The top 4 longevity mistakes women are making which will catch up to them after menopause

The change may be inevitable — but how you feel when you get there isn’t.The average American woman enters menopause at 52, but the transition can begin a decade or more before that.And according to Dr.Robin Berzin, founder and CEO of Parsley Health, some of the habits women pick up in their 20s, 30s and 40s can set them up for trouble later.Berzin, a Columbia-trained physician and functional medicine expert, said she frequently sees patients make seemingly innocent choices that can sabotage their long-term health.The problem? You can get away with them for years — until menopause, when the consequences suddenly become much harder to ignore.The good news is that you can start changing course long before then.

Berzin broke down four common mistakes women make that quietly undermine their longevity, so you’re not blindsided in your second act.“For decades, women were told cardio was the answer and lifting heavy would make them bulky,” Berzin told The Post.“That advice has not aged well.”Muscle isn’t just about looking toned.

It’s one of the body’s most important assets for longevity, helping regulate blood sugar, support metabolism, strengthen bones and preserve balance, mobility and independence as we age.In one study, researchers followed nearly 29,000 older women for 12 years and found that those who did 20 to 59 minutes of strength training a week had a 29% lower risk of death than those who did none.“During your 30s and 40s, the focus should be on building muscle, which you’ll thank yourself for having when you’re 70 and older,” Berzin said.The federal government recommends adults do muscle-strengthening activities at least two days a week, with sessions often lasting around 20 to 30 minutes.

But new research suggests that 90 to 120 minutes of strength training a week may be a sweet spot for healthy aging.“Fasting glucose and HbA1c are useful markers to track, but metabolic dysfunction develops on a continuum,” Berzin said.Th...