Another dynamic woman with whom I had a very engaging, energizing and authentic conversation about health, wellness and well-being of women and families, is Robin D. Stone. I had the pleasure of hearing her talk about her work which focuses on health, children, families and parenting. I could feel her passion as the conversation progressed. Finally, she said, “I could talk with you about the health of women and families for hours”.  

Robin, an independent journalist, has been a journalist for more than 20 years. She started her career in the newspaper industry and has been an editor at The New York Times, The Boston Globe and the Detroit Free Press.  R. Stone was founding Editor-in-Chief of Essence .com and Executive and Deputy Editor of Essence. At Health magazine, a national women’s health publication, she edited articles for that magazine. She is the author of  No Secrets No Lies: How Black Families Can Heal from Sexual Abuse and  The Black Woman’s Guide to Healthy Living: The Best Advice For Body, Mind + Spirit In Your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s + Beyond

 Prior to our one-to-one conversation Robin had spoken at our sorority meeting about the vision, mission and work of the agency, of which she is a Board Member. The Greenhope Services for Women is a residential drug treatment center for formerly incarcerated women. It is easy to see that Robin D. Stone is what one may call a ‘woman’s woman’.

In addition, Robin is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., New York Alumnae Chapter.

 I strongly encourage you to read her most recent article on violence against women which appeared in the  Essence June 2009 issue. I’m looking forward to reading her new book which will be coming out soon!

How does Robin D. Stone’s body of work resonate with you? I look forward to hearing what you  found useful or not useful in her Guide to Healthy Living. Share your comments below, tweet or send me an email to johnetta@jeminer.com.

One of the mainstays of a wellness lifestyle is the intake of wholesome, nutrient rich foods In moderation. However, with the advent  if multitasking, web 2.0, throw away mentality versus repair, quest for ‘more’ things and money, there was also a decline in the production and distribution of wholesome foods. Organically grown vegetables are pesticide free, yet they cost more than other fresh vegetables.

With the decline in the economy, my neighborhood grocery stores  have stocked and advertise more sugar laden, salty, simple carbohydrate foods that ever before. So what is the solution for quick weight loss? Eliminate some foods from your meal plan and reduce your intake of others. Go to see the documentary film, Food, Inc  and then you can decide on one quick dietary lifestyle strategy to implement into your everyday routine.

The film is scheduled to be in theaters in NY on June 12, 2009

I hope this information inform and motivate you to take action at the same time! Oh, and let me know what you decided.

Lioness, a documentary film, tells the story of a group of female Army support soldiers who were part of the first program in American history to send women into direct ground combat. It takes an intimate look at war through the eyes of U.S. military women, following five female support soldiers who served together for a year in Iraq supporting Marine Corps units in direct ground combat.

Without the same training as their male counterparts but with a commitment to serve as needed, these young women fought in some of the bloodiest counterinsurgency battles of the Iraq war and returned home as part of this country’s first generation of female combat veterans. Lioness makes public, for the first time, their hidden history.
Lioness was aired on PBS on June 2, 2009.

Where you a healthcare provider for female soldiers? Are you a female soldier or a veteran? Share your stories with us. We’d love to hear from you and let you know we appreciate you and we support you.

A dysfunctional, underactive thyroid can lead to thinning hair. What causes gray hair? There are several postulations. It could be caused by a decrease in Biotin, decreased melanin in the hair, a relative who nags the person constantly, fewer essential amino acids in the body, and stress, especially continuous stress. “Scientists have a hunch that the gray hairs we dread (or welcome) may arrive sooner with stress.”

It doesn’t matter how we slice the cake, sooner or later we age and we also turn gray. Since no link between aging and graying has been found, how soon our hair strains turn gray, depend on our genetic makeup. To everyone born today, I say to you, Happy Birthday!

Do you have gray hair? Are you pulling out those gray strains or do you feel gray hair is attractive? At what age did your hair gray or were you born with gray hair? Let me know your thoughts on the subject. Leave your comments below.

Abnormal production of thyroid hormones may result in too much or too little of this hormone. An over- production of thyroid hormone is hyperthyroidism and an underproduction is hypothyroidism. When these conditions are diagnosed and adequately treated, the symptoms can be managed with little or no residual discomfort. Problems arise when women are misdiagnosed or under diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

The production of the body’s energy is dependent on a certain amount of thyroid hormone and allopathic providers are beginning to acknowledge that each individual’s hormone level may vary around the range set by their particular laboratory. Lowered levels of hormone production will lead to lower energy levels. The thyroid controls metabolism, growth, repair and the functioning of every cell and gland in the body.

Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism:

Symptoms usually appear slowly over months or years.

·         Coarse and thinning hair.

·         Dry skin.

·         Brittle nails.

·         Slow body movements.

·         Cold skin.

·         Unable to tolerate cold.

·         Feeling tired, sluggish, or weak.

·         Memory problems, depression, or difficulty concentrating.

·         Constipation.

·         Heavy or irregular menstrual periods that may last longer than 5 to 7 days.

Less common symptoms may include:

Less common symptoms may include:

·         An enlarged thyroid gland 

·         Weight gain – usually 10lb or less.

·         Swelling of the arms, hands, legs, and feet

·         Facial puffiness, particularly around the eyes.

·         Hoarseness.

·         Muscle aches

The severity of the symptoms increases with your age and how long you have had hypothyroidism. The symptoms may be so mild and happen so slowly that they go unnoticed and then become noticeable with the aging process. Medication is the treatment of choice after the medical diagnosis has been made. There are no surgical treatments for hypothyroidism. For optimal health and wellness the thyroid has to function efficiently.

I’d love to hear about your thyroid health experiences. Leave your comments below. Questions too!