A girl's best Mend.

Navigation: Main page

Author: Drozd, Shelley

The iron in your daily multivitamin protects you from monthly iron loss during your menstrual period. But as your hormones shift-as early as your mid30s--consider the mind-body, benefits of a different form of iron: a pair of dumbbells.

When 27 perimenopausal and newly menopausal women pumped iron for 8 weeks in a strength-training program at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, 33% had boosted energy and sex drive, 40% felt less anxious, and 50% said they were less achy, stiff, and irritable. Hot flashes, headaches, and painful intercourse diminished.

Why? Simple: Lifting cuts stress.

PHOTO (COLOR): A healthy weight

~~~~~~~~

By Shelley Drozd