Vitamins and minerals are essential in ensuring that women’s health needs are met. Most women are always on the go, looking after their families, and many work jobs too. We all get our supply of vitamins and minerals through our food. However, men and women don’t always eat the right foods to address our nutritional requirements fully.
Women also experience specific health issues that men don’t, which is why their nutritional needs can differ and affect their overall health. Supplements may prove helpful if a woman is missing out on essential vitamins and minerals.
Crucial Vitamins and Minerals for Women’s Health
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an excellent vitamin for so many health issues. It is one to add to the list of vitamin and mineral must-haves! Aside from boosting your immunity, it is also a powerful antioxidant. This means it helps fight free radicals that can cause cell damage.
Vitamin C also produces collagen, an essential protein for women. Collagen is also helpful in keeping the skin, hair, and nails strong, which are lovely beauty benefits to enjoy.
B Vitamins
B vitamins are a category of vitamins that have various benefits and functions. You may have seen Vitamin B Complex sold in stores. Three specific B vitamins are essential to women’s health. First is vitamin B6, or pyridoxine. This B vitamin is critical in brain function and metabolism. The second B vitamin is vitamin B12 which helps keep the nerves and blood cells healthy. The third B vitamin is B9 or folate (folic acid), which allows the brain and spinal cord to function optimally. It is also vital in producing new cells while preventing cell damage.
Iodine
Iodine is essential for thyroid health. The thyroid gland produces and controls the hormones that regulate metabolism. Consuming adequate iodine can help prevent health problems such as low thyroid hormone production and hypothyroidism (an under-active thyroid), commonly affecting middle-aged and senior women. While everyone can benefit from iodine, pregnant women must also ensure their levels are optimal for fetal development.
Iron
Iron is another essential mineral that has several benefits. Our body needs iron to produce red blood cells that deliver oxygen to the rest of the body. It also helps boost the immune system and supports proper cell growth.
A scarcity of iron in your diet can lead to anemia, which causes fatigue, shortness of breath, and a weak immune system. Women of childbearing age may be more prone to an iron deficiency due to blood loss from monthly menstruation.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D, or the sunshine vitamin, is essential in keeping bones strong and healthy. It also supports cell growth and the immune system and plays a significant part in mood control. Depression and anxiety can be symptoms of a severe lack of vitamin D. This vitamin is essential for helping to prevent osteoporosis too.
The critical function of vitamin D is to ensure that calcium gets absorbed by the body. We produce vitamin D when we get enough sunshine or eat foods rich in vitamin D, such as eggs, tuna, or mushrooms. Senior-aged women have a higher need for vitamin D, which is why many need supplementation.
Calcium
Aided by vitamin D and magnesium, calcium is the primary building block of bones and teeth. Aside from healthy bones, calcium helps keep muscles strong and support the nervous system and blood circulation.
Menopausal women often need additional calcium, as low estrogen accelerates bone loss. Pregnant women and lactating mothers need adequate calcium to provide for themselves and their babies in these demanding circumstances.
Magnesium
Magnesium is another essential mineral for everyone, but many women are deficient. It helps regulate blood sugar and blood pressure levels, maintain muscle and nerve function, and supports the immune system.
Magnesium can also help boost your mood, as it regulates the neurotransmitters in the nervous system that influence our moods. It is essential in allowing muscles to relax and promoting quality sleep.
Taking the right vitamins and minerals will help ensure that nutritional requirements are met for a women’s health needs. Eating a proper diet, exercising regularly, and taking dietary supplements when necessary will all help to ensure that a woman’s body is healthy and robust. This will help them keep up with all their responsibilities and give them the energy for fun too!
