Have you caught yourself doing something in one area of your life that you would never even dream of doing in another?

For example, most of us do not buy “one-size-fits-all” clothing, shoes, or even bedding. If we wear a size 11 dress, size 6 shoe, and have a king-size bed, we shop for and purchase a size 11 dress, size 6 shoe, and king-size sheets. This, of course, makes total sense.

Then why, I would ask, do so many of us Boomers do exactly the opposite when it comes to making sure that our bodies are getting the nutrients we need – and in the right amounts – to protect our health?

The Healthy Diet Habit

While we may not want to admit it, I would bet that most of us try to eat what we would consider a “healthy diet” and then take a multivitamin and mineral supplement to “fill in any gaps” just in case we aren’t getting enough micronutrients.

The problem with this approach, however, is that we are assuming that everyone needs the same nutrients in the same amounts to stay healthy. But by following this philosophy, we are giving ourselves a false sense of security.

The truth is that no two people have the same nutritional needs for protecting their health (which is even more important given the times we are living in). And in any event, more than 90 percent of Americans consume less than the RDA for many nutrients.

An analogy to this “one-size-fits-all” concept is body temperature. For the longest time, we were taught that 98.6 F (36.6 C) is the norm and any deviation from this reading was something to be concerned about and possibly treated.

We now know that not only do our body temperatures vary throughout the day, but that there actually is a range of normal body temperatures. What is considered normal to me may be high to you and low to someone else. The same applies to nutrition.

Minimum and Average

While RDAs for various nutrients are a good starting point for knowing how much of any given micronutrient we need, they are designed to indicate the minimum amounts an average person needs to stay healthy.

The key words here are minimum and average. When it comes to my health, I go out of my way to do more than the minimum, and I hate to think of myself as average. As Boomer women, we also need to remember that our nutrient needs change as we get older.

For reasons such as physical changes due to aging, reduced appetite as we age, medications or chronic illness such as metabolic syndrome, or gastrointestinal surgeries, our bodies may not absorb nutrients as efficiently as they did when we were younger.

We also may have genetic factors that make our bodies need more of a given nutrient than other women.

No matter the reason, if we just follow the RDA for any given nutrient, the odds are that we are going to come up short. This, in turn, can negatively impact many of our bodies’ systems as well as make us more vulnerable to pathogens or worsen any chronic conditions we may have.

In fact, about 80 percent of preventable diseases may be attributed to nutritional deficiencies. Given this percentage, you can see how doing the “minimum” when it comes to nutrition may not be the best idea.

Examples of Nutrients of Special Concern to Boomer Women

There are some nutrients that we really need to focus on as Boomers to help protect our bodies – or at least minimize the impact from age-related conditions such as osteoporosis, weaker immune response, and even reduced cognitive function. So, you may need more than the RDA of the following:

Zinc

Zinc is important for boosting your immune system and protecting against respiratory illness. It can be found in green vegetables, nuts, beans, and dark baking chocolate.

Vitamin D

One compound important for bone health is vitamin D since it helps your body absorb calcium. It also helps with blood pressure and immune response. Good sources are fatty fish, cheese, and egg yolks. The best source, however, is sunlight.

Calcium

Calcium is important for building and maintaining strong bones and avoiding osteoporosis. It is plentiful in milk, cheese, and other dairy as well as green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin B12

Another important compound for healthy brain function and making red blood cells is vitamin B12. Good sources of this vitamin are lean meat and seafood as well as poultry and dairy products.

Potassium

For a healthy heart, nervous system, and muscle function you need potassium. You can get this nutrient from fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids can lower heart disease risk and are found in cold-water fatty fish, plant oils, nuts, and seeds.

Magnesium

Magnesium is an important nutrient that helps boost your immune system, keeps your bones strong, and promotes cardiovascular health. Good sources are whole wheat, green leafy vegetables, dark chocolate (in moderation), and avocados.

Iron

If you are concerned about anemia, adequate iron intake can help you with that. It can be found in fortified breakfast cereals, beans (lentils, soy), dark chocolate, spinach, and organ meats.

Protein

Protein is key in muscle building and repair. You can get protein from low-fat yogurt, seeds, eggs, lean meats, fish, tofu, and beans.

Just as there is no “one-size-fits-all” to best determine your nutritional needs, there is not a “one-size-fits-all” diet for attaining proper nutritional balance. So, while your best friend may swear on veggie burgers and oatmeal-and-mango smoothies, your ideal mix of foods will depend on your unique needs.

Even identical twins will process the same foods differently. The good news here is that there are literally countless possibilities for developing your diet.

Testing and Trending

I have two other recommendations to better personalize your nutritional goals and your diet. The first is to consider a more comprehensive nutritional test and analysis than the one your doctor most likely gives you during your annual physical.

Routine tests at the doctor’s office will only measure what I call the “hit parade” of nutrients, such as calcium, potassium, and vitamin D, but will usually not include other important nutrients such as zinc and magnesium.

