Do you feel comfortable in your own skin?
Many women don't, and that's more to do with the expectations we've been taught than any real problem with our health or wellness.
Emphasis on women's outsides has far surpassed focus on a woman's insides, resulting in a system that has many more solutions for "weight loss" than it does for managing menopause symptoms.
At Gennev, we know the bodily changes that come with aging and hormone declines are natural, normal, and beautiful—they just may not all be comfortable.
So we want to help women embrace a body that may be a little heavier, a little softer, a body that has silver hair and laugh lines to show she's had a life. We want to help her be comfortable in that body, both by embracing change but also by managing hot flashes and interrupted sleep.
In this podcast, Gennev Director of Health Coaching Stasi Kasianchuk talked with Erica Mouch, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who also has a BA in psychology.
Erica advocates and practices from a Health At Every Size® lens in order to support people from all shapes and sizes in healing their relationship with food and their bodies. Erica is also a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor.
Listen to their conversation, then join us at Gennev.com for more information on having a happier, healthier menopause transition.
The physical and emotional changes that come with menopause can complicate intimacy.
Sexual intercourse can become painful due to the thinning and drying of intimate tissue; libido may wane as hormones decrease and menopause symptoms increase.
But because sexuality, and in particular women's sexuality, is such a taboo subject in American culture, we don't talk about it. And what doesn't get discussed, generally doesn't get solved.
But times and attitudes are changing: there are more platforms now for women to get information and solutions and engage in conversation about the very real, very natural changes happening in their bodies.
Two companies helping women regain sexual health in menopause are Gennev and MiddlesexMD.
In this conversation, the CEOs of each company, and a menopause-specialist OB/GYN, talk about the importance of open conversation around women's sexuality and health, the challenges of starting a business in a stigmatized niche, and the ways their companies are helping women enjoy the second half of their lives.
Continuing our conversation with Dr. Erika La Vella, in this month's Microbiome Series, we're asking the doc about how food affects our microbiome for good or ill, how we can eat to protect beneficial gut flora, and substances that may impact our gut.
The gut microbiome is sometimes referred to as "the second brain." Why? Because what happens in the gut does NOT stay in the gut. As science explores gut flora, we're discovering more and more how microbiome health impacts so many other systems and organs of the body.
That means taking care of the gut is pretty critical to feeling good and being healthy. And like every other organism, beneficial bacteria rely on the right food sources for optimal health.
So what do they eat? They eat what we eat, for better or worse. Fortunately, people like Dr. Erika La Vella have a good handle on what food our good gut bacteria thrive on, and she shared that information with us.
Take a listen to the podcast, then visit Gennev.com for more information to be happier and healthier through and beyond the menopause transition.
Our environment can be pretty heavy with things that are bad for our health, including endocrine-disrupting substances.
Cleansers, detergents, scrubs, things we use to clean our environments and ourselves may be doing more damage to our health than than they prevent. What about products that go on and in our bodies — soaps, creams, powders, makeup, deodorants and anti-perspirants, hair sprays, plastic containers to hold our food in the fridge or microwave. How many products do you come in contact with every day, all days of your life?
And it's not just the products we use. Disruptive chemicals can be in our clothes or furniture or daily use objects as fire-retardants or easy-clean surfaces.
Mary Purdy is an expert on helping us minimize our exposure to toxins in our environment and maximize our efficiency in ridding them from our bodies, homes, and workplaces.
Have a listen to the podcast, then visit Gennev.com for more information on menopause, toxins, and how to have a healthier second chapter of life.
Many experience menopause as a time of grief and loss: loss of youth, of reproduction, of a body that looked different, behaved in predictable ways, and seemed easier to control.
To feel some sense of grief at change is totally normal and understandable. But at Gennev, we feel the menopause transition can also be a very positive time to embrace a new you, changed body, changed attitude, new freedoms and all.
To help us understand and navigate this transition, Gennev Health Coach Katie Linville talked with Kathleen Putnam, an expert in grief, loss, and transition.
She gave us new ways of thinking about change and aging, and new strategies to celebrate the new us on the other side of the symptoms.
Listen to the podcast, then come over to Gennev.com to learn more about how to manage menopause to have an easier, better, healthier transition.
Physical health and financial health have a lot of overlap. When one is not optimal, the other can suffer.
How much should you have before you can "safely" retire? Should I be aggressive or conservative in my investments now? How can I invest in companies that represent my interests and principles?
