Italian researchers at the University of Bologna - don’t let the name influence you - report that women in a study who received soy supplements had 45% fewer hot flashes.

Apparently it’s the phytoestrogens in soy that cool the hot flashes. Italian researchers say soy supplements could be used in place of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Read the article at Third Age

Restless leg syndrome (RLS), is a common problem for women.  It often accompanies CFS, fibromyalgia, nerve pain, chronic pain and illnesses, or may exist independently.  It may be a companion to menopause.  And the older you get, the worse it gets.  It is a difficult problem to explain: Someone has said that it feels like the “creepy-crawlies” are slithering around just under the skin on the legs. Everyone who has it however agrees on one thing - it is really not a good feeling!

RLS causes sleep deprivation and worsens the symptoms of any originating conditions. The RLS Foundation (Restless Leg Syndrome Foundation) is there for people who need information and support about this condition. It is a difficult condition to treat and information is, as always, the strongest weapon in a victim’s arsenal.

Restless Leg Syndrome Foundation

Have you noticed, when you get up in the morning that you seem a little taller than the night before?  Or worse yet, when you go to bed, the day has worn on you and you are… well - shorter!  Getting older is a pain in the neck. Or back. Particularly the lower back. This is a common problem for women 50+, so all of you aching female Baby Boomers who just aren’t as limber as you used to be, don’t feel too bad. It is happening to us all and it is because of DDD - Degenerative Disc Disease.

DDD happens when the discs between your vertebrae (the horizontal bony parts of your spine) start to… well, degenerate. They get thinner and less cushy. If DDD is severe, they can actually dessicate, meaning they vanish - just poof! And they are gone. DDD is a painful conditon. It limits range of motion, and it can cause loss of height. If the discs dessicate, the loss of height can be substantial! Back health is an important part of every senior and Baby Boomer’s health, and should be an issue that is attended to with a physician’s care.

Degenerative Disc Disease

If you are 50+, you probably have been wearing makeup for 40 years or more.  That is a lot of makeup!  And regardless of how “good” for you the makeup is, it is still hard on your skin.  But without it?  Skin tones are uneven, and facial skin just isn’t as fresh and perky as it used to be.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have that two year-old skin again? 

Well there is good news and bad news.  The bad news is that there is no bar of soap or magic bullet to restore your skin to that kind of perfection.  It isn’t going to happen.  But the good news is that there is now a makeup that won’t harm your skin and will take lines, shadows, and years off of your face.  You’ve heard about it and probably laughed because of it being presented on an infomercial.

Stop laughing.  Mineral makeup works!

Which brand you use is up to you.  I am not particular to any particular kind of this makeup.  It is the style of the makeup that I am so impressed with. 

I tried it with definite doubt in my mind; I have a problem with circles under my eyes that a professional boxer would be proud of… after the fight.  Unfortunately it is a genetic thing - my mom has them, my daughter has them… it is just part of me.  Covering them so I don’t always look like I just tied one on, is a bit of a challenge.  Mineral makeup finally covered the dark circles and it did so without looking like a layer of paint on my face. 

There are a few hints I would pass on.  Use the best brush you can afford.  I bought a Kabuki brush which cost me an arm and a leg, but I have never regretted that purchase.  The key is to not use too much. Tap excess makeup off of the brush prior to application.  Using the brush in a circular motion applies the makeup lightly.  It is much easier to add some extra to areas that may need extra coverage than it is to remove foundation if it is too heavily applied.

I think, as we age, we have a tendency to want to use more makeup either for coverage or trying to achieve a look that is similiar to that we had 20 or 30 years ago.  Don’t even try it; the clown look is out - way out!  The lighter touch will cover what you need to cover, will blend what you need to conceal, and will bring out a mature beauty.  Just keep saying as you go through your cosmetic ritual, “Less Is More.” 

I think you will like these mineral alternatives to traditional makeup.  They last a long time - both in supply and on your face.  I have noticed the makeup fairy that comes and steals makeup during the day isn’t as attracted to mineral makeup, which is a definite upswing in my book!  And losing those dark circles?  That may be the nicest thing I have EVER done for myself and my appearance; I may not be rested, but at least I can look like I am!

What Is Mineral Makeup?

Using Mineral Makeup

Bare Minerals

Bare Escentuals

Youngblood Mineral Makeup (Includes a liquid mineral foundation)

Neutrogena’s Line of Mineral Makeup