Aging Women And Body Image

Every year, Americans spend billions of dollars on products, from vitamins to face creams, to stop aging. We worry about many things such as losing our memory, teeth, eyesight, hearing, sex drive, and ability to get around. Women can have special concerns about osteoporosis (thinning bones) and menopause. As we age, staying active and involved helps us to have a positive outlook on life. A healthy diet and regular exercise can ease common conditions like arthritis and can help prevent or control heart disease and high blood pressure.

In a society that places much value on youth, a woman's body image can be affected by aging in many ways. Physical changes such as weight gain, hair loss, and wrinkles can affect a woman's self-esteem. Menopause can be a stressful time for women due to hormonal changes. Osteoporosis can lead to broken bones and fractures, affecting a woman's independence. Women can often have two stressful roles - as caregiver and caretaker - raising children and taking care of elderly parents. Women can also feel lonely and less useful as they age, leading to depression. But aging is not all gloom and doom. It can offer women new opportunities in life and a new outlook. It is important to keep a positive attitude about aging.

Judi Singleton publishes

Aging Gracefully Through Vastu Shastra

Aging is inevitable, but its most negative effects can be minimized and turned into a graceful progression. Exercise and proper diet are key factors. But, when your living or working environment is in harmony with nature, it has a positive influence on your well being, slowing the aging process.

In nature, all five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) are in perfect symmetry. As a building is erected, that equilibrium is disrupted. Vastu Shastra is an ancient architectural science that balances the five elements and supports stress free living or working spaces. As an integral part of this earth, we live in a sea of electromagnetic and stellar influences. Every particle of energy is linked to the next particle. Every shift occurring in this atmosphere has the potential to affect our lives and actions.

Each of the five elements is associated with a compass point and each point has a specific impact on our health. Different aspects of positive aging are optimally supported by a specific direction. Aging is also affected by environmental stress, which is the cause of most human disease

The earth is a magnetic force and is composed of the five elements, as is our brain. The thalamus is the relay center for all sensory and motor skills in the brain. Neurological research has shown that the firing patterns of neurons in the thalamus function differently depending on which direction one is facing. Our mind is then the interactive result of the affect of the magnetic field on our brain cells. By placing our bodies and environments in alignment with the magnetic axis, we can think and act more compatibly with nature. Our actions will be more attuned to the five elements, much like swimming with the stream as opposed to swimming against it.

The northeast area of your residence is associated with the water element. This direction is the source of favorable magnetic energy from the north and positive solar energy from the east. Our residence needs to be very open in the northeast to receive these benefits. The northeast influences growth of the physical body. The northeast is good for home entrances. If this region has proper Vastu Shastra, good health will be supported. If there is a kitchen, clutter, a toilet, heating system or blockage in the northeast the water element will be decreased which will cause congestion.

The southeast area of your residence coincides with the fire element. The southeast influences the energy required for good health. Kitchens, heating and electrical systems work well in the southeast. If this area is in accordance with Vastu Shastra health will be better. If there is a cut or blockage, there will be a lack of energy and health will suffer.

The southwest area of your residence is aligned with the earth element. The southwest contributes to the strength of your body. If your bed is in the south, or southwest area of your residence with your head to the south or east, you will be vigorous. If there is a cut, toilet or heating source, there will be some health and back problems.

The northwest area of your residence is linked with the air element. The northwest influences mental stability. Toilets and guest bedrooms work well in the northwest. If there is a cut or blockage there will be mental instability, stomach problems and an inability to learn effectively. The central area of a residence is related with the space element. When this area is open there will be good emotional health. If there is clutter, toilets, a kitchen or no open space in the center of a home or office emotional imbalance can take place.

Unfortunately most modern architecture is based on function alone and is not designed to obey the forces of nature; sun, wind, water, climate and the planets. All ingredients of good health are enhanced when all areas of a residence are carefully positioned according to Vastu Shastra. When our environment is aligned with nature we gain its divine support, and our desire for health, wealth and happiness is manifested. We realize we are connected to every living thing and our willingness to harm that connection diminishes. However, when our environments are designed to conquer nature, we will feel the burden of stress, which contributes to unnecessary symptoms of aging.

Michael and Robin Mastro's synergistic approach successfully assists people in living in peace and harmony with themselves and others, and in creating balanced lives filled with unlimited possibilities.

Aging Gracefully

When a zinfandel or merlot (and most red wine) is young, generally within 3-5 years of the vintage date on the bottle, it shows a lot of deep purple color, intensive fruit in the nose, somewhat hot alcohol to the taste and less overall smoothness than it will show later in its life. As the wine ages, the alcohol, tannic acid (from the grape skins and the oak in the barrel) and fruit flavors start to soften up and blend together to present a more smooth and finished wine. Often the differences in taste between young wine and well aged wine are extremely evident and aged wine is very desirable. How do you do that?

Please note that you, the consumer, have very little control over the many winemaking variables that affect wine aging, but have some control over cellar storage conditions that affect aging, namely temperature, light, humidity and vibration.

Out here in California there are darned few houses built with cellars in them. You can "cellar" a wine in a closet or pay big bucks for a temperature and humidity controlled cabinet in which you can store your treasures. If you are interested in and have the personal discipline to cellar some wines over the several years it takes, here is a tip before you start

Some wine does not get better with age, it just gets older. This is particularly true of most white wines and for certain sparkling wine or Champagne. I have shed tears over unopened bottles of excellent French Champagne that were saved in a well-intentioned effort from someone's wedding 20 years ago. Champagne is meant to be consumed shortly after it is released. It does not improve in the bottle after it is released.

The key to cellaring is to start with something that has the potential to improve. In red wines that usually means a big, well-made and probably expensive cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, zinfandel or merlot or port. In whites a really big oaked chardonnay or a very sweet, rich, dessert wine such as true Sauternes or a German trockenbeerenauslese. I am afraid the "expensive" part of that statement is very true.

The most important variable in aging wine is the temperature at which it is stored. Not simply the number of degrees, but the RANGE of the temperatures. If you had a perfect situation and could hold your wines at 65F year round you would be set. However, if that temperature fluctuates from 50F to 70F or higher you may just as well drink it now. What happens is the liquid in the bottle expands and contracts with the temperature and eventually pushes around the cork, breaking the seal and allowing air to enter. This starts a chain reaction of microbial actions. Result: spoiled expensive old wine and tears of frustration.

Do I need to tell you to store wine on its side so that the cork stays moist and doesn't dry out? If you fail to do this see the paragraph above, because the result is the same.

Collecting and aging wine takes money, care, time, money, knowledge and money. If you have got all those, it can be a worthwhile and rewarding pursuit. At one point in the not so distant past, there were French red wines you simply HAD to age, as they were literally undrinkable when first released and were purchased by cognoscenti who would not have dreamed of opening them for at least 10 years! Such winemaking techniques have generally faded from the scene and so most wine is now released ready to be splashed into a glass and consumed. If you find one that could be saved and improved, try to do so, for your own wine education.
About the Author

Paul Kreider, who made his first wine in 1975, is the owner and winemaker of the Ross Valley Winery in San Anselmo, California.