In this conversation, you will hear:
- Chef Mareya shares her inspiring personal journey of healing from severe injuries like a tibial fracture, torn ACL, and meniscus without surgery in her 50s. She overcame intense anxiety and heart palpitations, discovering they were linked to a magnesium deficiency.
- The conversation highlights a crucial shift in mindset towards health in midlife: moving from exercising and eating for thinness to focusing on strength and functional fitness. Chef Mareya emphasises prioritising protein, colourful produce, and healthy fats, viewing food as information for cells rather than just calories. She started competitive bodybuilding in her 50s to build muscle, which also helped her recover from injury.
- She shares the importance of specific supplements like magnesium for heart regulation and anxiety, vitamin C for collagen production and wound healing, and B vitamins for stress management. Lifestyle factors such as managing stress, ensuring good sleep, and limiting alcohol and caffeine are also vital for midlife women's health.
- The discussion encourages self-advocacy in healthcare, as women may need to become detectives of their own health to find answers their doctors might not provide.
Chef Mareya Ibrahim, through her personal story and extensive expertise, offers a powerful message of hope and empowerment for midlife women, demonstrating that it's never too late to achieve functional fitness and optimal health. You can find out more about Chef Mareya at her website, chefmareya.com