Joanna Bowen Wellness

Not all mothers are mothers. Some mothers are aunts by blood, or by royal appointment. Some are sisters, best friends, with safe spaces for laps and listening ears so large they can hear silent cries. Some are teachers who will be remembered lifelong for all the right reasons. Not all mothers are mothers. And if you have one in your life, you are blessed. They have much love to give. And they are walking around this earth with nurture flowing out of their pores. Not all mothers are mothers, but oh how they mother. And this world should throw petals at their mothering feet, as they teach us all, how unconditional love is done.

Donna Ashworth

This will be in my next poetry collection but you will find mothering poems in all my books because it is so much a part of who we are. Even if we are not. All women mother. In many many ways. Happy Mother’s Day if you are celebrating. ❤️

Art by Meraylah Allwood

You can find my books here: https://donnaashworth.com/books/




Art by Meraylah Allwood.

godparent

OR YOU COULD JUST LIVE

You are going to wish your body was more,
You are going to wish your body was less,
You are going to wish your body would change,
You are going to wish your body would not.

You are going to wish your body was many things,
between now,
and the day you leave this mortal coil.

And one day,
as is always the way,
you will look back,
and see,
that your body was always as it should be.
Doing its best
To be you,
for you.

And you are then going to wish that just once,
you had told your body,
‘I accept you, as you are, right now’.

And that maybe had you done this,
you would have spared yourself a lifetime,
of wishing for something you didn’t really ever need.

That what it was you should have been wishing for, in fact,
was the courage to accept,
the strength to embrace,
the wisdom to really see,
what you have.

You’re going to wish for many things,
when it comes to your body.

Or you could just wish for health.

And live your life,
flawed
and
beautiful.

Donna Ashworth

From ‘I wish I knew’
https://www.waterstones.com/win/i-wish-i-knew-prize-draw

Art by Helma Speksnijder

Today's the day! (Woohoo!)

My presentation goes live on the Nutritional Wellness Summit for one day only and TODAY.IS.THE.DAY.

If you haven't already signed up for your free ticket to listen to the summit, now's the time, my friends!

https://joannabowen--legendlife.thrivecart.com/offer-package/

The Nutritional Wellness Summit brings together 49 experts (including yours truly) to share key nutritional strategies, tips and insights for you to live a longer, healthier (AND YOUNGER) life.

Grab your free pass and catch my talk today!

Join the FREE 2022 Nutritional Wellness Summit today! Join 40 of the world’s most trusted experts in health and nutrition for the latest breakthroughs in how to eat to live healthier and longer. Save your FREE spot in the 2022 Nutritional Wellness Summit now!

Happy Halowe’en!

The Nutritional Wellness Summit starts tomorrow (Monday, Oct 24th) have you registered for your free ticket yet?
https://joannabowen--legendlife.thrivecart.com/offer-package/

Here's the truth: Our health needs to be a priority.
Not just someday, but right now if we are going to live free from illness and disease and truly thrive, even as we age.

The real foundation of our long-term health is our diet and lifestyle.

The Nutritional Wellness Summit brings together 49 experts (including yours truly) to share key nutritional strategies, tips and insights for you to live a longer, healthier life.

It's not every day that so many world-class health and nutrition experts gather together to spill the beans and share practical information designed to empower you on your wellness journey... And you can get access to all this for FREE from October 24th to November 1st.

Grab your free pass today and I'll see you there starting tomorrow!

Join the FREE 2022 Nutritional Wellness Summit today! Join 40 of the world’s most trusted experts in health and nutrition for the latest breakthroughs in how to eat to live healthier and longer. Save your FREE spot in the 2022 Nutritional Wellness Summit now!

“The general public has an ‘optimistic bias’ towards believing they are at less risk than others for chronic disease and, as a result, may dismiss advice to eat more healthfully because they think they are already eating more healthfully. In fact, researchers found that people rated their own eating behavior as healthier on average even when their actual habits were terrible.” ~ Dr. Michael Greger

I have found this to be true in my own nutrition practice, too. People routinely tell me that although there’s always room for improvement, they’re doing just fine with their food choices… better than most. But when we get right down to it and we actually assess what they’re consuming, there are countless ways their “good enough” diets are setting them up for accelerated aging.

