Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo

If Joan can do it, so can you! At the age of 70 and after battling numerous health issues, Joan MacDonald did a complete 180 and got super fit! With the help of her daughter, fitness coach Michelle MacDonald, Joan is now in the best health of her life at the age of 78! She proves that it's never too late to put yourself first and age powerfully! Listen to how she did it and how you can do it too! You can find Joan on Instagram @TrainWithJoan, and find Michelle on Instagram @TheWonderWomenOfficial. Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, on YouTube @MelissaGrelo, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com. Producer: Melissa Grelo. Audio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner.

Aging and care in our older years impacts all of us... Have you ever thought about how you want to live out your senior years? Have you discussed this with your own aging parents? Maybe, you’re already caring for an elderly family member or have admitted them to a long-term care facility that can help them manage a disease like dementia or assist them with mobility issues. Today in Ontario, there are 76,000 residents in long-term care homes with another 30,000 people on waitlists. In the next five years, it’s estimated that an additional 50,000 people will need care in a nursing home in Ontario alone. But as Elder Rights Lawyer Melissa Miller discusses in this crucial episode, not all homes are providing the necessary care to residents, and in some cases, it appears that profits are put ahead of people. We also discuss the workers in these homes and the conditions many are forced to work under. What is life like as a caregiver to a senior or sick loved one? Finally, Melissa guides us through the discussions we all need have with our parents today and map out for ourselves how we want to live out our golden years in an informed and empowered way.If you want to learn even more, check out the documentary “Stolen Time” via the “Doc Soup” portal at hot docs online.Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com. Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa Grelo. Audio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner. 

Are you getting mixed messages on social media about how to eat? Nutrition PhD, Dr. Adrian Chavez, reveals what's really going on behind the scenes when it comes to posts from so-called experts about nutrition on social media. And how SHOULD we plan our meals? Is plant-based better than a carnivore diet? How much protein, carbohydrates and fat should we be eating? What are the best sources of each? What about supplementation? Is intermittent fasting all that it's cracked up to be? What's the deal with gluten? Why has everyone turned on dairy? What about milk alternatives? Are they better for you? Can you balance hormones with food? What about weight loss drugs - are they helping or hurting? Why you should probably stop taking probiotics and so much more! Find more from Dr. Adrian Chavez on Instagram @dr.adrian.chavez.This episode brought to you by Felix Health. For more information, please use this link to visit Felix at www.felix.ca. Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com. Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa Grelo. Audio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner. 

Cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer of women in Canada and USA, so how would we know if we have it? What are the risk factors and the symptoms? How do women and men present and express symptoms differently? Does ethnicity matter in your risk of developing CVD? How do we treat it and, better yet, can we prevent it altogether? What impact does the menopause transition have on our hearts as women? Does hormone therapy provide a protective factor? Dr. Sonia Anand breaks down all you need to know to get and keep your heart ticking. Find more from Dr. Sonia Anand and her team on Instagram @machealthsci. This episode brought to you by Felix Health. For more information, please use this link to visit Felix at www.felix.ca. Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com. Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa Grelo. Audio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner. 

The menopause transition is marked by a long list of physical symptoms, but less discussed are the changes in our mental health. In this vital discussion, Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Menopause and Reproductive Mental Health Specialist Dr. Alison Shea discusses depression, anxiety, mood changes and many other mental health issues that arise for up to half of women, risk factors and what treatments are available. Finally, what supplements do and don't help with mood and mental health through this transition. Find Dr. Alison Shea online at @hormone.md.hamilton. Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com. Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa Grelo. Audio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner. 

This week, meet Pauline Adeleke, 71, and Jin Cruce, 56, two women who are the definition of aging powerfully. Their stories will inspire and move you.Find Pauline online at @paulineadeleke.Find Jin Cruce online at @agingwith_style_and_grays. This episode brought to you by Felix Health. For more information, please use this link to visit Felix at www.felix.ca. Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com. Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa Grelo. Audio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner. 

With modern living comes modern problems. Man-made chemicals have become a part of everyday life. There are about 85,000 chemicals in commerce, and about 2,500 new chemicals are introduced every year. Very few of these chemicals have had adequate toxicological studies to evaluate their health effects on humans and wildlife. So, how are we, the consumers, able to determine what is safe for us to use or be exposed to and what isn't? Board-certified toxicologist and consumer advocate, Dr. Yvonne Burkart (@dryvonneburkart), breaks down key terms and definitions to help us navigate the world of chemicals and toxicants and gives us 10 ways to detoxify our homes to live a longer, healthier life and to age powerfully armed with information. Episode supported by: @dermalogicacanadaUse code AGING POWERFULLY to receive an exclusive gift with a minimum $50 purchase at www.dermalogica.ca. Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com.Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa GreloAudio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner

Women are at least twice as likely to be diagnosed with dementia as men. What do we know about its causes and what role, if any, does the menopause transition play? What are our risk factors and most importantly, what can we do today to reduce our risk of developing it? Melissa speaks with Dr. Anthony Levinson, Professor, Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences with a special focus on dementia and neuropsychiatry at McMaster University to break down dementia, our risk as women and what we can do to help our brains age powerfully. Find out more about reducing dementia risk at www.dementiarisk.ca. This episode brought to you by Felix Health. For more information, visit Felix at www.felix.ca. Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com. Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa Grelo. Audio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner. 

