DESPERATE for some celeb Q/A?
If you're like me, you went through a phase where Desperate Housewives was the end-all, be-all of "It" TV shows. It was addictive, like something Amy Winehouse would want to smoke. Curled up on the couch every Sunday night, anyone who dared call and interrupt a scene featuring a thong-clad Gabrielle fooling around with her hot lawn boy, or Bree's soon-to-be-husband Rex disposing of his wife's body, was automatically dead to me. D-E-A-D.
So (wait for the shadiest transition you've ever read), it's quite a coincidence that I had the chance to e-interview Brenda Strong, the actress who narrates the show as deceased Mary Alice Young. Get it - DEAD to me...deceased narrator...OK, I give up. But Brenda is trying to make a difference in the lives of women everywhere by raising awareness about women's heart health (the month of February is nationally recognized as heart health month). She has partnered with Metamucil and a program callled the Metamucil 30 Day Difference. You can learn more about it here, but basically, it's a plan which encourages you to get off your keister and start exercising, eating right and upping your fiber intake via the Big M. Bonus: it comes in capsules now. Take a gulp and read on...
Why is Heart Health Month so important to you personally?
My mother lived through a debilitating stroke and two heart attacks and my uncle underwent a triple bypass. I personally got passed high cholesterol via my genetics. Just like myself before my mother's stroke, it's amazing how many women aren't aware of their cholesterol levels.
What efforts do you make to take care of your heart? (ie exercise, food, stress management, hobbies...)
I am very active. I hike several times weekly and practice yoga and just recently added pilates. Yoga and meditation aid in stress reduction and I avoid high fat foods, particularly animal product based. I eat a diet high in fiber and add supplements of Omega fish oils, red rice bran, niacin and psyllium fiber, like the kind found in Metamucil. It's 100% natural and proven to help lower cholesterol. Recently, I got involved in a program for Heart Health Month called the Metamucil 30 Day Difference to encourage people to live heart healthy lifestyles. Take a look here: www.BeautifyYourHeart.com.
Metamucil has a sort of "older person" reputation - is it really something young women need?
Absolutely! Heart disease amongst younger women is growing and Metamucil is a very effective tool in managing cholesterol and getting the fiber you need. I'm amazed at the other benefits like sustained energy levels, blood sugar regulation and a sense of fullness so that I make better food choices. Women of all ages can benefit from a diet high in fiber.
Have any of your Desperate Housewives co-stars gotten involved in the cause along with you? Are they supportive?
They are always supportive. I find we all are committed to women's health awareness and have our own causes within that arena that we support.
How do you keep your voice healthy and strong? (remember, she narrates the show)
This winter it's been a challenge. I've lost my voice twice with different sinus infections and colds. It seems like laryngitis has been going around a lot! We are experiencing the coldest winter I remember in California in the last 20 years that I've lived here. I guess in some ways my body is aware that there is a writers strike, so it knows it can take a break! Staying hydrated helps, along with slippery elm tea and thieves lozenges.
Any favorite yoga poses? (Brenda is a certified yoga instructor in L.A.)
Savasana! (final resting pose) Just kidding. That means the practice is over and you get to rest. Actually, hip openers are my favorite because my hips tend to be tight and I really can feel them working deep muscles that need to let go. I love Sun Salutations because of the flow and the connection to my breath. It gives me so much joy to feel that continuous relationship to the source of life.