Because women live, on average, a couple of years longer than men, and because women generally come to retirement with less in the bank, retirement planning is really important.
Yet many women avoid taking the time to truly plan so they can enjoy a comfortable, stable retirement income.
We asked Jenifer Sapel, CEO of Utor Wealth, to join us for a conversation on how women can protect their financial health — and independence — as they age.
Listen to the podcast, then come to Gennev for more information about Jenifer Sapel, Utor Wealth, and how to have a truly great second half of life.
If menopause symptoms are really impacting your life, there are so many things you can do to manage them. Our Health Coaches can help you with strategies for controlling your health in menopause: nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, symptom control, and so much more.
All our HealthFix coaches are also Registered Dietitian Nutritionists with special training in menopause care. Learn more by listening in on this discussion with our coaching team: Director Stasi Kasianchuk and Coaches Jessica Gingrich and Katie Linville.
Then, come to Gennev. Check out our HealthFix program, and start feeling better today.
As vaginal tissue and pH change, more frequent UTIs can become a real problem for many women in perimenopause and menopause. Learn more about why it happens and an innovative new product from Uqora to help women of any age ward off the dreaded UTI.
To learn more, listen to the podcast, then come to Gennev.com for more information on menopause, UTIs, and how to manage all the many symptoms that can come with this time of life.
How does menopause change, even disrupt, your gut microbiome, and what effects does that have on your health? Is there a way to build, protect, and maintain your gut flora to make the menopause transition easier?
We were so excited to invite back surgeon and gut expert Dr. Erika La Vella to talk with us on the microbiome in menopause.
Be sure to join us on Gennev for more information on Dr. La Vella and everything you ever wanted to know about menopause. Take back control of your health!
Stress is — no joke — a killer.
The toll it takes on our bodies and psyches is enormous. When stressed we don't sleep well, eat well, exercise well, or play well with others. Stress causes or contributes to headaches, stomach upset, fatigue, muscle pain, anxiety and depression, and a host of issues that can really erode your quality of life.
Adaptogens are herbs and mushrooms that help your body deal with stress. As the name implies, these plants many actually adapt to give your body exactly what it needs where it needs it.
But do they really help your body deal with stress? And if so, what are they, where do we get them, and how do we take them?
Given that (peri)menopause can be such a stressful time, we thought we'd invite in some expertise on the subject.
In this webinar, Gennev's Director of Health Coaching Stasi Kasianchuk speaks with naturopathic physician Dr. Wendy Ellis on adaptogens and the particular advantages they may have for women in menopause.
Acupuncture and hot flashes; magnesium and mood; is HRT dangerous; will testosterone pellets revive my libido?
Like so many things we don't talk about, the truths about menopause can be a bit hazy. That's not OK when women's health, quality of life, and futures are at stake.
From the beginning, the team at Gennev have made it part of our mission to supply the best, evidence-based information and solutions that are out there, vetted by our team of menopause experts.
Because women's health is and always will be our first priority.
So have a listen to this conversation from two of Gennev's menopause experts: OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Savage and Director of Health Coaching, Stasi Kasianchuk, and get real answers to your menopause questions.
When we talked with Amy Schmidt of Fearlessly Facing Fifty about confidence and creativity in midlife, we knew we had to ask her back. Her enthusiasm is irresistible.
Amy's mission is to change the narrative around midlife and inspire the women in it. Midlife is not a crisis, she says; it's an opportunity!
And her new book Cannonball is already inspiring women. Even prior to release, it was #1 in its category on Amazon.
Enjoy this energetic, fun, inspiring conversation with Amy and Gennev CEO Jill Angelo as they talk about the many wonderful opportunities that await in midlife and beyond.
To learn more about Gennev and our mission to change how women navigate the challenges of menopause, go to Gennev.com.
Midlife can feel like a time when we have to drastically reduce or give up so many things we love: sugar, wine, coffee, carbs, sweaters that don't button down the front, good sleep.
For some women, quitting smoking just feels like one sacrifice too many.
To you we say: add something else back, but please...get rid of cigarettes.
May 31 was World No Tobacco Day, according to the World Health Organization. Part of the Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI), it's a day of awareness and learning.
Gennev participated, with a webinar with our Director of Health Coaching, Stasi Kasianchuk, hosting Gennev's Chief Medical Officer, OB/GYN Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su, and pulmonologist Dr. Anne Lipke.
They spoke not just on the benefits of quitting smoking, but also on the particular reasons women in menopause should quit.