Medical and cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Renée A. Beach breaks down the different types of hair loss, the reasons behind them and what treatments work and don't work for women. Find Dr. Beach and on Instagram at @dermabeach.Brought to you by Dermalogica.Shop now at www.dermalogica.ca, or on Instagram @DermalogicaCanada.Use code: AGING POWERFULLYFind Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com.Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa GreloAudio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner

One of women's greatest superpowers is our ability to connect, share and learn from one another. In this episode, three different women share their unique experiences of perimenopause and menopause. Listen as Racquel Rodriguez, Maria Cristina Bruno and Kelly Gerred discuss when they started experiencing symptoms, who did or didn't help them navigate the journey and what they're doing about it today. One of the guests discuss entering menopause instantly after breast cancer treatments. It's a powerful conversation and I hope that you will listen and share it with women in your life who are looking for support and validation in their menopause journey. This episode brought to you by Felix Health. For more information, visit Felix at www.felix.ca. Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com. Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa Grelo. Technical Producer and Editor: Drew Garner. 

EVERYONE is now talking about menopause and we know the conversation is long overdue. Unfortunately, it doesn't make accessing care any easier for people, especially for 6 million Canadians who do not have a family doctor or for the millions more who may not feel their doctor is adequately educated in menopause care. In this episode brought to you by Felix Health, medical director Dr. Kelly Anderson and Felix medical advisor and highly respected gynecologist Dr. Nathalie Gamache discuss the exciting new online Menopause Treatment platform that provides treatment for menopause symptoms online with no wait times and expert care. For more information, visit Felix at www.felix.ca. Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com. Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa Grelo. Technical Producer and Editor: Drew Garner. 

The good news? EVERYBODY is talking about menopause. The bad news? There is a ton of misleading guidance from so-called "experts" everywhere on social media. So how are we supposed to know what to believe? It's time to hear from the internet's favourite myth-busting, straight-talking, board certified OB/GYN, Dr. Jen Gunter. She answers YOUR questions like, "Should all women be on hormone therapy to PREVENT future diseases? What does hormone therapy help alleviate and what doesn't it? Do at-home menopause tests work? Does facial estrogen cream work? How old can you begin hormone therapy and how long should you be on it? ....and so many more! This is the time for facts, not fiction when it comes to managing the menopause transition. Find Dr. Jen Gunter on her website DrJenGunter.com or on Instagram @DrJenGunter. You can also find her best-selling books at your favorite retailer: The Vagina Bible, The Menopause Manifesto and Blood. Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com. Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa Grelo. Technical Producer and Editor: Drew Garner. 

Renowned Canadian OB/GYN Dr. Wendy Wolfman discusses the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study whose results drastically and negatively altered the way doctors prescribed hormone therapy and the way women received menopause care for decades. Its findings seemed to link hormone therapy and breast cancer, or did it? Over 20 years since the study's results were released, the scientific and medical community have taken a closer look at what the study ACTUALLY found and has since come to very different conclusions. Unfortunately, the fears surrounding hormone therapy use have persisted, leaving millions of women suffering through menopause needlessly. In this episode, Dr. Wolfman discusses the study and breaks down the important details that reveal a much more nuanced and positive outcome of the use of hormone therapy in menopause care. She also discusses why the fears and myths about breast cancer persist to this day among patients and doctors. Dr. Wendy Wolfman leads The Menopause Clinic and Mature Women's Health Program at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. Together with the hospital's foundation arm, they are looking to expand this program to create the Centre for Mature Women's Health. It will address the entire spectrum of health challenges that women face as they age. For more information: https://www.maturewomenshealth.ca/ and https://www.mountsinai.on.ca/care/womens-unit/menopause-clinic.  You can also find them on Instagram @sinaihealthfoundation.Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com.Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa GreloTechnical Producer and Editor: Drew Garner

Besides hormone therapy, the most important discussions women are having in the menopause transition revolve around answering these two questions: "How do I exercise now that I'm in the menopause transition and beyond?, and "What should I eat?" It's true...We often wake up one day exercising and eating the same, but something is different and the usual routine is not working. What's changed in our bodies and how do we eat and move now? Listen to this deeply insightful discussion with international exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist, Dr. Stacy Sims as she breaks down what is changing in our bodies in the menopause transition, how we need to start exercising, what exercise routines to quit, what to eat, when to eat and why intermittent fasting doesn't work for women. Finally, she discusses the supplements that work and those that don't. This is a must-listen for every woman who wants to age powerfully and be empowered with a new exercise and nutrition plan. Find Dr. Stacy Sims on Instagram @DrStacySims.Brought to you by Dermalogica.Shop now at www.dermalogica.ca, or on Instagram @DermalogicaCanada.Use code: AGING POWERFULLYFind Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com.Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa GreloTechnical Producer and Editor: Drew Garner

