Optimum health for women and men

Optimum Health for Women

General health & well-being

Many demands are put on a woman’s body throughout her life; menstruation, pregnancy and menopause all have an impact on health. In addition, the popularity of dieting among women increases the risk of deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals. Anaemia, a deficiency of Iron, is the most common deficiency among women due to the loss of blood during menstrual cycle. Women with heavier periods (such as pre-menopausal women) are at increased risk of anaemia and should take extra steps to ensure their diet contains sufficient levels of Iron.

Osteoporosis is a very real threat for women and they are more at risk of the disease than men. Most women do not realise that their bones continue to grow (in density) until they are 35 years of age and then the density steadily declines increasing the risk of osteoporotic fractures in old age. As a result all women should ensure they have enough Calcium in their diets to build up the mineral density before the age of 35 and try to slow the rate of loss to help prevent fractures after the menopause.

PMS affects approximately one-third of all premenopausal women. One of the main underlying causes of PMS has been shown to be a high oestrogen to progesterone ratio. Supplementation with Vitamin B6 and Magnesium have been shown to help reduce the symptoms of PMS and Soy Isoflavone and Black Cohosh extract supplements have also yielded very favourable results. These ingredients work by helping to tone down the effects of the body’s natural oestrogens by binding to oestrogen receptors on various tissues, blocking their over stimulation by the body’s more powerful oestrogens. Additionally, Black Cohosh contains triterpene compounds which provide the building blocks from which the body can synthesize progesterone to help balance the oestrogen to progesterone ratio. Further studies have also indicated that supplementation with Vitamin E can further help to reduce many PMS symptoms.
Vitamin E, Vitamin B6 and Magnesium are all known to affect hormones (specifically prostaglandins), which are responsible for many symptoms of PMS. These nutrients help the body make prostaglandin hormones that reduce PMS symptoms. Calcium also may help reduce PMS symptoms such as bloating and irritability.

Pregnancy It is extremely important for women to get enough Folic Acid if planning to become pregnant. 400ug Folic Acid daily has been found to significantly reduce the risk of neural tube defects (spina bifida) in the growing fetus. The demands of the growing fetus during pregnancy also increase the requirement for many nutrients including Calcium and Iron. The fetus takes all of the nutrients needed from the Mother and if she isn’t consuming sufficient then in the first instance it is the Mothers health which is compromised. In addition, two thirds of a baby’s brain growth happens during the last trimester and first few months of pregnancy, therefore ensuring sufficient essential fatty acids (from oily fish and seeds in the diet) during this time is critical.

7 out of 10 women do not consume enough Magnesium
48% of women do not consume enough Calcium
9 out read more