Debunking Women’s Health Myths: Taking Control of Aging
There’s a common narrative that aging is synonymous with decline, especially for women.
I hear it all the time— “It’s just part of getting older.”
But here’s the truth: so much of what we attribute to aging is within our control.
Today, I want to shine a light on the biggest myths about women’s health and aging and show you how to rewrite your story.
Let’s dive in!
Myth #1: Your Hair, Skin, and Nails Are Bound to Get Worse as You Age
Let’s talk about this one first because it’s so personal to me. Growing up, I always had weak, brittle nails, fine hair, and problem-prone skin. In my twenties, I assumed that these issues were just “how it was.” But as I began improving my diet in my late 20s, I started to notice a huge difference. My hair felt thicker, my nails grew stronger, and my skin cleared up.
This wasn’t magic—it was science. When you eat nutrient-dense foods and support your body from the inside out, your external health improves, too. Hair, skin, and nails are what I call “the leftovers” of your body. Your body prioritizes critical systems—like your heart and brain—first. If you’re not feeding yourself well enough to meet those demands, your hair, skin, and nails are the last to get nutrients.
Working with clients for years has reinforced this for me. I’ve spent over 17 years with some of my hair clients, and I’ve become a detective of sorts. I can often tell by the condition of their hair if they’re dealing with thyroid issues, low iron, hormonal imbalances, or nutritional deficiencies.
Your body is always sending signals—it’s just about learning to read them.
This is exactly why I pursued training in Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN). So many of my clients would come to me asking for product recommendations to address issues like brittle, dry, or thinning hair. But I knew a product was just a Band-Aid solution. Their hair was telling the story of what was happening inside their bodies. I realized I needed to go deeper—to truly help people, I had to address the root causes and support them from the inside out.
Debunking the Myth
Here’s how you can improve your hair, skin, and nails as you age:
Focus on Protein: Hair is made of keratin, a type of protein. Eating enough high-quality protein (think grass-fed meats, wild-caught fish, eggs, or plant-based options) ensures you’re providing the building blocks your hair needs. Eating for your metabolic type and ensuring you get the right ratio and type of protein for your body can work wonders for your hair, skin, and nails. Protein is the building block for keratin, collagen, and elastin—all of which are essential for strong hair, glowing skin, and healthy nails. By tailoring your protein intake to your body’s specific needs, you provide the foundation your body requires to repair and regenerate, enhancing your overall appearance from the inside out.
Incorporate Healthy Fats: Omega-3s from sources like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds support glowing skin and healthy hair. The typical American diet is heavily skewed toward Omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential but often consumed in excess. This imbalance can contribute to inflammation in the body. By intentionally incorporating more Omega-3s—found in foods like fatty fish, walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds—we can help restore balance, reduce inflammation, and support overall health. Omega-3s play a crucial role in brain function, heart health, and even hormone balance, making them a key component of a healthy diet.
Boost Micronutrients: Biotin, zinc, collagen, iron, and vitamins A, C, and E are essential for strong nails and radiant skin. Boosting micronutrients plays a vital role in supporting the health of your hair, skin, and nails. These tiny but powerful nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, are essential for the body’s regenerative processes, and they directly impact the strength, growth, and appearance of your hair, skin, and nails. Just to name an example: Iron. Iron is crucial for delivering oxygen to hair follicles, promoting hair growth. Low iron levels can lead to hair thinning or loss, so it’s important to ensure adequate intake through food like spinach, red meat, or legumes. H. pylori is a type of bacteria that can hang out in the stomach, and it’s known for causing quite a bit of trouble, especially when it comes to gut health. It is often associated with low iron levels because it can interfere with the absorption of iron from your food. This bacterium tends to thrive in an environment where stomach acid is low, which is why low stomach acid (a condition known as hypochlorhydria) often goes hand in hand with H. pylori infections.
Address Hormonal Balance: If your hair is thinning or nails are brittle, it might be a sign of deeper imbalances, like low thyroid function or perimenopausal changes. For example: too high of DHT is a huge contributor to hair loss. Testosterone can be converted into DHT, which shrinks the hair follicle and leads to hair loss, thinning hair, or slower growth.
Myth #2: You Will Have Less Energy as You Age
“I just don’t have the energy I used to.” Sound familiar? Let’s flip the script because I have more energy now than I did in my twenties. And no, I’m not some anomaly—it’s all about how you fuel and care for your body.
One of the biggest shifts I’ve made is eating for my metabolic type. This means tailoring my meals to fit how my body processes proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. When you eat according to your metabolic needs, your blood sugar stabilizes, hormones regulate, and your energy naturally increases.
In our twenties, we often get away with less-than-ideal habits. But as you age, your body’s tolerance for poor nutrition, stress, and sleep deprivation decreases. Instead of clinging to what worked back then (hello, crash diets and endless cardio), it’s time to embrace smarter strategies that align with your current needs.
