Friday, February 25, 2011

Women’s Nutrition: Significance and Ways to Achieve

Nutritional needs of both the genders are more or less different. While both require some nutrients in varying quantities, a few additional ones are recommended especially for women or men. Often, females require greater care than males. Many points can be reasoned out to establish this difference. Women have to go through phases, like menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause. Each of these phases is directly linked to a number of physiological changes, including hormonal levels. This explains why a female nutritional needs vary among different age groups. For instance, women require more of iron in their diet when they lose it every month during menstruation and therefore, post menopause the requirement of iron is reduced. The need for additional dietary supplements varies during periods, like pregnancy and lactation.

A healthy and balanced meal is indeed the natural way of fulfilling female nutritional needs. Fruits, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and legumes are among the most recommended food items. Calcium is another very important mineral for women as they are at a higher risk of attaining bone loss and osteoporosis than men. Plant-based foods rich in calcium are essential items in everyday diet. Healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and magnesium are other key ingredients. At the same time, it is important to cut down the excessive intake of dairy products, trans fats, refined and processed foods. Vitamins are essential for energizing the body and keeping hair & skin healthy.

Vitamin A, C, & E are excellent antioxidants that protect body cells against free radicals. Multivitamin supplements work effectively to fill the nutritional gap left due to poor eating habits. These supplements are available in the form of tablets, powdered milk additives, and liquid supplements. Always consult your physician before administering any new vitamin course. Keeping an eye on women nutrition is critical as it helps delay the onset of aging and prevents serious medical conditions.

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