In this episode, Sleep Medicine Physician Dr. Woganee Filate discusses how and why women's quality of sleep often changes as she enters perimenopause and menopause. Dr. Filate lays out the many benefits of getting consistently good sleep and how a lack of it can increase risk for cardiovascular disease, dementia/Alzheimer's, metabolic issues, mood disorders and more. Finally, Dr. Filate discusses what works and what doesn't to help improve the length and quality of your sleep. Find Dr. Filate and her colleagues on Instagram at @ItsOurTimeCanada.Brought to you by Dermalogica.Shop now at www.dermalogica.ca, or on Instagram @DermalogicaCanada.Use code: AGING POWERFULLYFind Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com.Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa GreloTechnical Producer and Editor: Drew Garner

Join Melissa and Emergency Medicine Specialist Dr. Amy Louis-Bayliss as they discuss preventing disease in women as they age. Is disease and illness just a natural part of the aging process? Dr. Amy says no, it doesn't have to be, however women do face unique and increased risk for several diseases such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, certain cancers and more due to fundamental shifts related to menopause.Listen to Dr. Amy give practical and accessible interventions that over time, could drastically reduce risk for these diseases and help you age powerfully.Find Dr. Amy and her colleagues on Instagram at @ItsOurTimeCanada.Brought to you by Dermalogica.Shop now at www.dermalogica.ca, or on Instagram @DermalogicaCanada.Use code: AGING POWERFULLYFind Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com.Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa GreloTechnical Producer and Editor: Drew Garner

When is the last time you had a sexual education class? Maybe in elementary or high school? As an adult, where do you get your sex ed? Television? Friends? Partners? And where does pleasure education come from?In this episode, family physician and sex educator, Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe teaches us Adult Sex Ed 101.Find Dr. Sheila on Instagram @DrSheilaW!Brought to you by Dermalogica. Shop now at www.dermalogica.ca, or on Instagram @DermalogicaCanada. Use code: AGING POWERFULLYFind Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com.Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa GreloTechnical Producer and Editor: Drew Garner

More than one in five Canadians do not have a doctor or health care provider they can see regularly (OurCare.ca, 2023) and for those who do, physicians often do not have sufficient training in menopause care, leaving millions of women suffering needlessly for years. In this episode, family physician and menopause specialist Dr. Sarah Naomi Shaw discusses the many barriers to accessing effective menopause care in Canada, from lack of doctor training in medical school, to long waitlists for specialists, to persistent misconceptions about the risks of treatments like menopause hormone therapy and more. Dr. Shaw tells us where and how to find a certified menopause specialist in your area and how patients can best prepare for doctor visits to receive the best care possible. Finally, Dr. Shaw discusses all of the treatment options available to women from lifestyle changes, to non-hormonal therapies, to menopause hormone therapy. The main non-hormonal medications categories for hot flashes are:SSRI/SNRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors/selective norephinephrine reuptake inhibitors) medication. These drugs are most often used to treat depression and anxiety but also can help manage hot flashes. For example, paroxetine, venlaxfaxine, escitalopram GabapentinoidsOxybutininFezolinetant is approved in the USA and hopefully will be available in Canada in 2024.Find Dr. Shaw and her colleagues on Instagram at @ItsOurTimeCanada.Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com. Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa GreloTechnical Producer and Editor: Drew Garner

The internet's favourite myth-busting OB/GYN, Dr. Jen Gunter, is back with her latest book, "Blood: The Science, Medicine and Mythology of Menstruation."After her books, "The Vagina Bible" and "The Menopause Manifesto" both became New York Times Instant Bestsellers, Dr. Gunter in "Blood" offers a clear, no-nonsense guide to reproductive anatomy and answers all the questions you never knew you had about menstrual bleeding. Along the way, she debunks long-held myths that, surprise, are almost always rooted in historical and enduring misogyny. In this episode, Melissa and Dr. Gunter discuss a range of topics from why women menstruate, to menstrual products, to contraception, to menopause and the disinformation that surrounds all aspects of the menstrual cycle. Dr. Gunter provides a no-holds-barred take on predatory practices in health care and takes on the so-called 'menstrual influencers' that have proliferated social media. It's an important episode for all those who menstruate and, as Dr. Gunter says, for all those who have benefited from the menstrual cycle. Find Dr. Jen Gunter on her website DrJenGunter.com or on Instagram @DrJenGunter.Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com. Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa Grelo. Technical Producer and Editor: Drew Garner. 

In this powerful episode, Melissa discusses Ann Dowsett Johnston's best-selling book "Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol" on the 10th anniversary of its release. Women are drinking alcohol more than ever and Johnston discusses why this is problematic and why we can no longer afford to ignore the growing crisis of binge drinking in our "alcogenic" culture. Melissa and Ann share their personal stories of their relationship with alcohol and why you don't need to be dependent on it to reassess its role in your life. Find Ann Dowsett Johnston on her website AnnDowsettJohnston.com or on Instagram @AnnDowsettJohnston. Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com. Find clips of the show on YouTube @MelissaGrelo. Producer: Melissa Grelo. Technical Producer and Editor: Drew Garner.