5 Nutritional Needs Specific To Women

Nutrition

oi-Anwesha

By Anwesha Barari

Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 15:51

Women have nutritional needs that are specific to their bodies and genetic make up. These nutritional requirements are bound to be different from men.

Why Is Nutrition For Women Special?
Why are the nutritional needs of women different from men when they belong to same species? Women have certain special conditions.

1. They are the child bearing sex which means that they have to be prepared for that massive drain of energy and nutrients from their body before pregnancy and make up for it afterwards.

2. They have the monthly cycle of bleeding, menstruation which physically weakens them. It also causes a huge hormonal imbalance that has special nutritional requirements.

5 Special Nutritional Needs Of Women:

1. Iron and Folic Acid:

• Women, especially Indian women are prone to anemia. Their normal hemoglobin count is about 12, for Indian women sometimes 10 which is much lower than the 14 or 16 common for men.
• This becomes a huge problem when they conceive a child. Almost all women take vitamin supplements and the iron tablets unsettle their bowel movement.
• It is very important to take in iron and folic acid through natural sources like green leafy vegetables, yellow part of eggs, red meat and cereals.

2. Calcium:

• This vital mineral is very essential for women again because they bear children.
• When the baby is formed inside the womb a huge amount of calcium is required to form its bones.
• If the mother doesn't have sufficient free calcium for absorption, it is taken from the her bones. This is the leading cause of osteoporosis that cripples so many women.
• Artificial calcium tablets for nutritional requirements will not go directly to the bone but accumulate in the kidneys forming stone.
• So, milk and milk products are vitally important for women. At least one glass of milk is compulsory for all women.

3. Vitamin B6:

• This vitamin for women plays a very important role.
• Women go through this phase of irritability and mood swings just before their period; pre menstrual stress disorder or PMS for short is very common.
• However, some scientists say that consuming Vitamin B6 can solve your problem. It will also deter fatigue and cramps during your periods.
• Eating bananas, tuna or cod fish and boiled chicken can be your key to avoid monthly blues.

4. Sodium:

Women must consume less of sodium during menstruation to avoid water retention in the body which is a common tendency.

5. Proteins versus carbohydrates:

• Womens' nutritional needs for proteins is less than men. This is assuming that they do less of muscle using activities than men.
• So, the extra proteins that women consume are not good for them.
• Even if you are on a weight loss diet you cannot be eating only proteins. You need carbohydrates and fats for energy because as they say, women tire easily.

These good health tips are based on the special nutritional needs of women and therefore important.