Curious how you can use food as a tool to change the way you age?

Here’s the truth: you’re already doing it!!!

For better or worse, the daily choices you’re making each time you decide what’s for breakfast, lunch or dinner, are having affect on both the WAY you age and the RATE at which you age.

If you want to learn how to slow the aging process down, come join me and a community of other like-minded women inside the “Younger With Food” Facebook group.

It’s free, and it’s fabulous!
Join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/youngerwithfood

Today, many of us have access to what we want, when we want it, and we may not consider long-term consequences when we're thinking of instant gratification. Many Americans know what makes up a healthy diet, yet most fail to put this knowledge into action. While ignorance and confusion may play a part in changing dietary behaviors, the motivation to change is likely much more important.

Before people can change their dietary behaviors, they need to see the need for change. The general public has an "optimistic bias" towards believing they are at less risk than others for chronic disease and, as a result, may dismiss advice to eat more healthfully because they think they are already eating more healthfully. In fact, researchers found that people rated their own eating behavior as healthier on average even when their actual habits were terrible.

But, wait. Don’t chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer, just run in the family? What if you just have bad genes? There is an overwhelming body of evidence that shows the dramatic impact healthy lifestyle behaviors can have on reducing all-cause mortality—meaning death from all causes put together—and preventing chronic diseases.

For many chronic diseases, non-genetic factors often account for at least 80 to 90 percent of risk. Modifiable risk factors, such as diet, weight, activity, and smoking status, account for more than 70 percent of your risk of having a stroke or getting colon cancer, more than 80 percent of coronary heart disease risk, and more than 90 percent of risk for type 2 diabetes. In an oft-cited paper, using identical twins to see how much chronic disease was really in your genes, cancers were found to have the lowest genetic component, with only about 10 percent attributable to bad genes. We have the power to prevent major chronic diseases with our lifestyle.

What about people who already have chronic diseases? As health professionals, we should try to guide patients from feeling a sense of guilt to feeling a sense of agency. We can help our patients see that they still have personal control and can still make different choices from then on.

To learn more and see study reference, see the following videos:
"Why Don’t People Eat Healthier?" at https://bit.ly/3MjyEAz
"Lifestyle and Disease Prevention: Your DNA Is Not Your Destiny" at https://bit.ly/3lcJ5u8

PSA: Stay hydrated, friends! (For your health AND bonus skin benefits!)

Today’s the day! If you want to catch my talk on the topic of how food influences the way we age, here’s your chance!

The “Real Talk For Women 50+” summit will continue airing new interviews each day straight into August, but MY talk airs today only, so listen in if you get a chance 🙂

To access the free version, visit the link below, then wait to receive an email in your inbox with the link to today’s speakers.

There’s also a paid version if you want to buy the recordings of ALL 40+ speakers, but that price is entirely optional… you can listen in for free if you prefer.

Enjoy the interview!

https://virtualretreat.realtalkforwomen50plus.com/joanna

Real Talk For Women 50+

Even though HALF the population spends HALF their life in menopause it's the most neglected topic in Western medicine.

My friend and colleague, Cherie Schwartz, thinks it's time for that to change, so she's created a virtual retreat for women and she's inviting all of us to attend.

I'll be there, featured as one of 40+ speakers, each bringing different perspectives on how we can improve this season of our lives.

Topics will cover everything from hormonal changes throughout perimenopause to menopause, how to activate your fat-loss cycle, increase metabolism, uplevel your energy, and take control of your health.

Women deserve an education that informs them and prepares them for menopause. There has never been a better time to know the facts so you can tailor the information to your particular situation and take control of your health.

Register here for your free pass: https://virtualretreat.realtalkforwomen50plus.com/joanna

I look forward to seeing you on the inside!

PS. You don’t HAVE to be over 50 yrs of age to join this event… menopause starts earlier for some folks than others… In fact, perimenopause can even begin in our 30’s! So if you’re a woman of any age who wants to learn more about this peri/meno stage of life, you are most welcome to sign up and join in!

Today’s the day!!!
Have you registered for the Summit yet?
My talk airs TODAY!

