Proper Diet And Nutrition Maintains Women's Good Health

One of the most important parts of a woman's ability tomaintain good health is proper diet and nutrition. Researcherscontinue to find growing evidence of the link between healthyeating and a variety of positive health outcomes which include:Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease Cancer Osteoporosis If you are a woman looking to improve your diet you should eatfoods rich in fiber, folate, unsaturated fats and calcium.Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains and reduce intake ofsugar, salt, cholesterol, saturated fats and trans fats. As you age, your nutritional needs may change and vary. Consultwith your personal physician or other healthcare professional toensure your diet is providing the proper nourishment requiredfor good health. How do fiber, fat, folate, antioxidants, calcium, Vitamin D,iron, protein, alcohol and caffeine actually affect a woman'shealth? Fiber: The many benefits of high fiber intake include: 1.Substantially reducing the risk of coronary heart disease andstroke; 2.Cereal fiber has been shown in particular to reduce the riskof heart attack; 3.Diets high in fiber protect against diabetes; 4.Diets high in soluble fiber found in vegetables, fruits andlegumes can help diabetic individuals control their glucose(blood sugar level); 5.Lower cholesterol levels; 6.Improved bowel function; 7.Research also suggests that diets high in vegetable and fruitfiber may help prevent colon and rectal cancer. Fat: It is important to reduce intake of foods high in certaintypes of fat and cholesterol to help decrease the risk ofcoronary heart disease. Of most importance is to reduce thesaturated fats and trans fats rather than concentrating onreducing the total amount of "fat" intake. Avoid consuming toomany low-fat foods that are high in carbohydrates. Too manycarbohydrates can lower the so-called "good" cholesterol thatprotects against heart disease. Folate: Is a type of B vitamin important to the production ofred blood cells that can help reduce the risk of coronary heartdisease and colon cancer. Folate supplements are recommended forwomen of child-bearing age usually in the form of multivitaminsto help prevent a group of birth defects known as neural tubedefects. These defects include spina bifida and anencephaly(failure of the brain to form). Natural sources of folate include: Certain breakfast cereals Orange juice Peas Peanuts Beans Leafy green vegetables Antioxidants: Certain fruits and vegetables, Vitamins A, C, Eand beta carotene contain antioxidant properties. There aresome studies that indicate antioxidants help prevent cancer andcardiovascular disease. The evidence to support these claimsremains mixed. Calcium: An adequate amount of daily calcium can help preventosteoporosis. Osteoporosis particularly affects many womenafter menopause. It can lead to bone fractures. Calcium mayalso protect against colon cancer and may aid weight loss inobese women. If you are a woman who feels you need more calciumin your diet or you are just not sure how much is adequate foryou, check with your physician about taking supplements. Good sources of calcium include: Milk Yogurt Cheese Canned fish with soft bones such as sardines, anchovies andsalmon Leafy green vegetables Calcium-fortified orange juice Vitamin D: It is important to consume adequate amounts ofVitamin D to aid calcium absorption and bone formation. A lackof vitamin D can lead to softening of the bones. Good sources of vitamin D include: Egg yolks Herring Sardines Tuna Salmon Fortified milk Iron: A deficiency of iron can cause fatigue, decreasedimmunity and a type of anemia called iron-deficiency anemia.Iron is especially important to girls and women of childbearingage. Iron should be taken in moderation. Studies show highlevels of iron can lead to heart disease in postmenopausalwomen. Good sources of iron include: Liver Kidneys Red meat Poultry Eggs Peas Legumes Dried fruits Leafy vegetables Protein: Women should get 10 to 35 percent of daily caloriesfrom protein to help prevent muscle tissue from breaking downand help repair tissue that has been damaged. Good sources of protein include: Fish Poultry Eggs Milk Cheese Dried beans and peas Peanut butter Nuts Bread Cereal Alcohol: Many experts agree the health risks of moderateconsumption of alcohol outweigh the potential benefits ofreducing the risk of cardiovascular disease shown in somestudies. Pregnant and nursing women should not drink alcohol in any formas it can cause harm to their offspring. The many adverse health consequences of alcohol consumptioninclude: Increased risk of cancers of the breast, mouth, esophagus,throat, larynx and liver Alcohol consumed during pregnancy can cause birth defectsincluding fetal alcohol syndrome Cirrhosis of the liver May increase the frequency and severity of hot flashes duringmenopause Caffeine: Is a stimulant and diuretic found in coffee, tea,soft drinks, chocolate and some over-the-counter drugs. Areduction of caffeine is often recommended during pregnancy. Itmay affect the heart rate and blood pressure, contribute todehydration and have other possible side effects. Numerous health problems can be the result of poor nutrition aswell as obesity, which causes additional health problems. Bycontrast, are women with eating disorders such as anorexianervosa or bulimia nervosa. Women who are underweight mayexperience irregular menstrual cycles, a stopping ofmenstruation called amenorrhea, which can lead to dentalproblems and osteoporosis and a shortened lifespan. Source: Science Daily Healthology Disclaimer: *This article is not meant to diagnose, treat orcure any kind of a health problem. These statements have notbeen evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Alwaysconsult with your health care provider about any kind of ahealth problem and especially before beginning any kind of anexercise routine. This article is FREE to publish with the resource box. Articlewritten 4-2007.About The Author: Connie Limon, Trilogy Field Representative.Visit http://nutritionandhealthhub.com and sign up for a weeklynutrition and health tip. The article collection is available asFREE reprints for your newsletters, websites or blog. Visithttp://www.healthylife27.com to purchase an array of superiorquality, safe and effective products inspired by nature,informed by science and created to improve the health ofpeople, pets and the planet.