Armed with the result of a more comprehensive test, you and your healthcare provider can develop personalized nutritional goals along with a diet plan to achieve them.

The second recommendation is to start tracking the results of your nutritional tests to better help identify your baseline and trends. With this information, you and your healthcare provider will be able to more readily identify possible nutritional issues before they can impact your health.

For example, a vitamin B12 level of 350 picograms per milliliter is in the normal range, and if a single blood test reports this amount, you would probably assume everything is fine. But if your previous three tests were all around 600, then this sudden drop to 350 would be something to look at. (To give perspective, the normal level is between 190 and 950).

Remember, one size does not fit all!

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult with your doctor to get specific medical advice for your situation.

Do you have a general idea of what nutrients your body needs to stay healthy? Have you and your doctor ever set nutritional goals for you? Do you have a diet that helps you achieve them? Where do you get your nutritional information from? Please join the conversation.

Staying six feet apart from friends and relatives has given a whole new meaning to the term “six degrees of separation,” popularized in connection with actor Kevin Bacon. It suggested that any actor could be connected with Bacon in a maximum of six handshakes with a friend of a friend.

Now, the Internet and Covid-19 prove that we are all connected. We are only a breath away from one another.

Back to Walden Pond

There are many things we gave up during what I think of as our Back to Walden Pond days. Our ability to travel was one of them. Once again, our quest for an extensive road trip was stymied.

Everything I love about my community ended. There were no café visits with friends, no Choir practice or local theatre productions, concerts or music festivals. Even our local parks were closed to us for a couple of months.

For many of us, it felt like we were living in suspended animation. We were frozen in time.

And then, I transitioned into revisiting the philosophy of Henry David Thoreau, whose book, Walden, is an ode to solitude, contemplation, and nature.

Thoreau wrote Walden as a reflection on simple living in natural surroundings. He expressed the spiritual benefits of a simplified lifestyle when we eliminate aspirations of luxury and the quest for the American Dream.

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

Whether you have read his book or not, many of us followed his example as we simplified our own lives.

Un-Voluntary Simplicity

Many of us went kicking and screaming into our un-voluntary simplicity before we settled into domesticity. Everyone I know is baking more often – sourdough bread-making is a big hit these days.

We have planted a vegetable garden for the first time in 10 years, and many of my neighbors have done the same. Our Farmer’s Market has gone online, and we seek out more local products.

We have more time to be more thoughtful about everything, including our shopping lists.

Wearing a mask has turned from a requirement to an artistic statement as local artists are now designing them. Initially, we hated being told to wear a mask, but now we accept them as a sign that we care about the health of others.

In fact, we are contemplating wearing a mask during future cold and flu seasons as a way to control the spread of viruses as is a common practice in other countries.

Our Connection with Nature

When the cars abandoned the roads, the planes deserted the skies, and the cruise ships ceased sailing, we saw plants and animals thought to be extinct return. And when the smog cleared, we had clearer vision and the ability to breathe more deeply.

We began to reflect on our connection with nature and went deeper into communion with the natural world.

With the busyness of the modern world reduced, my neighbors and I noticed more. We started watching the birds more closely and saw that the deer were less timid. Plants were thriving and nature was in full bloom around us. We really noticed it this past spring – as if for the first time.

We are finding pleasure in the little things – bird song, frogs croaking, harvesting edible wild plants, watching the deer at play and the turkeys fanning out their feathers as they strut around in their red, high-heeled shoes.

How We Remain Connected

Like many others, we have been on Zoom. It is lovely to see the smiling faces of Choir members – even though singing online is less uplifting. I’m part of a weekly group that meets online to share music and readings to lift our spirit.

I have two chairs on my front deck that are spaced just over six feet apart. It’s a space for conversation with a friend who drops over for a chat.

Each night at 7:00 PM, we join many others who step outside and play a musical instrument, drum or bang on pots and pans to express our appreciation for our front line workers who have toiled to keep us safe these many weeks we’ve been in isolation.

We Are All Connected

The dichotomy of six degrees of separation is that the virus is bringing us together by showing us how we are all connected – even while separated. I don’t need to explain forced isolation, mask-wearing, or hug depravation to you. You already understand.

When I tell you I’ve been in self-isolation for months, I’ve been obsessively hand-washing, and staying six feet away from friends and strangers – you don’t give me a quizzical look. You need no further explanation.

We were more separated before – when we were each going buzzing about in our own separate ways. The virus is proof of how connected we really are. What happens to one can impact another. The virus does not respect any borders.

The Butterfly Effect

On an intellectual level, I’ve always understood the notion that when a butterfly flaps its wings in one part of the world, it can contribute to a tiny change in the atmosphere that could alter the path of a tornado somewhere else. The virus has made me feel this effect.