You still have time to grab your FREE ticket here:

https://ageless--endreskawalec.thrivecart.com/one-time-offer-checkout-page/

I’d love to have you join 🙂

“Joanna is one our speakers and her session is going live tomorrow (Monday) and it will BLOW.YOUR.MIND. It’s about epigenetics and DNA and HOW you can actually affect and measure how you age and what will put the brakes on aging. It’s really, REALLLLY interesting and really cool.”
~ Andre Endres (Host & Creator of Skin Body Spirit Summit)

The Summit runs from May 22 – 27. (My talk is on May 23rd: “The connection between our genes, our food, and the way we age”)

Make sure to get your FREE ticket here: https://ageless--endreskawalec.thrivecart.com/one-time-offer-checkout-page/

This year’s Skin Body Spirit Summit is here!
The LIVE Kick-Off event starts this morning (Sunday, 22 May) at:
8am Pacific /
11am Eastern /
4pm UK(BST)

You still have time to grab your FREE ticket today and receive a bonus Skin Guide: Blending & Using Facial Masks like a Pro.

The Summit runs from May 22 – 27. (My talk is on May 23rd: “The connection between our genes, our food, and the way we age”)

Make sure to get your FREE ticket here: https://ageless--endreskawalec.thrivecart.com/one-time-offer-checkout-page/

This year’s Skin Body Spirit Summit is here!

Join me along with TWENTY experts and learn how to take care of your skin from a place of knowledge, love & intuition.

Grab your FREE ticket today and receive a bonus Skin Guide: Blending & Using Facial Masks like a Pro. Plus receive special gifts from the presenters.

The Summit runs from May 22 – 27. (My talk is on May 23rd: “The connection between our genes, our food, and the way we age”)

Make sure to get your FREE ticket here:
https://ageless--endreskawalec.thrivecart.com/one-time-offer-checkout-page/

Get Your FREE Ticket - Skin Body Spirit Summit 20 world-class holistic skin care & wellness experts on how to take care of your skin naturally from a place of love, knowledge and intuition.

📣 BREAKING NEWS 📣

2022 Dirty Dozen & Clean 15 lists available!
Thanks to the Environmental Working Group, for always bringing this to our tables!

Any surprises in this years’s entries?

For me, I’m surprised by kale, collard and mustard greens in the # 3 dirty spot, and by celery in the #11 spot.
And I’m DELIGHTED to see avocados in the # 1 clean spot!!! 🥇🥑 🏆 🥑 🎉

BRING ON THE GUACAMOLE!!!

Jamie Lee Curtis, 63, Says Plastic Surgery Is ‘Wiping Out Generations of Beauty’ “Once you mess with your face, you can’t get it back.”

✌💕🌎

Anyone else shocked by this???

Jaw. On. The. Floor.

Via The Female Quotient

Resolutions vs. Real Solutions

Resolutions = A nice tradition that lacks the structure needed for deep and permanent changes.

Resolutions rely on MOTIVATION and FEELINGS to get you to your goal.

Real Solutions = A well-thought-out plan that will lead to deep, permanent, and sustainable changes.

Real Solutions rely on COMMITMENT and ACCOUNTABILITY to get you to your goal.

This begs the question: are you relying solely on motivation and feelings to get you where you want to go...

Or are you ready to make a commitment to slowing down (and even reversing) the cellular aging process in your own body?

If you're the kind of person who wants a plan and accountability to get you there, keep your eye on this page so you don't miss the invitation to join the 2022 community of women who are ready to commit to rolling back the aging clock.

Tell me below: what's the BIGGEST OBSTACLE standing between you and the youthful future you desire?

“When I’m retired, I’ll finally have time to ________”.

(fill in the blank)

My first writers’ festival was heaving with retired women. I was the only guy under fifty, and was often mistaken for a guest speaker.

Throughout the weekend, I heard the same conversation. “Now that I’m retired, I can finally write the story of my grandparents coming to Canada.” Or “Now that I’m retired, I can finally write that murder mystery set in the backwoods of British Columbia.”

Dozens said the same thing. Over coffee and lunch. Over quiet moments between workshops. Now that I’m retired. Now that I have time. Finally.

What they meant was, “Now that I’m no longer as responsible for others as I used to be, I can finally give myself permission to do something selfish.”

