Wise, Healthy, and Wealthy: Poor People Age Faster

By Genie James, MMSc

“I am afraid I will outlive my money” is a common concern when women are asked “What scares you most about getting old?”  From female zillionaires to hourly wage earners the lament was the same: “What if I don’t have enough money to last?”

Long-term financial pressures trigger the release of stress hormones, particularly cortisol, wreaking havoc on physical, mental and emotional health. Multiple clinical studies validate the link between financial pressures and increased risk of heart disease, stroke, metabolic syndrome, sleep problems, digestive problems, depression, obesity and memory impairment. Sexual desire and pleasure are also frequently impaired when money worries nag.

Recent research has revealed a serious stumbling block in our progress.  It seems an astonishing number of women – bright, accomplished, single and married, working or not – have been hesitant to pursue the one thing affecting every aspect of life: money. According to data compiled by the Federal Reserve and analyzed by the Center for Retirement Research, the retirement savings plans many baby boomers thought would see them through old age are frequently falling short.  Women are particularly at risk.

You are going to need your own money. Why?  Because studies show that poor people age faster than rich people.

Statistics aside, I personally believe every woman should have:

1.) The freedom to choose.  ‘Want love’ rather than ‘need love.’

2.) A debt-free home and top-notch healthcare. Regardless of whether your husband runs off with a woman twenty to thirty years his junior! And, no matter what the government does with Medicare.

3.) Personal financial solvency, including a sufficient rainy-day fund and readily available cash-on-hand.

4.) The means to pay for a personal tune-up if you want one.

So you see, choosing to optimize your hormone balance for life expands your window of career opportunities.  In the past, our 20s and 30s were the only decades during which we were hormonally prewired to be high-energy, sharp-thinking and goal-oriented.  Women had to make a choice where and how to spend these most zealous decades:  at home raising kids or at work climbing the corporate ladder.

Now, with the help of natural hormones and brain sharpening techniques, women in their 40s, 50s and older can continue to have what it takes mentally and energetically to stay in the game, to compete.

Throughout history, women have come together to share wisdom and better their collective lives.  We still do. Over the last fifty years, women have ventured into new realms preceding generations would not have dreamed possible.

Now women are our nation’s most robust job-creation engine, starting small businesses and stimulating new jobs at a rate significantly outdistancing male counterparts.  A 2010 published report by The Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute projects female-owned small businesses will be responsible for creating one-third of the 15.3 million new jobs anticipated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics by 2018.*  The bottom line: a contemporary, women-led workforce revolution is fully underway.

GENIE JAMES, MMSc is CEO of Dr. Randolph’s Ageless and Wellness Medical Center and Owner of The Natural Medicine Pharmacy. A member of the Women’s President Organization and on the board of directors of Girls Inc., Genie was named one of Jacksonville Business Journal’s Women of Influence for 2012 and was 2013 Women in Business Entrepreneur of the Year finalist.

Genie James proclaims the Fountain of Truth on aging and recorded it all in her 6th book The Fountain of Truth! Outsmart Hype, False Hope and to Recalibrate the Way You Age. Over a 30-year career, Genie has championed natural health and lifestyle medicine while spearheading women’s health initiatives for large healthcare systems, physician organizations and venture capitalists. Genie James hosts a regular women’s health segment on a local NPR radio station and is a go-to resource for national publications and radio segments such as Prevention, Woman’s World, Redbook, Women’s Digest, GQ, AARP, NPR as well as www.everydayhealth.com,  www.thewomensbook.com,  www.jeanchatzky.com, www.sheknows.com, www.emaxhealth.com,  www.blogtalkradio.com, among others. More at www.geniejames.com