Are you a woman who juggles with plenty of tasks all day? Amid your chores that keep you on your toes from the minute you step down your bed till the time you cuddle back, there is something which is crying out for your attention-your health! Your nutritional needs change with every stage of life and you can’t be sticking to the same old schedule and diet always. Hence, as you age, vitamins become even more essential for you and their deficiency can lead to serious health problems. Dietary supplements particularly, multivitamins for women, can help you boost up your health and improve your quality of life.
Vitamins are essential compounds that may be required in small quantities but play a crucial role in our body processes. Your body cannot produce vitamins, except Vitamin D, so they have to be incorporated through food. And because no single food contains all the vitamins, a well balanced diet is what you need. So, if you are one of those 10% ladies who can dodge her favorite chocolate pudding for her diet salad, you can afford to skip vitamin supplements. However for the larger chunk of women, multivitamin supplements are important, particularly those who avoid ample of fruits and vegetables. Let’s explore some of the important multivitamins for women’s health.
Be healthy with B vitamins:
Although all the B vitamins are necessary for woman’s health, three vitamins namely, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 is even more important. These are helpful in enhancing cognitive function and building DNA. Multivitamins with Folic acid for pregnant women have been found to lower the risk of neural tube defects and also promote the birth of healthy weight babies.
Vitamin B6 which is important for healthy metabolism can be picked up through potatoes, fish, banana, chickpeas, beans, cereals, meats and poultry.
Vegetarians are at risk of deficiency of Vitamin B12 and can be benefited from a daily vitamin B12 supplement and adding sources of Vitamin B12 in their diet such as eggs, milk, yoghurt and fortified foods.
Antioxidant Vitamins:
Some vitamins are free radical scavengers or antioxidants. They include Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin E. These vitamins help to prevent cell damage by knocking down the free radicals which are the main culprits of DNA defects.
Beta-carotene is found in colored fruits and vegetables such as carrots, papaya, peach, apricots, broccoli, tomatoes etc. and is converted to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A helps to strengthen bones, skin, soft tissues and cell membranes.
Vitamin C helps in formation of red blood cells and accelerates wound healing. It enhances alertness and concentration. Apart from citrus fruits, kiwi, strawberries, pepper, potato can provide you with ample of Vitamin C
Vitamin E plays a key role in maintenance of cell membranes. Studies have also found Vitamin E to slow down the degenerative changes. Vitamin E is contained in whole grains, sunflower oil, peanut butter and nuts.
For women antioxidant multivitamin supplement is a good source of essential antioxidants if their diet is low in fruits and vegetables.
Vitamin D for women:
Vitamin D helps to the body to absorb bone strengthening minerals, calcium and phosphorus, into the bloodstream. Insufficient supply of Vitamin D diminishes the reserves for calcium and phosphorus thus thinning your bones. Your body can prepare its own Vitamin D on exposure to sunlight. So, that means you don’t have to worry much about your diet for this vitamin. All you need to do is stop shunning the sun. However, older adults or people with darker skin face trouble in trapping enough sunlight and can make up for it with and people who vitamin D-fortified foods or supplements. For postmenopausal women, multivitamin supplements enriched with calcium and vitamin D become even more necessary as they become more prone to osteoporosis after menopause.
How to choose the right multivitamin?
So, the bottom line is that Multivitamin supplements benefit women and help them make up for the missed out vitamins. The next big task is to choose a multivitamin suitable for you.
Steps for selecting for multivitamin:
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Firstly, assess your diet and find out if you eat balanced meals that include plenty of fruits and vegetables. Underline the nutrients you are missing out on and them choose the multivitamin accordingly.
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Pay attention for any particular nutritional need you may have. For example, women beyond 55 years are at risk for osteoporosis and thus require higher levels of calcium and vitamin D.
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Don’t pop vitamin pills anytime like sugar candies! Consult your doctor about the time of taking the multivitamin, as some are better with food and others with an empty stomach.
So complete your nutrient jigsaw with the best multivitamin supplements for women and add more vigor to your life.