In addition to entering menopause up to a year or two earlier than her body might naturally (and thus losing the protections of estrogen earlier), smoking is hard on the skin, the heart, the brain, the teeth, and just about every part of a woman smoker's body.
Listen to the podcast for more information on why to quit, how to quit, how to nourish your body after (and avoid weight gain). Then visit Gennev and make an appointment to speak with a physician or a health coach to begin your journey to a happier, healthier life!
Sexuality in menopause is tricky. Libido may be less robust than in previous years, or missing altogether.
Vaginal dryness or atrophy can make penetrative sex painful.
Weight gain, digestive issues, hair loss, and dry skin can leave us feeling distinctly unsexy and give our self-esteem a gut punch.
Add to that the challenges of a verrrrrrry long stretch of "us time," and romance, intimacy, and sex become about as interesting as cleaning out the refrigerator.
So what do you do when menopause and/or COVID 19 derails your love train?
We brought back "sexpert" psychologist Dr. Laurie Mintz and our own Chief Medical Officer OB/GYN Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su to talk about how relationships and intimacy can survive and thrive in difficult times.
Learn more about how to have a better menopause at the first-of-its-kind online clinic: Gennev.
During the COVID quarantine, many are looking for ways to maintain social and community connection.
Menopause can also be isolating, as women choose to stay home rather than face the possible embarrassment of a hot flash, flooding period, or other disruptive, hard-to-hide menopause symptom.
At Gennev, we don't believe menopause symptoms should be considered embarrassing, ever. We also know that loneliness can be unhealthy.
So we invited psychiatrist Dr. Swapna Vaidya to talk with Gennev's Director of Health Coaching, Stasi Kasianchuk, about ways we can stay connected — through menopause, and through pandemic.
Come to Gennev to learn how to thrive through and beyond the menopause transition.
Gennev Director of Coaching Stasi Kasianchuk talks with Elizabeth Jones, Aliza Tuttle and Ashley Relf, the three women behind It's On Us, Corvallis, an organization linking restaurants, crowd sourced funds, and hungry people.
Hear how IOU Corvallis is helping people get nutritious meals, helping restaurants stay active and reach new audiences, and helping build and maintain a thriving community, even in a time of self-isolation.
Historically, it's been tough to start a business that caters specifically to women. Investors have often been a little reluctant to invest in a business focused on menopause, for example.
But that's changing, with female entrepreneurs leading the charge, forming partnerships to support one another and the women they serve.
In this podcast, Health Coach Stasi Kasianchuk talks with CEO of Handful Active Wear Jennifer Ferguson and CEO of Gennev Jill Angelo about women, business, and the business of supporting women.
Learn more and access the full transcript at Gennev.com
As we age, our nutritional needs change. Meeting those needs when life is so busy and the world is full of pre-packaged, quick, easy foods can be a real challenge.
To make sure women get all the nutrients they need, Gennev asked Naturopathic Physician Dr. Wendy Ellis to create the ideal daily supplement pack for women in midlife & menopause — a pack that promotes good health and helps manage menopause symptoms.
Learn more about Gennev's new Vitality pack for Women at Gennev.com.
We're all looking for ways to optimize our health and especially our immunity — things we tend to take for granted when we're feeling good and there isn't a pandemic going on.
The basic ways we strengthen our immune response are the same, whether we're worried about COVID-19 or the flu or staying healthier through menopause: wash hands often, don't touch your face, eat well, sleep well, exercise.
However, we live in world of pre-packaged food that's high in sugar, bad fats, salt, and calories, but low in nutrients — and it's easy to get, doesn't require much prep time, and let's admit it, it tastes pretty good. That can make getting the right nutrients in the right amounts at the right times more challenging.
To help women ensure they fill nutritional gaps, Gennev Director of Health Coaching Stasi Kasianchuk and Naturopathic Physician Wendy Ellis teamed up on a webinar all about how to supplement.
Of course, there's no substitute for a healthy, balanced diet, but when that's just not possible, supplements can help. And stay turned for Gennev's supplement pack for women — created by Dr. Ellis to provide nutritional support but also to help manage menopause symptoms in this challenging time of life. Coming soon!
To learn more about Gennev and to get the full transcript of this conversation, visit Gennev.com.
Midlife and (peri)menopause can shake our confidence: changes in our body, the fear of bursting into tears or rage, unpredictable cycles, and the list goes on.
