May 2022
May is for Maximizing
Women's Health

May is Women's health month. If this is news to you, it's no surprise. Women tend to put the health of others before their own. This month is all about empowering women to take responsibility for their health and make it a priority. Disease prevention is so important. Women owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to expand our awareness of disease and how to fight it. Right now, the deadliest three diseases in the country are 1) heart disease, 2) cancer, and 3) COVID, which has risen to third place. It can be easy to think it will never happen to us, but, especially in the case of COVID, we've seen otherwise. Women often consider heart disease as a men's condition, forgetting that it's our top killer too. Additionally, there will be an estimated 1.9 million new cancers diagnosed this year. As you know, I've been on my own cancer journey, but I'm healthy, stable, and under active monitoring now. Thanks for your support over the past 6 months. My own health crisis has been a reminder for me to be more proactive with my lifestyle in order to fight disease and live a long, vibrant life.

Evidence supports the effectiveness of a healthy diet and lifestyle, not only in lowering the risk of disease and managing it once it occurs, but also in how we feel on a daily basis. Even small steps can make such an impact. Along with celebrating Mother's Day this month, let's gift ourselves—WOMEN!—by taking on disease-fighting lifestyle changes. I'm going to be focusing on women's health all month long on my social media and blog, so join along with me and let's stay strong together! I want to hear from you on what you're doing to stay healthy in the month of May.

Top 5 Lifestyle Tips to Fight Disease

Eat Well. Plant-based eating is associated with disease prevention and lower mortality rates. Check out my best advice in these blogs: Best Odds Diet Approach for Fighting Cancer, Top Ten Tips for Heart Health, Fight Hypertension with Plants, and Fight Diabetes with Plants.
Move! Exercise has many benefits, including longevity, healthy weight, and disease prevention. Walking, hiking, gardening… do what you love. Check out my 9 Top Tips for Feeling Motivated for Fitness.
Choose YOU. When your body is tired, when your mind is racing, and stress is rising, take a break. Gift yourself rest and me time. Check out my 10 Self-Care Diet Tips here.
Listen. Your body and mind give signs when something is not right. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Pay attention and trust your intuition. Share with others to stay strong. Please share your own health stories with me over social media—let's stay strong together.
Communicate. Have a conversation with your health care provider about health concerns. That annual checkup is essential for preventing and catching illnesses and disease in the early stages.

With Gratitude,

Eat Beauty in a Bowl.
Try out a new bowl of beautiful plant foods designed to deliver deliciousness and health benefits in these 35 Plant-Based Beauty Bowls for Wellbeing.

Going Plant-Based?
It's linked with health and disease-fighting benefits, but be sure to take the most healthful approach with my 9 Rules for a Healthy Vegan Diet.

My Heart-Protecting Tips on Eat This, Not That!
Check out my tips on eating heart-healthy in 3 Best Foods to Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease, Says Expert.

I'm Quoted on Healthline.
I share my insight on how a plant-based diet can help reduce the inflammation that leads to arthritis in How a Vegan Diet Reduces Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Register here to join me at the Oldways Food for a Healthier Planet Webinar May 24. I'll be talking about how to help support patients and clients on their journey to healthier, more sustainable eating.

Instagram Plant-Powered
Live Show
This month I'm talking about how to make delicious, healthy, plant-based tacos for Cinco de Mayo, and I'll be cooking up my own Tofu Mushroom Tacos. Join me on my Plant-Powered Live Show on Instagram May 5 at 3 pm PT @SharonPalmerRD to tune in.

California Vegan is Live!
I'm so excited to announce that my new book, California Vegan, is getting lots of positive buzz and is available across the nation: Amazon, Apple, and my site. Get yours today!

Grow Your Own Food Toolkit
It's the perfect time to grow your own food this month, so dig in with my FREE home gardening toolkit here.

About Sharon
Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RD is The Plant-Powered Dietitian. She is an award-winning food and nutrition journalist based in Ojai, California. Sharon speaks, writes, and blogs about her passion for delicious, healthful, sustainable plant-based foods every day. Check out her three books, and don't forget to follow Sharon on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and her blog. If you'd like to work with Sharon, please contact her here.