Empowering Women's Wellbeing
In a world where convenience often trumps quality, it is essential to prioritise your health and nourish your body with the right choices. So, grab your green smoothie (+The Elevator) and join us on this enlightening journey!
Let’s delve into the realm of women's health conditions, exploring the benefits of natural health and nutrition while shedding light on the challenges that you may face when your hormones tip out of balance.
Pearls of wisdom
Our ancestors were far more in tune with the ebb and flow of femininity. The regular gatherings of women, from immediate or extended families, within the local community, be it for chores or celebrations, created a huddle for the sharing of womanly wisdom which generated a sense of togetherness and facilitated a support network that was invaluable for personal and cultural development. Insights were passed down from mother to daughter, from grandmother to new mother, from aunt to niece and from sister to friend.
Fast forward to today and in many ways our lives are more exciting, comfortable and free. However, travel and opportunity has created great distance between the generations of women within the family circle. Since many female health conditions are predetermined or strongly influenced by genetics, we need to find a way to maintain that pathway of communication for sharing the pearls of wisdom that keep women healthy, happy and flourishing.
Challenging times
At some point in your life, you are likely to face a health challenge, be it spotty teenage skin, terrible PMS, painful breastfeeding, an exhausting divorce, menopausal anxiety or debilitating insomnia. Even if you manage to maintain decades of good health and vitality, you may unexpectedly be impacted by someone you love discovering a little lump, or losing a little bump.
No matter where you are in the world, or how far you have drifted from your huddle, SISTERLY is here to help you decipher health facts from fiction, and inspire you to take control of your journey with female health.
Embracing the trilogy of womanhood
Every woman’s health adventure occurs over a trilogy of hormonal stages. Each of these has a unique set of health objectives and challenges and different nutrient requirements to help minimise the risk of developing the associated female health conditions of each phase.
Understanding how your female health evolves through different life stages is crucial to addressing specific conditions that impact your wellbeing. As the saying goes – knowledge is power - and at SISTERLY we are here to empower you to be curious, to make informed decisions and to discover new natural ways to feel full of life.
1. Adolescence start
During adolescence, young women experience significant physical and emotional changes. Hormonal fluctuations can lead to conditions such as acne, irregular periods, and mood swings. It is essential to educate young girls about proper nutrition and lifestyle practices to support their physical development, mental health, self-esteem and overall wellbeing. The SISTERLY philosophy leads by embracing all body types, all shapes, all perceived imperfections - to teach and encourage our youngsters to believe and know that beauty comes from within and that good nutrition adds that extra layer of glow.
2. Reproductive years
The reproductive years encompass your prime childbearing age. Conditions that commonly occur during this phase include PCOS, endometriosis and fertility issues. PCOS affects 6% to 20% of women worldwide and tell-tale symptoms include irregular periods, weight gain, and excessive hair growth. Endometriosis, is a very painful condition which affects around 10% to 15% women of reproductive age. The SISTERLY message here is that medical advice and adopting natural health strategies has helped many women just like you manage these conditions and support fertility.
The joy of pregnancy is untouchable - but oh boy can the plethora of information be confusing and overwhelming for a new mum-to-be. Common conditions during this phase include gestational diabetes, hypertension and postpartum depression. Here at SISTERLY we are strong advocates that proper nutrition plays a significant role in ensuring a healthy pregnancy and supporting the growth and development of your baby. Natural health practices, such as maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise, and prioritizing self-care, help promote a healthy pregnancy and smooth recovery.
3. Menopause and beyond
Perimenopause refers to the transitional phase before menopause, during which hormonal fluctuations occur. Get ready for a roller coaster ride of hot flushes, mood swings and sleep disturbances. You may be celebrating the end of monthly periods but this change brings about additional health challenges like bone density loss, increased risk of heart disease, changes in skin tone and increased risk of memory problems that should not be ignored.
Our SISTERLY approach to the menopause - is to do just that - pause! Breathe in the change, slow down the pace, connect to the creativity within and sow the seed for a new beginning. Time is precious now, so we encourage you to make it count.
Love,
SISTERLY
Sources:
Witchel SF, Oberfield SE, Peña AS. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Pathophysiology, Presentation, and Treatment With Emphasis on Adolescent Girls. J Endocr Soc. 2019 Jun 14;3(8):1545-1573. doi: 10.1210/js.2019-00078. PMID: 31384717; PMCID: PMC6676075.
Mehedintu C, Plotogea MN, Ionescu S, Antonovici M. Endometriosis still a challenge. J Med Life. 2014 Sep 15;7(3):349-57. Epub 2014 Sep 25. PMID: 25408753; PMCID: PMC4233437.
Delamater L, Santoro N. Management of the Perimenopause. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Sep;61(3):419-432. doi: 10.1097/GRF.0000000000000389. PMID: 29952797; PMCID: PMC6082400.
Chester RC, Kling JM, Manson JE. What the Women's Health Initiative has taught us about menopausal hormone therapy. Clin Cardiol. 2018 Feb;41(2):247-252. doi: 10.1002/clc.22891. Epub 2018 Mar 1. PMID: 29493798; PMCID: PMC6490107.
