Valerie Bertinelli is opening up about how a fairly recent lifestyle change has impacted her health and well-being. The Hot in Cleveland star made the decision to give up alcohol nearly a year ago, and has noticed that she's feeling much better because of it. Thinking back to what pushed her to quit drinking eight months ago, Valerie, 64, said the fact that she's aging had something to do with it.
"I actually think a lot of it has to do with aging," the actress and TV personality told People.
What does age have to do with it? Valerie described being more conscious about what she consumes as she gets older — though she also understands that other people might not feel the same way.
"I think the older you get, the less you really want to really be putting that in your body," she told People. "I mean, anybody can do whatever the heck they want, but I feel better."
Some people who are hesitant to give up alcohol might worry that they will still crave it. Valerie personally hasn't had this experience, as she's noticed that she feels better when she's not drinking alcohol.
"I don't miss it because I don't miss how it actually made me feel either after having it or the next day," she told People.
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Valerie is now a contributor on The Drew Barrymore Show. On the show, she addressed another factor that has been impacting her health as she ages: menopause.
Though she went through menopause about eight years ago, she feels as though her mental health is "worse" now than it was before she went through menopause.
Her experience with lingering symptoms has left her feeling "a little confused," she admitted on the show.
"I’ve also probably had the most challenging, difficult, heartbreaking eight years of my life, in my entire 64 years," Valerie explained.
She didn't imagine that she would be struggling with her mental health after going through menopause. "Now I’m like, 'What is happening to my mental health?'" she explained.
The actress told People that she loves having the opportunity to talk about her health and wellness on The Drew Barrymore Show. "It's fun to talk to other women that are going through the same thing and we can relate and we can say, 'Oh my God, don't feel alone,'" she told People.
