helps you develop concentration, emotional positivity, and gives clarity to the chaos around you. It has many benefits including reduction of stress and anxiety, enhancing self-awareness and generating kindness.

Talking about your feelings (especially to your partner) can help you stay in good mental health and deal with bad emotions. When you feel troubled, keep yourself active, eat healthy foods and take a well-deserved break.

Drinking fluids is crucial to staying healthy and maintaining the function of every system in your body, including your heart, brain, and muscles. A simple way to make sure you’re staying properly hydrated is to check your urine. If it is colourless or light yellow, you are most likely well hydrated. Dark yellow or ambercoloured urine can be a sign of dehydration.

Meanwhile, don’t forget to take care of your slowly ageing skin. Cleanse it every day, exfoliate and use sun protection.

Though you may be bogged down by daily monotonous routines, it is imperative to develop a pattern for daily habits. Ideally you would need to:

✱ Get between seven and eight hours of sleep per night

✱ Spend time with loved ones

✱ Take a day out with your partner at least once a month

✱ Avoid smoking. If you can’t quit, reduce.

✱ Incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet

✱ Stop drinking soda and eating junk foods.

✱ If you need to have a cheat day, restrict it to once per week

✱Increase your frequency of health check-ups, including reproductive health. These include:

✱ Papsmear every two years unless you notice abnormal symptoms like post coital bleeding and discharge/infection

✱Self breast examination every month because in this age there is a 30 to 40 per cent risk of breast cancer

✱ Dental checkup

✱ Look out for blood in the stool and urine

Information: Dr. Azhar Schett, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Prime Healthcare Group