Lavina Mehta - How Movement Can Help Change Your Mindset
Sep 2, 2023
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Guest Lavina Mehta, a health and fitness expert, discusses her journey during COVID-19 and her concept of 'exercise snacking.' Topics explored include menopause, diabetes, and Alzheimer's. They also touch on the negative effects of sitting, the popularity of Italian food, the importance of food and movement for gut health, and breaking the taboo surrounding menopause and periods.
Exercise snacking, short bursts of exercise throughout the day, can be as effective as hour-long workouts and improve overall health.
Menopause can start as early as late 30s and women should track symptoms and seek medical advice for potential treatment options.
Exercise plays a crucial role in women's health during menopause, benefiting weight management, bone health, brain health, and overall wellbeing.
Deep dives
Exercise Snacking and Its Benefits
Exercise snacking, which involves breaking up movement into short bite-sized amounts throughout the day, has been proven to be as effective, if not more effective, than hour-long workouts. Short bursts of exercise can boost metabolism and burn calories, making it a convenient and accessible way to stay active and improve overall health. Additionally, exercise snacking helps break up prolonged periods of sitting, reduces the risks of chronic diseases, and releases feel-good endorphins that improve mood and reduce stress.
Understanding Menopause and its Symptoms
Menopause can start as early as late 30s, and women should be aware of the potential symptoms. These can include hot flushes, brain fog, changes in menstruation cycles, sleep disturbances, and skin and hair changes. It's important for women to track their symptoms and seek medical advice when necessary. Menopause is not the end of being a woman and should be seen as a new beginning. Exercise, lifestyle changes, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can alleviate symptoms and help women thrive during this phase.
The Importance of Exercise for Women's Health
Exercise plays a crucial role in women's health, particularly during menopause. It helps with weight management, bone health, brain health, and overall wellbeing. Strength training is especially important to maintain muscle mass and bone density. Exercise releases feel-good hormones, boosts metabolism, and has positive effects on mental health. Additionally, exercise can help alleviate symptoms of menopause, such as anxiety and sleep disturbances. Women should prioritize their fitness and make exercise an integral part of their lifestyle to support their overall health and wellbeing.
Exercise and its Impact on the South Asian Community
The podcast episode discusses the breakthrough of including South Asian communities in exercise routines, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The speaker, who initially targeted the South Asian community due to their higher risk of complications, emphasizes the importance of exercise in promoting overall health and reducing the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes. Through her own experiences with her elderly mother-in-law, the speaker highlights the positive impact of exercise on the older population, even if they had not engaged in physical activity before. She emphasizes the accessibility of exercise, using examples of bodyweight moves and makeshift weights made from household items. The speaker also discusses the connection between exercise and brain health, particularly in relation to the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Menopause and Empowerment through Exercise
The podcast episode addresses the topic of menopause, which is often considered taboo and not openly discussed. The speaker, who is going through perimenopause herself, aims to break the silence surrounding this phase of life, particularly among South Asian women. She highlights the importance of empowerment and self-care during menopause, emphasizing that women can still take control of their health and well-being. The speaker points out the impact of menopause on various aspects of life, including relationships, self-esteem, and the workplace. She also emphasizes the significance of exercise in promoting physical and mental health during this phase, particularly through the building of muscle mass and addressing symptoms such as anxiety. The speaker encourages women to have open conversations about menopause and embrace the changes they are experiencing.
My guest today is Lavina Mehta who during covid, decided out of nowhere, to help millions of people find health and purpose by doing modified forms of exercise that basically were available to everyone for free on the internet, for that, she was awarded an MBE. She went on to discuss publicly, very vulnerably and beautifully and intelligently, her journey with menopause, online. Lavina is a Patron of the Menopause Mandate, is a proud Ambassador for Diabetes UK and The Alzheimer’s Society.When...
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