My healing journey after turning 40

My Healing Journey After Turning 40

So, here is what happened when I turned 40, right before covid. I was having some troubles with my health. Nothing alarming, nothing major — just a loss of energy, fatigue and lack of focus. I was not a particularly healthy child growing up. I was a poor eater and never played any active sports, so lack of focus and tiredness was not entirely new to me. But in your twenties the body is more resilient. It heals itself pretty well with a little help from us. Forty is different.

I started losing hair. I have always shed more hair than most people — more than any of your dogs, probably — but my hair also grows back like weeds, so it never really bothered me. What I noticed this time was that it was not growing back the way it used to. I also had very long, exhaustive monthly periods. Always on a 28-day cycle, but long and draining. That changed too. I started having two periods a month, sometimes three. That was alarming. Enough conversations with my mother and elder sister helped me understand the miracles of genetics, but I really did not want to spend the next decade in that kind of exhaustion. So, as any insurance-covered individual does, I got lots of tests — scans, ultrasounds, the works.

It turned out I had a few cysts and fibroids in my uterus, which is quite common in women over 40. These were causing severe anemia. I was also so low on vitamin D that if I went outside in winter, I would get rashes on any exposed skin. My doctor recommended a blood transfusion, which was firmly discouraged by holistic doctors in India — their view was that it would not fix the underlying problem permanently. And so began a long series of experimentation with food and diet.

I went gluten free for several months, dairy free for a few, and sugar free — which I have largely continued to this day. I tested each change against my energy levels and strength. I added supplements a few times a week and a very healthy dose of greens every single day. I mean every single day — spinach, kale, methi, chard, choy, amaranth, moringa — something green in my diet, almost twice a day. I took as much rest as I could during my periods. I turned off my planning brain and gave myself permission to read, write and garden. I added many different types of dal to my cooking, started eating more gluten-free grains and reduced my workload. As all of this coincided with covid closures, the decision to slow down was a little easier to make.

After eighteen months of this, my periods were still irregular but my blood work was stellar — which even surprised my doctor. She said, "Keep doing what you are doing. It is working." My energy levels had come back. I take supplements once a week now because the food I eat is taking care of most of my needs. I still eat very little sugar, though I eat all kinds of fruit freely. I am no longer tired after a full day of work. I went on a long hike with a friend recently and was genuinely surprised not to feel tired or out of breath.

I teach multiple classes a day, cook for ten hours straight, entertain for six, garden all day long — and I do not feel depleted. I do not mind being tired or sore. This body is meant to be used to its fullest potential. But I do hope to stay joyful, focused and energized while doing it.

I am sharing this to offer another perspective. If I feel weak again, I will not hesitate to get a blood transfusion, take more supplements or follow any modern medical recommendation that makes sense. But at this point in my life, I was able to regain my health through good food, plenty of rest and movement that suited my actual needs — because that is how I heal. That is my way.

All of us have a unique way of handling our health if we pay attention to it. Nothing comes in a ready-made capsule with ten easy steps. It does take commitment. It takes making health a priority. Because nothing in life is truly enjoyable without it.

Here is my experience, distilled:

Greens are my greatest allies. To rebuild my blood levels, I ate cooked greens every single day. Sometimes a green smoothie, but mostly sautéed greens, soups and stews — which also inspired me to start growing all the greens we eat, from spring through fall.

A vegetarian diet works beautifully for me, but I do need a weekly supplement of B12 and vitamin D through the winter months.

Rest is not optional. Especially around my cycle. I had to learn to stop fighting that and start working with it.

Food as experiment, not punishment. Going gluten free, dairy free, sugar free — none of it was done with anxiety. It was done with curiosity. That made all the difference.

Namaste

Savitha

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