One of my major goals when I started Art of Graceful Aging was to work with companies that are female founded, owned or operated, businesses that empower women, have very strong socially positive messages and companies that are very earth friendly. I have been very privileged to work with some very special companies that align with my own values, and Bears with Benefits is one of those. I only promote companies that I have used, and I love Bears with Benefits! Bears with Bene

When I started this blog about graceful aging, some of my goals were to learn about and share information, ideas and products that I thought would interest and help women in the perimenopausal and menopausal age group (including me) with issues that we commonly experience. One topic I have been researching and learning a lot about is the essential oils. Essential oils have been used in healing, health and beauty for thousands of years, but I never knew the extent of their ben

Vitamin D is an extremely important fat-soluble vitamin that has a crucial role in many vital processes in the body, yet Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are extremely common. As a matter of fact, Vitamin D deficiency is a global wide issue, with a billion or more people worldwide, and up to 42% of people in the US estimated to be Vitamin D deficient. But the good news here is that Vitamin D deficiency is treatable and preventable.   What Is Vitamin D and What Does it D

I wanted to start my Supplement Savvy Series with Magnesium Supplements. I feel like Magnesium is a supplement that many people are familiar with, but because there are so many different types and formulations of magnesium with a lot of different names, picking the right one can be confusing, even overwhelming.  So, what is Magnesium?   Magnesium is a mineral that is involved with hundreds (300+) of bodily functions, including muscle activity, bone health, nerve transmission,

I have been in Women’s Healthcare for many years. Back when I first started, a cutting-edge supplement might be something like a multivitamin specifically formulated for women over fifty or a combination calcium with vitamin D.  But a lot of things have changed over the years, and the supplement market is one of those things.  Today there is an absolutely mind-boggling array of all kinds of supplements promising all kinds of benefits. I think that there are many reasons why t

I think that most people are familiar with the popular herb Cilantro and the famous spice Coriander. These two things actually come from the same plant. While Coriander, as the spice, is famous worldwide, not as many people are aware of its health benefits as an essential oil.  Coriander essential oil is extracted from the seeds of the cilantro/coriander plant through steam distillation. It has been used for many years in both traditional and Ayurvedic medicine and is known f

One of the things that I wanted to accomplish when I started Art of Graceful Aging was to highlight and support businesses that were...

If there is an essential oil that could be considered a powerhouse, I think it would be peppermint oil. Peppermint is very widely known...

In my daily practice as a Nurse Practitioner in total women’s health , I talk to a lot of senior women about issues concerning menopause...

I have always enjoyed essential oils for their fragrances, but my experience in the past was limited to those oils that I thought smelled...

From the time I was a very little girl, I associated a certain fragrance with my beautiful mother. Even after she passed away, I could...

Chamomile is one of the most ancient of all medicinal herbs. It has been widely used across the globe for centuries and can be found in...

Spring is finally here, and summer is right around the corner. If you are like me, winter is hard on your skin. The cold weather is...

I have been doing a lot of research on essential oils since I have been working on this blog, and it is fascinating.  I always liked...