You may have already heard me say this, but think of your body as a bank account: you’ve got to make regular deposits—like quality sleep, nutritious food, and balanced exercise—to keep it thriving. But here’s the problem: most women are stuck in overdraft mode. They’re not putting in enough deposits and instead are making way too many withdrawals with things like stress, over-exercising, skipping meals, and burning the candle at both ends.
The result? An exhausted, overdrawn body that’s begging for balance. It’s time to stop the stress splurge and start investing in yourself!
Debunking the Myth
Here’s how to boost your energy as you age:
Eat Smarter, Not Less. Most women don’t eat enough. Prioritize balanced meals with protein, healthy fats, and carbs to keep blood sugar steady. Eating the right macronutrient ratio for your body is a game-changer when it comes to eating smarter. It keeps you feeling full and satisfied, prevents your body from going into “starvation mode,” and helps curb those pesky cravings. When your body gets exactly what it needs, you feel energized, balanced, and in control of your hunger.
Get Moving: Focus on strength training and gentle movement (like yoga or walking), which support energy levels and prevent fatigue. Many women are pushing their bodies too hard with workouts that don’t match their current physical state. Tailoring your exercise routine to meet your body’s unique needs can help boost energy levels, improve recovery, and support overall well-being. Listening to what your body truly needs is the key to achieving sustainable fitness and vitality.
Prioritize Sleep: Quality sleep is non-negotiable for energy. During sleep the body is performing essential maintenance and repair work to keep you upper with the energy demands that it has. Try to create a calming bedtime routine and support your circadian rhythm by avoiding screens before bed.
Manage Stress: Chronic stress drains your energy reserves. Managing stress is essential for boosting energy because chronic stress drains your physical, mental, and emotional reserves. When you take steps to reduce stress, your body can function more efficiently, helping you feel energized and resilient. Incorporate mindfulness, meditation, or even just deep breathing into your day to recharge.
Myth #3: Hormonal Changes Are Completely Out of Your Control
This one’s a biggie. Many women believe that hormonal changes—like those that come with perimenopause and menopause—are an inevitable force they have no power over. Weight gain, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and decreased libido are just “part of life,” right? Wrong.
Hormonal changes are real, but how your body experiences them is influenced by your lifestyle choices. For example, I’ve seen clients dramatically reduce menopause symptoms simply by tweaking their diet, improving gut health, and managing stress levels.
Debunking the Myth
You can absolutely support your hormones and reduce unwanted symptoms. Here’s how:
Balance Blood Sugar: Wild blood sugar swings can worsen hormonal imbalances. Eat right for your metabolic type is an amazing way to balance blood sugar. Just like we are different on the outside, we are different on the inside and out bodies break down food for energy differently.
Support Your Liver: Your liver helps process and eliminate excess hormones. The liver plays a central role in maintaining hormonal balance, acting as the body’s “detox center” for processing and eliminating excess or inactive hormones. When the liver isn’t functioning optimally, it can disrupt the delicate balance of your hormones.
Boost Gut Health: Your gut microbiome plays a critical role in hormone metabolism. The gut microbiome plays a powerful role in regulating hormones, acting as a communication hub between the digestive system and the rest of the body. When the microbiome is healthy, it helps keep hormone levels balanced. But when it’s out of balance (a condition called dysbiosis), it can disrupt the entire hormonal system.
Adapt to Change: What worked for your body in your 30s might not work in your 40s or 50s. Be open to adjusting your routines as your needs evolve.
Aging doesn’t have to mean settling for less energy, dull skin, or hormonal chaos—it’s a season of life where you can feel more empowered, vibrant, and in tune with your body than ever before. By debunking these myths, we see that the narrative around aging is more about misinformation than inevitability. The truth is, your body is capable of amazing things when you give it the support, nourishment, and attention it deserves.
Think of this as your invitation to rewrite your story about aging. Instead of fearing the process, embrace it as an opportunity to deepen your understanding of what your body needs. Small, intentional changes in your diet, self-care, and lifestyle can create a ripple effect, leading to healthier hair, skin, energy, and hormones as you age.
Conclusion
Remember, you’re not alone on this journey. Women everywhere are learning to challenge these myths, prioritize their health, and discover that aging can be a beautiful process when approached with curiosity and care. You have the power to thrive—not just survive—as you age.
So, let’s ditch the outdated myths and replace them with a fresh perspective: one where you feel strong, capable, and radiant at every stage of life. Because you deserve to feel amazing—not despite your age, but because of it. The best is truly yet to come!
Aging is a privilege—and with the right strategies, it can also be a time of vibrancy and empowerment. Let’s start seeing it that way.
Want to work with me to optimize your health and wellness at any age? Learn more about my personalized wellness services.
