I feel truly blessed to be able to say that I love what I do. 

It really jazzes me to write books and blogs, consult one on one with clients, design helpful supplements, give dietary suggestions, and one of my very favorite things to do--speak and interact with people at conferences.

Normally the questions I get at conferences are geared toward what I just spoke about—whether it’s IBS, energy, the importance of pH, etc.—but sometimes I get a loaded question that really rocks my world and challenges me!

One that I will never forget is:  What should a woman do to stay healthy?

I had to think about that one because SO many ideas popped into my mind and I had to pinpoint the most important things to do…things that would have the biggest impact and be the most effective at paving the way for strong women’s health.

Here is my response:

My top 6 tips for women’s health

Tip #1: Find the right doctor

Your doctor is supposed to be your partner in supporting your good health…

So if yours is not willing to listen to your concerns or answer your questions, if he/she makes you feel uncomfortable, pressured, rushed, stupid or intimidated, or their only answer for every single problem you have is what drug(s) to give you, please find another.

There are a great many wonderful doctors out there who truly care about their patients, and you deserve to work with someone like that—not someone that treats you like cattle. 

Try to find one who practices integrative medicine—blending holistic measures with modern medicine to find the very best approach to help you achieve better health.

My personal doctor is Dr. John Salerno of the Salerno Center for Complementary Medicine (with offices in Manhattan and Fairfield, CT), and he is a BIG reason for my strong state of health!

Tip #2: Engage in the exercise activity that’s right for you

Regular exercise is not optional if you want to be healthy into your golden years.  That may not be what you want to hear, but I’m here to tell you what you NEED to hear, so listen up.

The key to embracing—not loathing—exercise is to find what’s right for you!  Not what your co-worker does, or what your friend likes or what some celebrity says you should do.

What YOU like!

So do some soul searching and find an activity you can enjoy. 

You don’t need to get fancy—brisk walking is very helpful, plus there are many great exercise DVDs you can use in the privacy of your own living room.

If you need motivation, here is a quote that is one of my favorites:  Behind every fit woman is the butt she got moving to get her there.

Remember to get your doctor’s OK first, especially if you haven’t exercised in a while (or ever).

Tip #3: Keep stress low

Stress is a health-wrecker for countless reasons—it weakens your immune system functioning, increases your risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, it can lead to hormonal imbalances, ruin your digestion, trigger depression, and cause you to crave carbs and gain weight!

Plus, it can make you look older than your years to boot!

Exercise is a great natural stress-reducer, as are yoga, meditation, massage, deep breathing, visualization, prayer, essential oils, a warm bath and listening to relaxing music. 

Also, acupuncture is VERY effective at stress reduction—it’s my go-to in times of stress!

In addition, learn to say no when your plate is already full of commitments.  There is nothing wrong with having limits and boundaries.  And set aside “me time”—even if it’s just to read a chapter in a book or snuggle with your pets.

Tip #4: Keep your gut healthy

Health begins in your gut for two main reasons:

1- Your gut houses between 70-80 percent of your immune system…so if it’s not healthy, trust me, neither are you.

2- Your intestinal tract is where your nutrients get absorbed and wastes are eliminated.  It would not be a pretty picture if your body didn’t have the nutrients you need to survive, and/or you resembled a clogged toilet full of wastes.  Talk about the perfect home for disease to come knocking!

For tip-top gut health, be sure to have at least five servings (ideally more) of fresh vegetables and fruits each day, strive to eat a tossed salad every day (even a simple lettuce salad counts!), avoid antibiotics and acid reducers like the plague, and most importantly, supplement with a full-spectrum probiotic formula like Super Shield. 

Super Shield’s complete blend of 13 powerful, robust probiotic strains helps to support a strong gut microbiome, as well as encourage more regular BMs and less gas and bloating.

Probiotic foods like yogurt, kefir, kimchi and sauerkraut are also helpful, so try to work some of those in too.

Note that if you’re troubled with heartburn on a regular basis, many people have gotten tremendous relief by supplementing with a complete digestive enzyme formula like Digestizol Max. 

Digestizol Max provides a blend of 15 natural, plant-derived enzymes that help your body break down everything you eat—proteins, carbs, fats, you-name-it.  When your foods are broken down properly like they should be, heartburn becomes a non-issue!

Tip #5: Get tested and explore natural therapies

As we women age, one of the biggest health challenges we face is menopause!

If you feel that is an issue for you, get tested and explore alternative treatments like bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.  BHRT has been a Godsend for countless women, and it is far safer than synthetic hormones. 

Tip #6: Make sure you have enough vitamin D

Vitamin D provides a triple boost in terms of supporting women’s health:

• It protects against cardiovascular disease and cancer—our top 2 killers
• It helps counteract the overzealous immune actions associated with autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s
• It helps keep your bones strong and protects against osteoporosis

Try to spend some time in the sun (20 minutes or so) unprotected so your body can make some vitamin D, and to be sure your levels are where they should be 365 days a year, supplement with a top-notch product like Optimum DK Formula with FruiteX-B.

Optimum DK Formula provides a therapeutic 5,000 IUs of vitamin D3, along with its partners vitamins K1 and K2, and the mineral boron.  All of these outstanding nutrients work together to support strong immune, bone and heart health!

And don’t make the mistake of thinking that you have enough vitamin D because you drink milk.  A glass of milk provides about 6 percent of your body’s recommended daily needs—so you’d need to rent a cow to get enough vitamin D from milk alone!

Ladies, it’s time for you to take steps in the right direction to stay healthy and vibrant for many years to come!

You are beautiful, you deserve to be healthy, and you are worth it.

To your health,

Sherry Brescia