It has caused us to slow down and go inward. We are looking closely at our values and ethics and learning to separate our wants from our needs. We are beginning to recognize our inter-dependence with each other and the natural world.

We are not separate. We are all connected.

The world is going through the same experience we are. We realize the old ways haven’t worked for many of us and that we need to create a new world that works for everyone.

Soon, we will pack our camper and head out for a couple of days in a National Park to enjoy a staycation close to home. We look forward to a change of scenery, gazing at the ocean and the Milky Way while we ponder our place in the world.

Our friends will have the campsite next to us. It will be good to connect with them in person once again. I hope you get to do the same.

In your opinion, what has been the relational impact of our time in isolation? Do you think the pandemic separated us or connected us more deeply? What further thoughts can you add? Please join the conversation.

The beauty of Black hair is the spectrum of textures that can be manipulated into a myriad of styles, from the tiniest of braids to the smoothest of silk presses. And while Hollywood certainly isn’t the only place to gather inspiration, we’d be lying if we said famous women like Lupita Nyong’o and Solange Knowles were not only killing the mane game but forcing us to rethink our basic ’dos as well. These Black celebrity hairstylists provide unless inspiration.

We have the trusted hairstylists within their glam squads to thank for these iconic styles. Some are seasoned pros and others are new kids on the block. But what they all have in common is a penchant for delivering hair moments we’d frame and post on our walls. Some of these looks we remember years and years later and for good reason. Ahead are the stylists you should be following on Instagram for a steady stream of inspo (if you haven’t already).

From Tokyo Stylez and his bold wigs, to Ted Gibson and his way with curly bangs, to Nikki Nelms’ ultimate creativity, you’ll double-tap your feed like crazy after following these artists. Trust us. Many of these hairstylists share their exact tips and tricks so you can attempt to recreate them at home. Plus, many of these entrepreneurs have launched haircare brands and hair tools so you can shop right while you’re scrolling and support Black-owned brands.

Source: Instagram

Lacy Redway

Clients include Laura Harrier, Zazie Beets and Tessa Thompson.

Source: Instagram

Vernon Francois

Clients include Lupita Nyong’o and Amandla Stenberg.

Source: Instagram

Ursula Stephen

Clients include Ciara and Zendaya.

Source: Instagram

Felicia Leatherwood

Clients include Issa Rae and Lena Waithe.

Source: Instagram

Nai’vasha Johnson

Clients include Yara Shahidi and Logan Browning.

Source: Instagram

Vernon Scott

Clients include Danai Gurira.

Source: Instagram

Tymothe Wallace

Clients include Taraji P. Henson, Skai Jackson and Mary J. Blige.

Source: Instagram

Andre Walker

Clients include Oprah Winfrey.

Source: Instagram

Oscar James

Clients include Tiffani Haddish and Eva Marcille.

Source: Instagram

Shani Crowe

Clients include Solange Knowles.

Source: Instagram

Kendall Dorsey

Clients include Teyana Taylor and Selah Marley.

Source: Instagram

Tokyo Stylez

Clients include Cardi B and Teyana Taylor.

Source: Instagram

Chuck Amos

Clients include Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Hervey of Lion Babe and Jourdan Dunn.

Source: Instagram

Larry Sims

Clients include Gabrielle Union and Zendaya.

Source: Instagram

Tippi Shorter

Clients include Alicia Keys and Amandla Stenberg.

Source: Instagram

Kahh Spence

Clients include Normani, Kehlani and Ella Mai.

Source: Instagram

Kim Kimble

Clients include Nicki Minaj and Beyonce.

Source: Instagram

Kiyah Wright

Clients include Ciara, Nicole Ari Parker and Angelica Ross.

Source: Instagram

Ted Gibson

Clients include Tessa Thompson and Serena Williams.

Source: Instagram

Johnny Wright

Clients include (formerly) Michelle Obama, Samira Wiley and Angela Rye.

Source: Instagram

Nikki Nelms

Clients include Janelle Monae, Zoe Kravitz and Solange Knowles.

Source: Instagram

Takisha Sturvidant-Drew

Clients include Kerry Washington, Naturi Naughton and Leona Lewis.

Source: Instagram

Yusef Williams

Clients include Rihanna.

Braunwyn Windham-Burke’s Green Printed Dress on Instastories

Real Housewives of Orange County 2020 Instagram Fashion

Braunwyn Windham-Burke was all dressed up for her doctors appointment in a green printed dress on Instastories. I have to give her a little credit because when I go to the doctor I can not say the same. The doctor is lucky if I even get out of my pjs. Since quarantine happened though, I guess we’ve all amped up our appointment and errand outfit game. So now we will never take an outing outfit for granted.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here To See Her Sold Out ba&sh Cycy Printed Dress in Purple

Photo Credit: @braunwynwindhamburke

Originally posted at: Braunwyn Windham-Burke’s Green Printed Dress