Although all of us are aware of the importance of a balanced diet, we tend to have our cheat days where we stuff all the unhealthy food items in our mouth.
Human health, especially women’s health is a sensitive issue; they are supposed to take care of the people around them. Would it not be ironic if they couldn’t even look after themselves?
As we age, certain nutrients become very important for the body, and a lack of such nutrients results in health issues, deficiencies, and diseases. That is when supplements chip in with their nutritional benefits.
These are the top five supplements that are best for women.
1. Iron
Iron being the most needed nutrient for the human body, should be taken in excessive amounts. The reason why women should be more careful about its intake is that they lose most of the iron due to menstruation, every month. Iron deficiency causes fatigue and weakening of the immune system.
A condition called anemia may also arise due to reduced production of red blood cells.
Therefore, to function properly on a daily basis, it becomes vital for women to take iron supplements. If you do not consume iron rich foods, you should start taking iron supplements before it is too late. Foods that are rich in iron include:
- red meat
- chicken
- fish
- turkey
- beans
- cereals
- leafy vegetables
2. Calcium
Women are naturally more susceptible to osteoporosis and other bone problems than men are. Adequate amounts of calcium intake become necessary as the process of aging continues. As far as your bones’ health is concerned, prevention is better than cure.
Thus, waiting for your bones to become weak would be a ridiculous thing to do. Calcium is also good for your teeth, muscles, and blood vessels. If dairy products and green vegetables are not your favorite, start taking calcium supplements.
The best time to take these is NOW!
3. Magnesium
Magnesium is yet another essential mineral that ensures normal muscle and nerve function, maintains blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and promotes a healthy heart and immune system. If you want all these functions to work properly, consume these foods:
- green vegetables
- beans
- nuts
- seeds
- whole grains
In case you do not get enough magnesium from these foods, you must not hesitate in taking supplements, which will fulfill your body’s magnesium needs.
4. Folate
While folate helps in red blood cells’ production and normal brain function, its deficiency may lead to some serious issues. Women, especially those who are pregnant, should take special measures to make sure that they get enough folate because its deficiency may cause premature birth or the baby may be born with neural tube defects.
Foods, such as fruits, leafy vegetables, and beans contain folate. However, folate supplements should be taken not only during pregnancy, but also before conception and in the lactation period.
5. B vitamins
The conversion of food into energy is the responsibility of B vitamins. Lack of these vitamins can cause fatigue, loss of appetite, hair loss, muscle cramps, abdominal pain, and anemia.
You do not want that now, do you? So start eating:
- poultry
- fish
- meat
- eggs
- dairy products
- legumes
- green vegetables
These are your best friends and will help you enjoy a healthy life. If you can’t incorporate all of these foods into your daily diet, start taking vitamin B supplements. This is especially important for vegans and the vitamin B12. There are no foods containing B12 that vegans can eat, therefor it’s important to take this supplement on a daily basis.
Now that you know how important these nutrients are and what conditions may arise due to their deficiency, you should be thinking of taking these supplements, only if you care enough about your health!
