Julianna Margulies, the acclaimed actress known for her roles in ER and The Good Wife, has always been admired for her talent and radiant presence. Beyond her acting prowess, Margulies has also been open about her approach to health, wellness, and navigating significant life changes, including menopause. This article explores Julianna Margulies' diet and exercise routine, as well as her experiences with both medically-induced and natural menopause, offering insights into her holistic approach to well-being.
Early Experiences with Medically-Induced Menopause
In May, Julianna Margulies appeared at the Women's Health Health Lab in New York City, sitting on a panel on menopause with Women's Health editor-in-chief Liz Plosser and Dr. Stephanie McNally, MD, from Northwell Health's Katz Institute for Women's Health. During the session, Julianna shared that she went through medically-induced menopause at 28 due as part of a treatment plan to manage a diagnosis of fibroids. This experience began when she was starring on ER and discovered she had fibroids that were "growing exponentially."
Following her gynecologist's recommendation for surgical removal of the fibroids, Julianna was prescribed Lupron, a drug that suppresses estrogen production to prevent further fibroid growth. Olivia Munn was prescribed the same drug during her battle with breast cancer. Consequently, Julianna was "thrown into early menopause"-which had some serious side effects. "At 28, I would be on the set of ER and I would literally sweat all my makeup off," she said. "The night sweats were to the point where I would have to change my sheets, put towels down, change my pajamas. I could not believe what I was in store for."
This early menopause brought significant side effects, including intense night sweats and hot flashes. Julianna recalled feeling "embarrassed" to tell her co-stars what was happening. Ultimately, Julianna's body began producing estrogen again after she had surgery and stopped taking Lupron. But she remembered her menopause experience, and asked her doctor what she could do to make her second time around a smoother ride.
A Regimented Lifestyle: Diet and Exercise
After her experience with medically-induced menopause, Julianna Margulies adopted a more regimented lifestyle centered around regular exercise and a balanced diet. "I started taking fish oils and working out regularly," she recalled. "I just became very regimented in how I lived, and it became a habit rather than a diet. That's, I think, why I had a bit of an easier time [later]." This proactive approach proved beneficial when she later experienced natural menopause at 54.
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Exercise as a Cornerstone
Julianna Margulies emphasizes the importance of exercise in her daily routine. “I love working out,” she told TODAY. “I know. I know people hate hearing that.” But for Margulies, it makes total sense. “When I sweat I release a lot of toxins,” she said. She finds that physical activity not only helps her manage her weight but also provides significant mental and emotional benefits. For her, it’s not about being part of a loud, packed group workout. “I like being alone with no to one hear me. I run or bike or go on the elliptical. I breathe into my body. I do a mixture of yoga and pilates. I love to stretch. I get tremendous joy from working out. I know it sounds crazy,” she said.
Margulies isn’t superhuman and yes, it’s takes her a minute or two to get motivated. “Some days it’s hard to get going. But it makes me feel better. It makes my mind feel calm and rested. The rest of my day is a piece of a cake if I’ve gone to the gym. Yesterday I took my dog for a two hour walk.
She incorporates a variety of activities into her fitness regimen, including running, biking, elliptical training, yoga, and Pilates. She noted, “I actually get relaxed when I work out. I get into a zone when I sweat. My body feels fluid and relaxed.” This combination allows her to stay physically fit while also promoting relaxation and mental clarity.
Dietary Habits: Moderation and "Glow Foods"
Margulies follows a balanced approach to eating, emphasizing moderation and nutrient-rich foods. “I don’t do a lot of sugar and alcohol, but I do have some. A little bit of everything, once in a while, is OK. It helps take the edge off, but you have to know when to have it and how much to have. One thing I do feel strongly about is portion control-I think it’s one of the biggest problems we have in this country.” She focuses on incorporating what she calls "glow foods" into her diet, which are foods that benefit her skin and overall health.
These include:
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- Salmon: Consumed both cooked and raw about five times a week, salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for skin health and overall well-being.
- Avocado: A source of healthy fats that contribute to skin hydration and a feeling of fullness.
- Olive Oil: Used in cooking and as a dressing, olive oil provides healthy fats and antioxidants.
- Almonds: She always has some almonds in her bag. A healthy snack option that provides essential nutrients and healthy fats.
- Blueberries: Part of a diet full of antioxidant-rich foods.
- Nonfat Greek Yogurt: Part of a diet full of antioxidant-rich foods.
- Green Tea: Part of a diet full of antioxidant-rich foods.
She also emphasizes the importance of hydration, stating, “When I drink hot water with lemon, my skin looks better.”
Julianna's Crispy Garlic Salmon Recipe
Margulies shared her recipe for Crispy Garlic Salmon with Glamour as part of their ongoing series That Thing I Always Cook.
Ingredients:
- Raw salmon
- Salt and pepper
- Minced garlic
- Olive oil
- 1 onion
- Slivered almonds
- Rice
- Chicken broth
- French green beans
- Maldon salt flakes
Instructions:
- Take the salmon out of the fridge at least a half hour before you cook it. You want all fish, meat, and poultry to be at room temperature before you put heat to it; that way you get the full flavor.
