Menopause Mondays: CHEWing with Jessica Marie

This summer has kicked off to a great start! Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting some fabulous shmirshkies in Chicago, and let me tell you, the sisterhood of shmirshkies has established quite the presence in the Midwest!

During my trip, I had breakfast with Jessica Marie, Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Founder of CHEW Chicago. We had a lot in common: she’s an expert on selecting food, and I’m an expert on consuming it! All kidding aside, she’s a pro with some fantastic insights about fitness and fun, so I thought I’d put her in the hot seat and ask her a few questions for the curious shmirshkies. Here’s what she had to say:

Q: Most of us shmirshkies act as if it’s our job to feel fat our whole lives and we dread the idea of starving ourselves to look good. I know you approach this differently at CHEW, can you tell me more about your philosophy?

A. At CHEW Chicago (Complete Health Education & Wellness), we believe the ‘diet is dead’ and that people should take a closer look at their relationship with food.  I like to keep things simple, get back to basics, and it’s amazing how well that really works. Our deep-rooted belief in clean living, whole foods, and lifestyle change, is the reason our clients and community have been able to change their lives. We’re all about putting great things INTO the diet instead of taking things OUT of the diet, allowing the body to naturally crowd out less healthful options.  We don’t focus on deprivation and restriction, instead we identify what foods will and won’t work for your body.  Every individual is different, so shouldn’t every diet be different?

Q:  LOVE that! At Shmirshky, we believe there’s not a one-size-fits all approach to health as well, especially for women in perimenopause and menopause (PM&M for short)! Do you have any nutrition pointers that women in perimenopause and menopause might want to keep in mind as part of their pursuit of hormone happiness?

A: Shmirshkies in PM&M have to find balance.  A great way to do this is with food!  I take a holistic approach to health and wellness and look to food to heal and food as medicine.  I also take a realistic approach and know that sometimes, food alone can’t do the trick.  Integrating these foods may not eliminate symptoms, but integrating vitamin-rich choices will help on your quest for good health!

Here is my mini CHEW Approved List:

• Vitamin E may help reduce hot flashes and mood swings.  Vitamin E can be found naturally in dark leafy greens like kale, collards, and chard.  Not only are greens full of nutrition, they are kind to the waistline.
• Vitamin C may help ease hormonal shifts.  Vitamin C can be found naturally in oranges and papaya.  Papaya is full of digestive enzymes, so this will help keep things moving.
• Magnesium has sometimes been shown to be helpful for irritability, sleeplessness, anxiety, and irritability.  Magnesium can be found naturally in whole grains like brown rice and rolled oats pack a ton of soluble fiber and Magnesium.  Make sure to pay attention to portions with these complex carbohydrates. Magnesium also helps the body absorb Calcium!
• Flax seed oil & Primrose oil may help some fight depression, fatigue, and may also alleviate skin breakouts.

Q: Oh, if only cookie dough were on that list! In Shmirshky: the pursuit of hormone happiness, I talk about exercise being important to mental and physical health. I love riding my bike and working out with my trainer – what exercises do you recommend?

A. I think yoga is one of the best things a woman can do for her body and her mind.  Get into a class, stay present, and find your breath.  It’s amazing how grounding yoga can be.  It’s like talk-therapy for the body and soul.  If you can’t get to a studio, download a class at www.yogadownload.com

Q:  Fabulous – any excuse to use my orange yoga mat! Last question: It’s summer, how can we prep for BS season (bathing suit season!)? Do you have any warm-weather recipes you recommend?

A. Here is a healthy, dairy-free, BS friendly ice cream recipe that is super easy to make and tastes like heaven!

Banana-Cashew Ice Cream

Ingredients:
3 ripe bananas
2 cups raw cashews, soaked for 2 hours
1 cup water
¼ cup agave nectar or honey
1-tablespoon natural vanilla extract
Pinch sea salt

Method:
Throw everything in the blender and keep tweaking until you are satisfied with the texture. Pour mixture into Popsicle molds and freeze.  If you don’t have Popsicle molds, just toss everything into a freezer-safe container and freeze.

Jessica is fabulous! For more information about Jessica Marie and CHEW Chicago visit http://www.chewchicago.com