A multivitamin a day for good health

Are you getting your proper amount of vitamins and nutrients from your diet? If not, a multi vitamin a day will help overcome nutritional deficiencies and work to keep you healthy.

From The Berkeley Wellness Letter The Wellness Guide to Multivitamin/Mineral Pills :

It’s possible—and preferable—to get your nutrients from a healthy, balanced diet. But surveys show that many Americans fall short in a variety of key vitamins and minerals. Moreover, recent research has underscored the importance of some of these nutrients, notably vitamin D and folic acid. And some studies suggest that people who take multivitamin/mineral pills have a lower risk of several diseases, including colon cancer and possibly cardiovascular disease, and may have a better immune response.

Consider taking a multi if you are in one of these groups:

People over 60.

Women of childbearing age.

Pregnant or breast-feeding women

Strict vegetarians

People on weight-loss diets

Anyone not eating a balanced diet

They add: “But keep in mind: Even if you take a multi, you still need to have a healthy, balanced diet. These pills are not magic bullets. Foods—particularly fruits, vegetables, and whole grains—provide fiber as well as countless beneficial phytochemicals not found in any pill.”

Even if you think you are eating a balanced diet, if you buy your food at a supermarket you might be surprised to learn that the food might not have the nutritional content you expect. In the article Recommended Vitamins and Minerals for Women - Why You Can’t Get the Nutrients You Need From Food Alone Womens Media:

“Does your lifestyle really allow you to eat 6-11 servings of bread, cereal and pasta, and 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, along with 2-3 servings of milk, yogurt and cheese and the same amount of meat, poultry, fish or other protein foods? Do you eat like that? Do you want to? Are you active enough to consume that much food and maintain your “ideal” weight?

Your body needs a fairly precise mix of 59 nutrients daily including 13 vitamins and 22 minerals. Here’s why you can’t get them from food alone.”

Learn more here with a Google Search on Multivitamins and Womens Health.

Losing weight and keeping fit is easier than you think

Most women think that losing weight and keeping fit has to be a struggle, but that’s not the case. It is as simple as keeping a light exercise routine and eating wisely. There’s no need to invade the gym.

In the article Even Light Exercise Can Decrease a Woman’s Risk for Heart Disease, Dr. Joseph Mercola explains “Current guidelines for physical activity recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise such as brisk walking, on most days of the week. Previous guidelines recommended vigorous activity such as jogging or cycling, for at least 20 minutes three times a week to lower heart disease risk.” I know it is hard find time to exercise, but simply taking a walk around the neighborhood can help lead to better health.

Another benefit of light exercise for women is helping reduce the risk of osteoporosis. “Exercise is essential for reducing the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease in post-menopausal women” according to Dr Karen Birch, Senior Lecturer in Exercise Physiology at the University of Leeds.

In the article Light to moderate exercise key to health in post-menopausal women Dr. Birch states “It is essential that women exercise moderately before and during the onset of menopause,’ argues Dr Birch. ‘Post-menopause, the loss of the hormone oestrogen results in a reversal of the protective effects. Women’s bone mineral density begins to decrease, their arteries begin to become stiffer, their cholesterol levels begin to rise and their risk of becoming diabetic increases. These physiological changes are much slower in women who participated in an active lifestyle prior to the menopause than in those who were inactive.”

You’ve worked hard to get to this point in your life. Make the best of it by enjoying a healthy body!

Health Guides for Women

There are many useful health guides for women online. From a young woman getting to know her body, to illness and disease affecting women, to emotional wellbeing, you can find many useful websites to help you get the information you need. I have compiled a short list of some of the better health guides for women I’ve found. Please feel free to suggest other women’s health sites in the comments.

BBC Women’s Health Guide - excellent general guide to women’s health issues
IVillage Women’s Health Issues - guide for women of all ages, plus methods of dealing with womens health issuses, and active message boards where you can ask questions and discuss health topics.

CDC Women’s Health - this site is the official site of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and you’ll find links to the extensive information available on women’s health issues.