It really doesn't have to be that way.
Amy Schmidt of Fearlessly Facing Fifty says we all have a kernel of confidence within us, and if we can tap into it and match it with our new creativity, power, independence, and hard-earned experience, we are genuinely a force to be reckoned with.
Listen to her conversation with Gennev CEO Jill Angelo for information and inspiration.
Visit our website to learn more about Gennev and what we offer for women looking to take back control of their health in menopause.
With the "stay home" orders and recommendations flying around, most of us have had our normal lives pretty thoroughly disrupted.
And that means our patterns and habits are disrupted as well. We can't hit the gym or the spin class or the pool. We're making lunches at home rather than grabbing a bite out. Even our sacred coffee routines are different!
But some things you can continue to do or even do better, and hydration is one of those. It's your own bathroom, and it's likely closer to your work area than in the building you normally work in. And if you don't have ice or a clean glass, well, that's no one's fault but your own!
Hydration is incredibly important, especially during the menopause transition and after. It feeds your brain, lubes your joints, helps hydrate skin and other tissue — all things that re harder to do after estrogen declines.
We talked with Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and owner of Champagne Nutrition Ginger Hultin about why proper hydration is necessary and how to stay hydrated in this time of online Happy Hours!
For more information and a full transcript of the discussion, visit Gennev.com. To see the webinar of this conversation, check out the Gennev channel on YouTube.
When most of us think of grief, we think of losing a loved one or the end of a relationship. Does it make sense to have a sense of grief in the coronavirus crisis, even if you haven't lost anyone?
According to psychiatrist Dr. Swapna Vaidya, yes. Grief is caused by loss, and many of us have lost at the very least a sense of security and our predictable routines. Others may have lost jobs, opportunities, and of course, loved ones.
But we're all in this together, and the potential for unity and for providing one another with support, globally, has never been greater.
In this podcast, Dr. Swapna Vaidya speaks with Gennev Director of Health Coaching Stasi Kasianchuk about the nature and course of grief and how to be kinder to everyone going through it — including yourself.
Dr. Swapna Vaidya is a psychiatrist and Executive Medical Director in the MultiCare Health System.
Stasi Kasianchuk is a Sports Dietitian, Exercise Physiologist and Gennev Director of Health Coaching.
Wearing a face mask (except the N95s, please leave those for medical professionals) helps protect other people from you. Even if you have no symptoms, you could be carrying and spreading the COVID 19 virus, so it's important to keep the moisture from coughs, sneezes — perhaps even breaths — contained. So please, do wear a mask if you're out and about among people.
Protecting others is awesome. Protecting yourself and those you love? Priceless.
One of the most unknown and underrated ways to strengthen your immune response is gut health. Science is only beginning to understand the importance of a healthy gut, including what the gut does (a lot) and how best to protect and feed it.
We took these questions to a gut health expert: Dr. Erika La Vella of lavellayourguts.com. She is a board-certified metabolic surgeon and describes herself as a "wife, and mother who is passionate about health in the most preventative and holistic of ways." She talked with Gennev Director of Health Coaching Stasi Kasianchuk about what the gut biome is, how it works, and some of the many ways we're finding that a balanced gut biome makes us healthier — and an unbalanced one can disrupt our health.
So, especially in a time when we all REALLY want and need the most robust immune response we can have, how do we feed our gut and protect it?
Listen up and find out!
Find the full transcript at Gennev.
Nutrition plays a critical role in supporting our immune system. Now more than ever it's time to prioritize your nutrition to keep you healthy and well. This doesn't need to take excessive amounts of time or advanced culinary skills. Listen to the podcast to learn easy ways to prepare and eat meals to support your immune health.
In this podcast, you'll hear Gennev's Director of Coaching Stasi Kasianchuk, RND, talking with another Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Monika Jacobson, about the importance of good food during stressful times.
Healthy food is always important, but in this time of global pandemic, the more we can do to take care of ourselves, the more we slow the spread and ease the burden on overloaded health care facilities.
And if the way we take care of ourselves makes us and our families feel good, happens to be delicious as well as nutritious, and can even be a fun activity to do together, well, even better.
Click here for more information on Gennev's HealthFix program. And learn more about Monika and her organization, Eat Move Thrive-Spokane.
Looking for more great information on wellness during COVID 19 and beyond? Check out Gennev's free Weekly Webinar series, where we talk with health professionals about the issues that concern you most.
Find a full transcript of this podcast at Gennev.