Martha Stewart, Gardens, and Menopause

I recently saw #Netflix documentary on #Martha Stewart. It's outstanding and astounding all at once. She's a remarkable woman, an unsurpassed creator with an uncanny ability to reinvent herself and culture itself!

I have many, many thoughts on it but one that I want to share here is about her gardens! How massive and beautiful and lush they are! How she has planted every single shrub, tree, vine and how much time she spends taking care of each, herself.

Of course, everything we do or make in our lives follows from a childhood activity, memory. Her father kept a garden because it was survival. For her too, keeping a garden, albeit a much bigger one, is survival--it's a way to ground but also forward the legacy of her father, I believe.

But did you know that growing a herb garden can be particularly beneficial during menopause?

Here's how:

1. Growing herbs that may alleviate menopause symptoms, e.g.:

a. Sage: Known to help reduce hot flashes and excessive sweating.

b. Chamomile: Can promote relaxation and improve sleep quality.

c. Lavender: Its calming scent can help with stress, anxiety, and insomnia. #CRIA

d. Peppermint: Soothes digestive issues and may alleviate headaches.

2. Growing fresh herbs like parsley, basil, and oregano that are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, can be essential for maintaining health during menopause.

And we do love adding fresh herbs to our diets. A dash of Oregano in our pasta or a freshly cut chives in our egg white omelette smells and tastes delightful. Herbs enhance flavor naturally, helping us reduce reliance on salt, sugar, or processed seasonings.

3. Gardening itself is a calming activity that helps lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone). Gardening everyday fosters #mindfulness, which can reduce menopause-related mood swings and anxiety. Working with and in nature centers us. Always.

4. Herbs like #lavender and #chamomile can be grown for their natural sedative properties, helping to combat insomnia and improve sleep disrupted during menopause. And we need our sleep because that is what leads to better focus during the day. It gets us equipped to mentally and physically deal with whatever a day brings.

5. Growing and nurturing a herb garden just feels good! It can be lower feelings of irritability, frustration, or low mood that can accompany menopause.

Start a gardening club instead of a book club, I say! This can create opportunities for social interaction and support, which are vital during menopause. Growing a community is akin to growing a lush, healthy garden, the benefits of which are immediate and far-reaching.

Even a small herb garden on a windowsill or balcony can make a meaningful difference! You can find all you need to start at your local grocery or home improvement store. Ask the store managers, they're always there to help! Take care! And here's to #Martha in all of us!