The Care and Feeding of Superwoman

A summary of article in Making a Difference Newsletter Issue #103 with the same title. By Jill Horn

Since women live in today's stressful world where she has many different roles and is on the go much of the time, it is not surprising that she may have health problems because of these stressors.  Adding to the health concerns is the fact that we often consume commercially produced foods that don't supply the necessary fuel to energize us the way we need it.  Women are facing increased risk of heart disease along with increased risk of breast, cervical and other cancers. Add constant hormonal shifts and the emphasis on exercise, maintaining a healthy body weight and today's women are facing an entirely new nutritional challenge.  Proper nutrition becomes vital with all of the demands put upon today's woman.

Women need calcium in order to have a healthy bone structure, strong muscles, and an active nervous system functioning properly. Unfortunately most women do not ingest enough of this critical nutrient so taking a quality supplement is crucial.  Iron is another important mineral  because it facilitates oxygen transportation throughout the body.  Menstruating women have a higher need for iron that men because they lose iron each month during their menstrual cycle.  Folate and B vitamins are also imperative. Folate is a B vitamin that is essential for a healthy pregnancy. It enables the body to manufacture new blood cells. Without it women (pregnant or not) can develop anemia with resulting fatigue, depression and susceptibility to infection. Soy protein is necessary for high energy along with enhanced immune response, especially against certain cancers and heart disease.
These are just a few of the needs of women today for supplementation. In our world of processed food, everyone is in need of quality food supplements.