Women's Nutrition

A balanced diet is equally vital for women as it is for men. Women also need double nutrition during pregnancy. During each phase of their life, their nutritional requirement changes.

• During pregnancy - More iron, folic acid, folate, and calcium
• During menopause - More calcium
• During menstrual phases- More iron
• During reproductive years - More folate and folic acid

Let's read on to learn more about women's nutrition in depth.

Are There Any Types of Women's Nutrition?

Women, in general, need the following types of nutrition-

• Iron-rich foods
• Folate and folic acid-rich foods
• The daily requirement of Vitamin D
• Be mindful of saturated fats, alcohol, and added sugars.
• Balance calorie intake with activity.

What could be the Symptoms of Lack of Nutrition for Women?

Mentioned below is the list of symptoms that result from a lack of women's nutrition-

• The deficiency of iodine shows in weight gain, fatigue, feeling cold all the time, and thinning of hair.
• The shortage of Vitamin D leads to obesity, diabetes type 2, poor bone health, depression, and rickets in the babies of pregnant women.
• The deficiency of iron results in extreme fatigue, dizziness, brittle nails, sore and swollen tongue, and shortness of breath.
• The shortage of Vitamin B12 results in fatigue, difficulty thinking, anaemia, swollen tongue, tingling numbness in hands and feet, and muscular weakness.
• The deficiency of folate leads to tongue swelling, fatigue, greying of hair, mouth sores, lethargy, pale skin, weakness, irritability, and growth-related problems.

Causes That Can Hinder Women's Nutrition

The causes of lack of nutrition in women are-

• Multiple pregnancies
• Frequent pregnancies
• Ignorance of taking care of the body
• Illiteracy
• Lack of nutrients in the daily diet
• Skewed sex ratio - more males compared to females
• Violent crimes against women
• Early pregnancies
• Lack of nutrition during pregnancy

When Should You See A Doctor For Lack of Women's Nutrition

Here is when you should see the doctor-

• Chronic lack of appetite
• Loss of hair
• Unexplained tiredness
• Burning inside your mouth
• Dryness of skin
• Spoon-shaped nails
• Cracking at the corners of your lips
• Mouth ulcers
• Swollen tongue
• Apathetic mood
• Bruises on your body

Risk Factors That Can Cause a Lack of Women's Nutrition

The factors that can lead to a lack of nutrition in women-

• Social isolation
• Dental problems
• Difficulty in preparing meals
• Taking multiple medications
• Eating alone most of the time
• Difficulty in shopping for ingredients for preparing meals

Possible Complications of Lack of Women's Nutrition

Here are the five consequences of lack of women's nutrition-

• Anemia
• Pre-eclampsia- high blood pressure during pregnancy
• Hemorrhage- loss of blood during delivery
• Raised levels of cholesterol
• Osteoporosis
• Type 2 diabetes
• Heart disease
• Stroke

How to Prevent the Repercussions of Lack of Women's Nutrition?

Follow these steps:

• Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and lean proteins
• Be mindful of what you are eating
• Enjoy what you eat
• Reduce sodium intake or salt consumption
• Avoid unhealthy foods like cookies, ice cream, candy, sweetened cold drinks, fatty meats, and other sugary items.
• Avoid early pregnancy

Remedies For Women's Nutrition

Check out how you can deal with it-

• Correct anemia
• Take extra care during pregnancy
• Improve access to water and sanitation
• Correct deficiency of folic acid or folate
• Consume iron-rich foods
• Daily Vitamin D intake
• Balance calorie intake with activity
• Taking care of yourself before others
• Not letting anybody's body-shaming affect your nutrition
• Eat as much as you like or want
• The more you can take care of yourself, the less you need to worry about taking care of others.

Conclusion

Women's nutrition often gets neglected. Only when it starts showing symptoms do women start taking care of themselves? We request to take care of yourself from the very beginning.

Request an appointment at Apollo Cradle, Amritsar - Abadi Court Road. Call 1860-500-4424 to book an appointment.