- Rinse and pat dry the salmon, and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Then rub freshly minced garlic all over the flesh side of the fish.
- Put the remaining minced garlic in a heated pan with olive oil. Get the garlic cooked to just browning and then, skin side down, place the salmon on top of the garlic at very high heat. This sears the garlic to the skin and makes the skin crispy. Then turn the heat down a bit after about 2 minutes, since you don’t want it to burn.
- When the salmon cooks halfway through, flip it over and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes. Then turn off the heat and let it sit in the pan for 1 to 2 minutes. You never want to overcook salmon, or it will get rubbery. You want it to be medium-rare. It will still cook even though the heat is off because the pan is still hot.
- For the rice, sauté one chopped onion in a little olive oil until translucent and put it in a bowl to the side. In the same pan, I roast slivered almonds-about a handful. Just roast them in the pan on medium heat until they are a nice golden brown. Put them in the same bowl as the onions. I like to cook rice in chicken broth for more flavor, but water is fine too. Once the rice is cooked, it needs to sit for 10 minutes. Then throw the bowl of onions and almonds into the pot of rice and stir it up. Put the lid back on the rice and let it sit until the rest of your meal is ready.
- For the French green beans, just wash and dry them. Add a very little amount of olive oil in a pan, heat it up, and throw on the beans. I like to use a little Maldon salt flakes for seasoning. Only cook the beans until they are vibrant green-about 6 to 7 minutes-because you don’t want soggy beans; you want them crunchy.
Navigating Natural Menopause
When Julianna was 54, she began going through menopause again and experienced hot flashes. But she said that she "never felt foggy in the brain, and my weight has stayed the same." She attributes this to the healthy habits she cultivated after her first experience with medically-induced menopause. It's worth noting that every woman's experience with menopause is different, and many will experience symptoms regardless of lifestyle changes.
Beauty and Skincare Philosophy
Beyond diet and exercise, Julianna Margulies also prioritizes skincare and has a simple yet effective beauty philosophy. She emphasizes the importance of sun protection, stating, “I’m all about telling people to stay out of the sun! You have to wear SPF whether it is hot or cold, summer or winter. Pat Wexler has a moisturizer with SPF in it that I wear so I don’t have to worry. I give it as gifts!”
Margulies also believes in the power of soft skin, sharing, “I’m obsessed with having soft skin. It makes me feel good in my clothes, good in my body and happy when someone touches me. There’s a body scrub by Jo Malone, and the first person who ever gave me a tub of it was [costar] Christine Baranski. I am addicted to it. I cannot take a shower without it. I put it on before I get under the water almost daily. It really does a beautiful job and it makes you smell like a cookie.”
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She also advocates for a minimalist approach to makeup, noting, “I really try to watch what the experts do, especially at photo shoots. The biggest thing I’ve learned is that less is more and not to do too much-especially when it comes to foundation. I try not to wear any unless I am at work.” Ultimately, she believes that “Beauty comes from within.”
The Importance of Open Conversations
Overall, the Good Wife star is glad that the conversation around menopause is out in the open, with stars like Halle Berry discussing side effects like painful sex. (In 2023, Halle told WH she's "challenging everything I thought I knew about menopause.")"Men, the second they got an erectile dysfunction, there was a pill three minutes later," Julianna added. "Part of being married and part of being a woman is your sexual relationship with your partner-why shouldn't we have that same advantage?"
Dr. McNally recommended that people be open with their doctors about their menopause symptoms and ask as many questions as possible. "Be bold, be brave and be honest, because what you're feeling is very real," she added. "The impact comes by speaking up for what you know you need and what you know is right."
Reflections on "Dietland" and Feminist Themes
Julianna Margulies starred in the AMC series "Dietland," a show that tackles issues of fat-shaming and sexism. The show, based on Sarai Walker’s book, explores these themes through the characters of Plum Kettle and Kitty Montgomery (played by Margulies).
The series delves into the complexities of body image and the pressures women face in society. While the show gets a lot of things right about fat-shaming and the kind of cruel treatment fat women experience simply by existing in the world, it should be noted that Joy Nash’s Plum is a mere 250lbs at the outset, while Walker’s character in the book is 304. I know this only because I bought the kindle version of the book after I finished the first episode and the narrator tells us Plum’s weight in chapter one. Even before I read that part of the book, there were moments watching the first two episodes where I felt like I wanted Plum to be fatter.
Margulies’ Kitty, by the end of episode three, has already undergone some good character development, and is turning out to be neither as dumb nor as naive as she at first appears. It will be interesting to see how her character’s complicity unfolds. Kitty is a high-powered narcissist, self absorbed and self-serving like most good capitalists. And she may peddle shallow, mainstream ideas about beauty and success for a living, but we’re already getting the sense that she probably knows better.
The show also touches on broader feminist themes, with a subplot involving a group of women taking action against male perpetrators of abuse. At the end of episode three Kitty muses to a colleague that “Men would rather destroy the world than let us rule it.” Although production on Dietland began long before the #metoo movement caught fire last fall, it’s hard to imagine this show existing, or at least succeeding, before it.
Margulies’ involvement in "Dietland" reflects her commitment to projects that address important social issues and offer complex roles for women.