It is 100% true that your collagen production decreases with age, starting in your 30’s, but increasingly so as you get closer to menopause and beyond. The loss of collagen has an effect on your skin and joints. Collagen is kind of like the springs in your mattress. That’s why as we lose it, we get more wrinkles and fine lines. Collagen is also an important component of your joints and helps keep them springy.

As I type this, my family and I are getting ready to take a road trip to Washington, DC for the kids’ March Break. We have always wanted to go there, and now that the kids are old enough to appreciate the history and the museums (it also helps that they are free… travelling with 6 of us is not cheap!), we decided this is the year! I often hear that it’s challenging to figure out how to eat healthy when you are eating away from home, so I thought it might be helpful to share what I do. There are actually lots of good options that make it possible to keep your wellness goals on track while you are exploring somewhere away from home or eating out to give yourself a break from cooking.

As your hormones change with peri/menopause, your body starts to break down muscle at an increasing rate. Muscle is very metabolically active, so less muscle means a slower metabolism, more inflammation, more insulin resistance, lower bone density, and less strength. This has a huge impact on your ability to stay healthy and active as you age. It’s also why so many women I talk to are frustrated because they find themselves gaining weight despite their best efforts to change that.

The good news is that this isn’t just something we have to accept as part of aging. We have the power to change that trajectory with what we eat and how we exercise. When you build your muscle, you will speed up your metabolism, reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, increase bone density, and get stronger!!

Have you heard of macronutrients? Maybe you know a little, maybe you are super confused by all of the information available, or maybe you’ve never even heard of them. That’s okay! I am going to simplify what macros are…

It’s that time of year where the weather is getting cooler, the leaves are falling and warm and cozy comfort food is on everyone’s mind. What better way to celebrate fall than with a delicious and nutritious soup recipe that not only satisfies your craving for comfort foods, but also nourish your body as well?