Secrets of Women's Healthy Ageing: Living Better, Living Longer

by Cassandra Szoeke

Secrets of Women's Healthy Ageing draws on the findings of a unique study that has focused on the health of more than four hundred women in their mid-to-late lives. Over the past thirty years a team of international investigators has compiled a remarkable amount of data, aiming toraise awareness of modifiable risk factors in women's health. Their findings cover brain, heart and gut health, diet, sleep, exercise, and the benefits of socialising. But importantly, they highlight how the results relate directly to women's wellbeing. In Secrets of Women's Healthy Ageing Cassandra Szoeke shares the wisdom revealed by this comprehensive study, showing how to promote overall wellness and providing the key ingredients for living a long and healthy life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Health

240 pages, Paperback

Published August 31, 2021

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The epilogue was the best bit - that felt like author was unleashed, showing us her brilliance and her command of the material. It's rich in information and clear and engaging.

The rest is a little anodyne. The brain and heart chapters are good, the nutrition chapter is useful, but I think the author was trying too hard to be affable, and not enough on sharing the information. We heard a lot about the amazing 30 year study (and it is AMAZING) but not enough about why. I wanted more stories from the participants, not just a fables they tell themselves but the glimpses into other lives that interview data, well used, can bring. I wish the author had read some good ethnographic studies before writing this. I wish there'd been more genuine engagement with the limited cohort (were all the women white and middle class? It felt like it) and on the systemic changes necessary as well as those individuals can make.

The take away: the leading causes of death for women in Australia are dementia and heart disease. We must prioritise our health by creating opportunities to move every day, to connect in meaningful and supportive ways, to eat well and to get the check ups we need.

[Priya Nadarajah · Rating 5 out of 5]

All women aged 40+ should read this book. At a time when many people are re-evaluating what is important and thinking about how to make changes for a better future, this book is so needed.

It made me realise we waste a lot of time and energy in our twenties and thirties focusing on how we look. This book is full of gems and shows that ageing doesn’t automatically equal illness, depression and loneliness.

Very well written with and easy to read with just the right amount of scientific evidence. Highly recommended.

[Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing earth shattering but a timely, evidence-based reminder for this 60-year-old to move every day, eat healthily without dieting, catch up regularly with friends, limit alcohol and sugar consumption, stay positive and optimistic, and have a purpose I care about.

[Kaiyunn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I applaud the author and her team’s effort in continuing the 30 years longitudinal study, but it’s too repetitive throughout the book to repeatedly mention how amazing and good the study has been. Certain paragraphs in a few chapters are useful but nothing mind blowing, overall the content felt as if “I’ve read something but nothing…” 😅

[Camilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all women 35 - 80

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential and engaging reading.

[Amy Ursula · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing read which caused me to change some of my own behaviour & speak to my Mum about hers. I look forward to seeing more gender-specific research outcomes!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally recommend this book. Such interesting extensive research. Current and up to date.

[Brett Kable · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this out of curiosity. I'm getting older as to is the women around me, so i thought I'd educate myself on what they have to go through. It's actually a good read that walks a line between great science with a somewhat more colloquial language that disarms. It's well written and worth a get. Enlightening and Educating.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an accessible and easy to read book about women’s healthy ageing based on a longitudinal study with some common sense recommendations for improving the quality of life and health as we age. It’s clear that scientists, doctors and the producers and prescribers in medicine have a clear responsibility to invest more in studies of the symptoms and treatment and early and appropriate intervention in key area such as heart attack and stroke to diagnose and treat these earlier in women and also to identify what procedural, training is needed and what barrier need to be removed to level the playing field in terms of better understanding women’s health, the difference from men and what this means in educational, clinical and post clinical settings.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read as a woman and especially if you have passed 40. The writing is easy to follow, and the research is significant. Szoeke knows her stuff and the fact she's an Australian, is even better. This is one book I will revisit annually to ensure that I implement the strategies to ensure I age well, free of chronic illness and disease. The advice is simple and what we all should do. I was particularly interested in the stats surrounding women's involvement in research, especially the lack of—which is not good (!) in the epilogue.

[Herta Klein · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing. I thought the author spoke well on the ABC radio interview and I was interested in the nutritional section. The cup calorie counts I take it target US readers. No one stuffs lettuce in to cups . Metric weights are much better. Whereas the author was able to distill the essence verbally, the message in the written word is lost.

[makaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

We need more research like this for woman.

I liked that it was easy to read and understand.
I learnt so much from the book. About mental health and physical health. I would recommend this book to any female that wants to live better and be more knowledgeable regarding women’s health in today’s world. We still need to learn so much more! Thanks for the research.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the upside I did learn quite a few things from this book. On the downside even though the beginning of the book started interesting I found it had too much about the research of thirty years of study and too much about the difference between women and men as they age. Not really what I was looking for and as I came to the end I found this boring and more like a medical textbook.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst the longitudinal study that informs this book is wonderful and ground breaking, the evidence it reveals is less than earth shattering. A pleasant enough read but certainly nothing particularly novel to anyone who has even really skimmed the edges of any of the issues surrounding women, their relationship with medical issues and professionals or healthy ageing.

[Sandy Sexton · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the title, one might get the impression that this is a book for 'older ladies', but based upon a long term study of Australian women, this book gives clear advice on what to do to protect our health so that we stay healthy into our old age. It's an encouraging read with clear explanations.

[VinitaF · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a health professional this book did not really shed any new light on my knowledge however I think it’s great for the general population. Men should read it as much as women should. Sound advice with an Australian context. Enough detail but not too much.

[Kate Gresham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A timely reminder to keep moving, keep eating well and keep engaging.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive resource!

[Jocelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Important research on what helps women have a healthy old age. Very accessible summaries and convincing advice but still a bit dull to read

[Janine Bellew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for every woman- not just older women.

[Jaq · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful and helpful for those of us who are ageing already. It's never too late to take action.

[kelly neto · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
Thoroughly enjoyed the chapter on community. Overall good read.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book and reminded to move every day. Liked reading about the research studies behind the recommendations. Well broken up into chapters

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book for women over 40 giving familiar insights, useful reminders, and some surprising facts.

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye-opening, educational and empowering! This book presents current evidence on women’s healthy ageing, unpacked and delivered in a manner that is easily digested for the general community.

There are pearls of wisdom shared amongst basic, yet ever evolving concepts of health, making this book a valuable resource for all women.

4🌟