Nurturing Your Health with Marla Ahlgrimm

From the vibrancy of youth to the wisdom of our senior years, our bodies undergo many transformations. Each stage of a woman's life brings about unique nutritional needs. Understanding these can have a profound impact on our overall well-being. According to women's health advocate and author Marla Ahlgrimm, it's helpful to tailor your diet to cater to these ever-evolving demands.

Early Adulthood

During a woman's early reproductive years, her body focuses on building bone density while she should be focused on establishing healthy habits. Marla Ahlgrimm stresses the importance of getting enough calcium and vitamin D, which are crucial for strong bones. Remember, peak bone mass is achieved around the age of 30, and milk, leafy greens, spinach, and fatty fish are all great sources of these vitamins. Marla Ahlgrimm explains that iron is also crucial, especially for women with irregular menstrual cycles, to help prevent iron deficiency anemia.

Marla Ahlgrimm | How Women Have Broken Barriers In Medicine

Just a short century ago, the medical field was overwhelmingly dominated by men. Marla Ahlgrimm states that women who dared to pursue a career in medicine faced more than just skepticism but discrimination in a world designed to exclude them. However, with persistence, women have used their natural nurturing ability to aid in medicine and pharmaceuticals and have reshaped the industry over the last 100 years.

The Early 20th Century

In the early days of the century, the path to medicine was full of obstacles specifically for women. Not only did most medical schools outright refuse to admit women, but those who were admitted faced hostile environments. Further, Marla Ahlgrimm notes that even progressive institutions at the time offered few opportunities for women, as the overall societal belief was that a woman's place was at home. Fortunately, Elizabeth Blackwell set a precedent in 1849 when she became the first woman to receive a medical degree in the U.S. Using her inspiration, many women physicians pushed through, even if they were relegated to pediatrics, obstetrics, and other fields considered more "suited to women's sensitivities."

Marla Ahlgrimm | RIngworm Doesn’t Have To Keep Your Daughter On The Sidelines

As the parent of a young female athlete, you're no stranger to accidents and injuries. However, there are other hazards that our daughters have to contend with, and these can be even more embarrassing than a black eye or bloody nose. Ringworm is one of these.

What Is Ringworm

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, ringworm, unlike its name might suggest, is not a worm but a fungal infection. It is not a serious condition, but one that’s highly contagious and can show up anywhere on the body, causing young female athletes to be self-conscious of their appearance. Girls who wrestle are especially prone to ringworm.

Recognizing Ringworm

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, ringworm usually looks like a scaly, circular rash with slightly raised edges. You can find it anywhere on the body, including the face, limbs, and scalp. Ringworm may cause itching, burning, dry, cracked, and scaly skin. Female athletes experiencing ringworm on the scalp may also experience temporary hair loss.

Understanding Women's Cardiovascular Health with Marla Ahlgrimm

For many generations, heart disease was considered a "man's disease." And while Marla Ahlgrimm says that men are certainly at risk of cardiovascular events, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women worldwide. However, women's heart health presents unique challenges and requires a deeper understanding.

Why Are Women Different?

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, women's and men's heart health varies for many reasons. First and foremost are hormonal influences. Estrogen, the key female hormone, does offer some protection against heart disease. This, however, is only applicable during her reproductive years, and as estrogen levels decline during menopause, women's risk of a cardiovascular event significantly increases.

Autoimmune Diseases In Women | Marla Ahlgrimm

Around 8% of the population of the United States lives with an autoimmune disorder, says Marla Ahlgrimm. Many of these are women who may find they face new challenges with their health during menopause.

What is an autoimmune disorder?

An autoimmune disorder/disease is a condition where the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, it can significantly impact a woman’s quality of life at any age. These conditions can appear during any stage of life, but the aging process can exacerbate symptoms for some women.

The Role of Hormones

Hormones play a role in everything to do with our bodies, says Marla Ahlgrimm. And estrogen tends to be the lead player when it comes to immune regulation. Estrogen has anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating properties. Marla Ahlgrimm says that some autoimmune diseases may become “imbalanced” as estrogen declines throughout menopause. This can lead to greater disease activity as well as systemic inflammation.

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, there are a few autoimmune disorders that hormone levels may have a greater impact on. Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus are examples.