At the age of 65 or 70.

All that time pushing aside a passion project so that they could be seen as good wives or good mothers or good friends or good employees. There will be time later. When all this settles down.

Keep going. Keep plugging along. First up in the morning. Last to go to bed. Stay late for work. Probably unpaid. And then groceries in the fridge. Dinner on the table. Bake sale items for the fundraiser. Do it all. No complaining. No asking for help.

Don’t you dare take time to write some stupid book that no one will read.

What horse s**t is that?

Still today, despite all the progress being made, the measure of a good woman is how much she is willing to give up of herself in order to be there for others.

You know what? It’s okay to choose yourself.

Read that again.

And you know what? I feel it too. Even though I encourage young teachers to take mental health days — slow days to savour their coffee in pyjamas or go hiking in the woods with a couple samosas — I have yet to take my own advice.

I still feel guilty when I sit down to write. I especially feel guilty when I’m watching something on Netflix, and the laundry still needs to be put away and the dishwasher still needs to be loaded. Report cards. Unit plans. All that stuff.

Staying at home with the sniffles or a sore throat is okay. Staying at home because you need to acknowledge the feeling of being at the bottom of the ocean, weighed down by fear and anxiety and depression, needs to be okay too.

Please stay at home. Not so you can tidy the house. Not so you can do recycling. Stay at home to write, paint, bead, sew, or sit at a pottery wheel. Stay at home to hike in the woods or sit in a coffeeshop by yourself.

It’s okay.

You’re not turning your back on anyone. You’re not denying anyone anything. You’re taking time for you.

Our children don’t need us to save them. They need to watch us save ourselves. They need to watch us normalize self care, and they need to watch us show emotion.

I wish this post could reach far and wide, because I think it’s super important that we reevaluate what it means to be human.

We are a species that thrives when we connect with each other. When we celebrate small moments of courage, compassion and connection. Small moments of being awkward, brave and kind.

We are not a species that thrives when we stuff our dreams and desires and moments of vulnerability in suitcases. I know. I tried. For a long time.

Remember: I’m cheering for you. We’re all in this together.

Hot Debate:
As the mornings get chillier and the Starbucks siren song of gets stronger, what do you choose: coffee, tea, or something fancier?

Your choices influence the function of your cells.

This is great news…
it means YOU hold the power in your favourite mug.

Your Feedback Needed:

Discover the 3 Biggest Challenges Facing Women When It Comes To Symptoms of Aging

I'm sure it comes as no surprise to hear that women face many challenges when it comes to the aging process.

I’m conducting a survey for my upcoming Masterclass project about the most pressing issues facing women as we navigate our aging journeys.

If you're a woman over the age of 40, I would LOVE to hear your voice and get your insights.

Your feedback will make an important contribution to this topic and I’ll be sharing the top findings with you (along with specific resources to directly address the top challenges) once I’ve collected the number of responses needed.

The survey takes 3-4 minutes and you can get started now by clicking on the link below ⤵️

https://joannar77.aidaform.com/epm-discover-the-3-biggest-challenges-facing-women-40

I look forward to sharing these insights and resources with you as soon as I'm able to!

With gratitude, ❤️🥰🙏🏽

Joanna

Any guesses which youth-enhancing vegetable I’ve been working with (based on the state of my hands?)

Well…. I may have botched the presentation a little (it happens!) but this was a vegan chocolate cheesecake with freshly picked strawberry compote for Ron’s birthday earlier this month.

We were in the midst of an extended heat wave and it was hard to keep the chocolate from melting!
(See the 2nd picture to see how messy it actually was… the first picture was actually my 2nd attempt at plating!)

Regardless of the messiness factor, what this dessert lacked in table-side manner, it more than made up for in the flavour department…

Annnnd as a special birthday bonus, it included some heavy-hitting anti-aging game changers in the mix!

Who knew you could celebrating getting older while delighting in food that actually helps your body’s cells behave younger?!?

Think you recognize these tasty little treats?
Take a guess below!
While my brother and sister-in-law were busy delivering a 7 pound, 11ounce sweet baby girl into the world, I was busy picking over TWELVE pounds of these sweet little anti-aging gems.
That’s more than one and a half babies worth if anyone’s doing the math.