Women Must Incorporate Self Care In Routine For Good Health: Dr Madhu Chopra

Dr Madhu Chopra, a prominent figure known for her work in the fields of health and wellness, is passionate about transforming modern medical healthcare into a more holistic and wholesome approach. In a conversation with SheThePeople, Dr Madhu Chopra discussed her journey as a health and wellness entrepreneur and emphasised the importance of spreading awareness, educating people, and promoting healthy lifestyle choices, particularly addressing taboo topics like midlife health and menopause, to foster women's health.

Chopra expressed her passion for women's issues and highlighted her diverse roles as a mother, wife, and grandmother. However, the focus shifted to her journey as a health and wellness entrepreneur. She revealed that her inspiration stemmed from witnessing the lack of healthcare provisions and access among people, particularly in rural areas. Even before becoming a doctor, she actively assisted her parents in providing medical aid to villagers, fostering her commitment to addressing healthcare disparities.

Journey as a Health and Wellness Entrepreneur

She said, "My father was a doctor, and this was part of his community service that he was doing, and I would participate in that. So that seed was sown then, and when I became a doctor, I chose to practise after finishing with the armed forces and all. I chose to practise in Bareilly. It was not a very big city at the time; it was a smallish town, and there too, in a very backward place, which was filled with ill health, sick people. And yes, I was a very accessible, very affordable, and excellent clinician. And then, of course, Priyanka’s life changed, and our lives changed, and we came to Mumbai."

Since then, she has become a public figure, so we inquired about the lessons she has gleaned regarding resilience and handling criticism, particularly in the public eye. She said, "I used to react strongly to trolls, feeling protective of my family. But Priyanka made me realise it's not worth the energy. Trolls seek attention, often spreading negativity. It's crucial to distinguish between constructive criticism and baseless hate, especially for women in the spotlight. Negativity gets more attention, but it's fleeting fame for trolls."

Here’s what the actor told her mother, "It's not worth it at all. You are starting a conversation on a subject that you don't want to talk about. I mean, it's a nuisance, it's a pain in the air, in the thorn on your side, but it's not worth wasting your breath and your time on."

Chopra added, "I've learned to manage my mental and emotional health by prioritising self-preservation. It's about staying focused on my path and ignoring distractions, treating negativity like background noise. As I tell Priyanka, be the elephant and let the barking dogs fade into the background."

Importance of Self-Care

Starting with self-preservation, it's essential for individuals to define self-care on their terms, especially women, and incorporate it into their daily routines. Talking about it, she shared her idea of self-care and said, “For me, self-care involves holistic treatment, encompassing mind, body, and spirit. I prioritise mental sanity amidst the chaos, starting my day with meditation and exercise.”

She said that when Ashok Chopra was alive, they would both sit quietly. She went on to say, "He'd do his own; I'd do my own introspection. What mistakes did you make yesterday? What are you going to do today? What will you not do? All those things, you know, self-assessment. That is important for correcting your mistakes and becoming a better person. Reflecting on past mistakes helps me become a better person."

According to her dressing up and feeling confident are also crucial aspects of self-care. "I love putting my clothes on and all those things. These are part of self-care. When that's looking good and you feel that you're looking confident, the smile is on your face, your hair is chin-up, and you take better strides. You walk into a room full of confidence and grace. That self-revels preservation," she explained.

She added, "Consistency in healthy eating is also a key; following Ayurvedic principles and finding time for silence are vital. It's about nurturing oneself in all aspects for overall well-being."

Promoting Women's Health

Dr Madhu Chopra also shared her current perspective on promoting women's health, particularly addressing taboo topics like midlife health and menopause. She said, "First and foremost, spreading awareness is crucial. Educating people, including young children, about sanitary hygiene, sexual behaviour, and appropriate clothing habits lays the foundation for midlife health.”

Explaining this in detail, she said, "Suppose you're on a very fat, big fat diet because you want to build your muscles, and you're taking high protein, but you're not taking an adequate amount of potassium, and all these trace elements are not in your diet. If you're working out, you'll yourself pop. You die because these little things are essential for the good functioning of your body. So, that is the foundation. If your foundation is strong, midlife can be a breeze. But if it is not there, so this is the information that I give to schools, colleges, and young adults. I talk to them and tell them this. It's fine to make the choices, but see that your choices are beneficial for you."

Additionally, addressing hormonal issues, especially in women experiencing menopause, requires acceptance and adaptation, she stated. "I think midlife women go through a lot of things. I mean, they're very trying times for them—hot flashes, mood swings, irritability, and all that. But then you have to accept it and move forward. There's no other way. You cannot fight it; it's not a battle. You have to accept it and move forward, and to make the journey less trying, I think knowing more about it, accepting it, and moving forward with the changing times is important. And of course, there is no stopping learning. You keep learning every day; every day, you learn something new or something good. And with it, all these new things will come in, and maybe you'll find solutions to your own problems."

Take a look at the full video here.