BLOG 234: YOUR NATURAL NUTRITION TIPS IF YOU ARE OVER 40

I have some wonderful guests on The Face Yoga Expert Podcast and Jennifer Hanway was no exception. She was full of wonderful lifestyle and nutrition advice for us all, especially for us women over 40. You can enjoy the episode anywhere you listen to your podcasts, via my website or watch on my YouTube channel.

Jennifer Hanway’s journey into holistic health began in a way that’s likely familiar to anyone who has struggled with health matters. A series of debilitating digestive issues left the 30-something hospitalised on a morphine drip because, as she explains it, “My digestive system just stopped working”. 

After being prescribed painkillers, muscle relaxants, and a cornucopia of other medications, Jennifer decided there had to be a better way. At that point, she began to explore alternative options and did, indeed, discover how much better she could feel with some simple tips and lifestyle tweaks.

Now, as a wellness, nutrition, and weight-loss coach, she’s translating her experience into holistic health and beauty nutrition programs for women who are struggling with health issues of their own. In our chat, Jennifer shared her secrets to nurturing your body holistically and embracing regenerative aesthetics, particularly for women over 40. Let’s get into the details.

WHAT IS REGENERATIVE AESTHETICS?

Regenerative aesthetics is an innovative approach to beauty and well-being that harnesses the power of the body’s natural regenerative processes. This holistic practice focuses on optimising these processes through nutrition, movement, exercise, sleep, and stress management to unlock your body’s full potential for radiant, youthful, and sustainable beauty.

At its core, regenerative aesthetics recognises that true beauty radiates from within. It goes beyond traditional cosmetic treatments to prioritise the body’s innate ability to heal, renew, and rejuvenate itself. Here are some core components of regenerative aesthetics and how it works in our bodies to produce a more youthful appearance.

NUTRITION

Regenerative aesthetics starts with fueling your body with the right nutrients. By adopting a diet rich in whole foods, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, you provide your body with the building blocks it needs for cellular regeneration. Proper nutrition not only enhances your skin’s natural glow but also contributes to overall well-being.

MOVEMENT AND EXERCISE

Physical activity is crucial for stimulating the body’s regenerative mechanisms. Engaging in regular exercise promotes blood circulation, which delivers oxygen and nutrients to skin cells, aiding in their repair and renewal. Additionally, exercise can help maintain muscle tone, posture, and overall vitality, contributing to a more youthful appearance.

SLEEP

Adequate and restful sleep is a cornerstone of regenerative aesthetics. During deep sleep, the body undergoes essential repair and regeneration processes and the elimination of toxins. As such, quality sleep is essential for achieving and maintaining vibrant, youthful skin.

STRESS MANAGEMENT

Chronic stress can accelerate the ageing process and impact overall health. When you’re stressed, you need more nutrients, and stress has a way of showing on your skin. 

In contrast, when you’re healthy and calm on the inside, you’ll appear healthy on the outside. Stress reduction not only enhances your mental and emotional well-being but also positively affects your physical appearance.

At the same time, don’t stress out about stress management. It has to be manageable in your life. So don’t get stressed about sticking to a 10-minute daily meditation if you’re better served by a walk in nature or playtime with your dog. 

NUTRITION NO-NOS

Before even considering what not to eat for optimal skin health and overall well-being, Hanway advises taking a closer look at the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. “You’re not just what you eat; you are what you absorb,” she explains.

Jennifer might give a woman a perfectly designed meal plan that’s optimised for that individual. However, if that woman isn’t digesting it properly, isn’t absorbing the nutrients, and has inflammation, then Hanway advises taking a step back to explore other factors that could be at play.

GUT HEALTH

Are you digesting your food? Do you have a healthy microbiome? Are you pooping every day? Are you drinking enough water? Gut health is the first place to start when taking a deeper dive into holistic health.

SUGAR AND REFINED CARBOHYDRATES

You might not want to hear this, but eliminating sugar and refined carbohydrates can be a game-changer for your health and wellness. These compounds tend to increase insulin, causing oily skin, breakouts, inflammation, and the rise of androgens. Sugar also interferes with the skin’s ability to repair and regenerate itself. 

Essentially, when you eliminate sugar and refined carbohydrates, you give your body the ability to heal itself from the inside out.

NUTRITION RULES FOR RADIANT SKIN

While it’s important to think about what to eliminate, it’s equally important to consider what you can add to your diet and routine. Framing your thinking in this way is a great place to start on your journey to holistic health, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of eliminating foods from your diet. 

Not only does this thinking encourage a mindset of abundance and joy, but it allows you to choose foods such as leafy greens, proteins, and healthy fats that will help you reduce cravings for unhealthy foods. Here are the foods Hanway recommends including as part of a healthy, beauty-forward diet.

PROTEIN

Eating protein-rich foods provides amino acids that serve as the building blocks of healthy, glowing skin, hair, and nails. Prioritise eating protein at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

HEALTHY FATS

On every cell in the body, there’s a phospholipid bilayer that’s made up of fats. If you’re eating a lot of inflammatory fats such as canola oil, vegetable oil, or other fats high in omega-6 fatty acids, then the outside of the cell won’t be as healthy as it would be with omega-3-rich fats. 

Think avocados, extra virgin olive oil, nuts, seeds, and oily fish such as salmon or sardines — all excellent sources of skin-feeding nutrients that contribute to a healthy glow.

PHYTONUTRIENTS

Include antioxidant-rich foods from plants, such as leafy greens, brightly coloured fruits and vegetables, and even dark chocolate. 

Jennifer offers a few parting words to live by as you embark on your wellness journey:

• “If it ran, swam, flew, or grew” — it’s likely a whole food that can support your health. 
• “Aim for good, not perfect,” she says.
• Become comfortable in your own skin, and like what you see in the mirror. Our differences are quirks that make us beautiful. When you embrace your unique beauty, healthy changes will naturally follow.

Remember, too, that your skin can rapidly improve with a few simple changes. Just a few days of getting proper hydration, sleep, nutrients, and stress relief can begin to turn around your skin health. And before you know it, you’ll have that natural, youthful glow you’ve been longing for.

If you’re interested in learning more about Jennifer Hanway and her holistic coaching, you can find her online at jenniferhanway.com or on Instagram @JenniferHanway. 

To check out more about what I do, head to faceyogaexpert.com/ or follow me @faceyogaexpert on Instagram