There are over 3 billion women living in the world today, and very few are consuming the amount of vitamins they need to keep the body functioning at maximum efficiency. Everybody has the ability to make vitamin D (with a bit of help from the sun) but we need nutrition or vitamin supplements to give us the rest of what we need to function and be healthy.
Unfortunately not enough women consume the five servings of fruits and vegetables needed to provide their necessary daily intake of vitamins; this leads to vitamin deficiency which in turn can lead to chronic health issues and rapid aging. Women today are expected to be stronger than they ever were before; women are expected to work outside and inside of the home. They are expected to be the family caregivers, the house cleaners, the dog walkers, and the CEO’s of our companies. To quote Ayn Rand, “The question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who’s going to stop me.”
If a woman (and of course this applies to men as well) is not taking care of herself and eating foods containing vitamins and minerals, she may find that her energy levels are lower, she’s sleeping more, and her ability to deal with stress is compromised. Foods that contain antioxidants are important as they protect the cells in our bodies from damage and also help to keep stress levels down. High levels of stress cause an enzyme to be released which can cause damage to the brain by actually breaking down part of the brain structure. Foods that are high in antioxidants such as red peppers, broccoli, apricots, kale, and pumpkin contain minerals which boost to our immune systems and also provide Vitamin A which keeps our bones strong.
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid keeps our red blood cells forming and also aids in wound repair. Vitamin C also helps to increase concentration and keeps us alert. Foods high in Vitamin C are tomatoes, strawberries, broccoli, oranges, kiwi fruit, potatoes and grapefruit.
B vitamins are also key in maintaining women’s’ health; if a person is deficient in B vitamins it can cause inflammation in the tongue and mouth, irritability, confusion and depression. Folic acid which is a B vitamin is particularly important for those who are trying to become pregnant as it helps to lower the risk of birth defects. Folic acid, and vitamins B6 and B12 are essential to building our DNA, maintaining red blood cell formation and brain functions. Vitamin B6 can be found in seeds, beans, cereal, oatmeal, poultry, meats, avocados and bananas. Vitamin B12 is found in eggs, yogurt, milk, cheese, meat and fish. The all important folic acid is found in legumes, beans, leafy greens such as spinach, asparagus and melons.
Women who are successful in their lives are the women who take care of themselves, inside and out. It’s hard to climb that ladder to the top if your body is not up to the task. Exercise and eating meals that are high in vitamin and mineral content will help our bodies keep up with our demanding career and family life, and will also help us to maintain our health as we age.
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