Stay Strong and Mobile: 5 Simple Tools to Support Your Body as You Age

The aging process may disrupt life as you know it, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pivot. The body’s natural progression toward menopause, when estrogen production lessens, can make your baseline well-being off-balance. However, there are several products designed to support the female body through change, improving wellness, comfort, and confidence.

1. Nutrition and Gut Health Supplements

Most people need support for gaps in their nutrition, and as you age, your body needs more. Support bone health with calcium and vitamin D, the pair that works together to ensure optimal absorption. As you age, bone loss happens more rapidly, especially in menopause. Your joints need love, too, so incorporating collagen powder into your diet is also an option, which boasts bone benefits.

Easily mixed into your yogurt or coffee, flavorless collagen powder is quickly absorbed and helps lubricate joints and the skin. Many people report feeling more comfortable, having better-looking skin, and improving gut health.

2. Menopause Support Essentials

The rollercoaster of symptoms stops for no one, so support the demands of menopause at every turn. Invest in cooling pajamas, sheets, and a fan to ease your experience with night sweats. Bring a portable battery-powered fan with you to get relief from hot flashes, no matter where you are.

Talk with your healthcare provider about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, which can help ease menopause symptoms. Use vaginal moisturizers to restore hydration to your vagina, which can improve comfort. Different from intimate lubricants, these moisturizers sink into the skin for all-day comfort. Don’t skip the intimate lubricants, which can help make intimacy more comfortable and pleasurable.

Menopause can incite UTIs, as the pelvic area naturally loses moisture due to drops in estrogen. A UTI supplement can help to prevent the treatment and repeat cycle of UTI infections.

3. Total Body Skincare

Your new collagen powder regimen supports skin cell health from the inside out, but the outer barrier needs love, too. Skin moisture and elasticity loss are common in aging, so restore your skin’s baseline and protect it from damage. Hyaluronic acid helps skin better absorb and retain moisture, and when used on the face, can reduce fine lines. Retinol is considered the gold standard in skincare, improving cell turnover, reducing lines and wrinkles, and smoothing texture.

Incorporate total body exfoliation, using a textured glove to slough off spent skin cells. After bathing, restore moisture to freshly exposed skin with a lactic acid moisturizer, which also offers gentle exfoliation. Make daily sunscreen part of your routine if it isn’t already, ensuring SPF 30 or greater on any sun-exposed area. You’ll prevent UV damage and reduce the visible signs of aging.

4. Hair and Scalp Care Products

The scalp is an often neglected part of the body, but caring for it is essential for healthy hair. As you age, your hair will change, most notably in color and texture, losing pigment and becoming more coarse. Some women experience hair loss and thinning, so use a volumizing and moisture-rich shampoo and conditioner. These products can improve hair volume and lift at the root to minimize the appearance of hair loss.

Try scalp treatments that remove product residue and build-up, which can disrupt healthy hair growth. Some women experience new issues in menopause, like increased dryness or even dandruff. Use anti-dandruff shampoo, gentle scalp brushes, and hair masks to calm the scalp and resolve dryness. Scalp serums nourish the skin and can help improve hair growth and quality. Reduce hair breakage by sleeping on a silk pillowcase, which can also be cooling and more gentle on the skin.

5. Support Your Mobility and Strength for Healthy Aging

Lack of mobility is most commonly the culprit when it comes to discomfort in aging, increasing the likelihood of injury. Make functional stretching part of your lifestyle now and work to reverse current issues and prevent those in the future. Resistance bands come in various levels of resistance and pack up small, making them great for travel and work. Use them to challenge your mobility, improve your range of motion, and strengthen muscles.

A yoga mat can help you make stretching a regular occurrence, providing a comfortable space to do functional stretching. Start each morning with a few stretches, which can help increase energy levels and improve mood. Before bed, undo the damage of the day with posture-improving moves that build up supportive muscles in the back. Remember to work smaller muscles in the hand and forearm, which take a beating with computer work and phone use.

Find the Right Fit for This Season

You don’t need to toss out your longtime favorites once you have your first hot flash. However, menopause marks an important moment in a woman’s life, signaling the beginning of a new season. Take this time to reconsider the entirety of your routine, assessing and determining if it’s truly serving you well. Your habit of staying up late may no longer mesh with your body’s sleep needs, so change your routine.

Sample products, schedules, and application techniques to determine what works for you, your changing body, and your lifestyle. Approach this task with an adventurous spirit, testing and assessing with your wise and experienced perspective. Take ownership of your well-being and support its needs with confidence and gratitude for every year to come.