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Posts Tagged ‘Nutrition’

Women’s Health and Nutrition

Friday, February 18th, 2011

When it comes to Women’s health and nutrition, there are some specific health issues and nutritional needs just for women.

There are a few medical conditions that are of great concern to a women’s health like heart disease, breast cancer, and osteoporosis. Statistics show that heart disease is the leading killer of both men and women. Although more men die of heart disease than women, females tend to be under diagnosed, often to the point that it’s too late to help them once the condition is discovered.

Recent findings show that breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and is second to lung cancer as the leading cause of death for women. You can prevent many kinds of cancer by simply controlling your weight, exercising, and quitting smoking.

There are steps women and teen girls can take to avoid osteoporosis, as it is largely preventable. Your body will do what it can to repair bone damage, but you have to provide the tools for it to do its job. Adequate calcium and vitamin D consumption and weight-bearing physical activity are a must throughout your life.

Women’s nutrition is essential to preventing most of the top health issues found in women. The nutrients that women need to pay most attention to are iron, particularly if pre-menopausal, calcium, and folic Acid just to name a few. The great news is you can stay ahead of the game and it all can be prevented.

Some of the essential nutritional requirements and dietary needs for women’s optimal health are to get the recommended servings of the major food groups, follow a nutritious diet, get the correct amount of calories for energy, exercise regularly, and take additional vitamins and minerals to supplement their diet as most of the foods consumed in this day and age have little to no nutritional value.

Women’s Health & Menopause – What Role Does Nutrition Play?

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Creating a “quality” menopause transition requires following certain guidelines to minimize its effects on women’s health. You probably know that this condition wrecks havoc on female anatomy creating chemical imbalances and overall discomfort for a period of time (both short and long).

Bouts of anxiety, physical symptoms such as hot flashes and vibrations ripping through the body, vaginal discomfort, relationship issues, and the realization that women are stepping into the next phase of their lives are critical changes one must face.

Menopause and exercising proper women’s health can easily go hand in hand with a little extra effort. In order to lessen the severity of symptoms, women need to be informed about proper nutrition including vitamin and other supplement consumption. Let’s look into some vitamins that can help.

Some of the physical symptoms of menopause include night sweats, itchy, crawly vibrations throughout the body, and general discomfort. An excellent vitamin to take is Vitamin E. Taken in a dose of 800 IU daily, it helps prevent these conditions from happening. Make sure you take one pill with each of your meals, as capsules are best activated in the body when consumed with food.

A good vitamin to aid depression and hot flashes during sleep is magnesium as well (taken in a dose of 1,000 mg. daily). Another one of the letter vitamins that is great for menopausal symptoms and immune system building is Vitamin B-6.

It is a diuretic, which means it flushes out any excess liquid in the body that can cause discomfort. It also aids in processing protein and fights against disease. Women suffering under this condition also experience depressive symptoms, something Vitamin B-6 can combat. Regular Vitamin B can ease anxiety and fight stress as well.

Did you know menopause can cause weak bones? In a condition known as osteoporosis, bones start to become brittle and can break with ease performing the simplest tasks, such as opening a car door or turning suddenly. A quality vitamin such as calcium can help. However, make sure you also take calcium with magnesium and Vitamin D together because they help absorb calcium into the blood stream.

Hormones are also impacted by this wonderful vitamin, as it acts as its “engine” in being spread out throughout the body. Remember, if you don’t want to consume pills and capsules, you can eat foods and drink liquids rich in vitamins such as orange juice, peanuts, soybeans, broccoli, bananas, and milk (calcium loaded). Most doctors would recommend a daily multi-vitamin and antioxidant.

Taking the hormone known as DHEA can also do wonders to battle the effects of menopause. One of the few over the counter pills that also serves as a hormone, it actually produces sex hormones in both men and women. DHEA promotes the functioning of enzymes that speed up bodily processes, block fat cells, and fights disease. DHEA is actually produced by the body in the adrenal glands, but declines in amount as we get older. That’s why it’s crucial to keep taking DHEA to keep the body in optimum health and fight this condition.

Pound for pound, the most critical thing women can do to lessen the severity of menopause is to follow a clean and healthy lifestyle including exercise and listen to their doctor. Avoid eating McDonalds, drinking sodas, and consuming other foods packed with sugars and preservatives. Make it a habit to drink water and provide yourself with a solid social network of friends that will provide support to you when you’re down and need someone to talk to. Overall, keep your body in line and in shape against menopause by acquainting yourself with proper nutrition and necessary vitamins.


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