Women’s bodies are complex. They harbor life, they produce substances in relation to pregnancy, and have many other complicated systems that require the care of certain foods and nutrients to stay healthy and running smoothly. So what can you eat that will keep your body in check?
1. Yogurt.
Yogurt contains probiotics, which are live and active cultures, called Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophiles. The active cultures are very important for the female body in a few ways. Generally, the active cultures can help prevent gastrointestinal infections, support immunity, as well as strengthen bones in any body. However, there is an extra perk when it comes to the female body. Probiotics can help keep up the homeostasis of the female reproductive organ…dare I say it…the vagina. The vagina has a certain level of good bacteria that can be thrown off from irritants such as soaps or even sex. If this happens, yeast or bacterial infections can occur. Taking a regular probiotic or eating yogurt with active cultures in it can help balance the amount of bacteria and keep that organ healthy, as well as some other internal organs.
2. Red meat, seafood, and/or dark green veggies.
Meat, seafood and dark greens all contain something super important for the female body: iron. Every month, if it wasn’t already common knowledge, women bleed for about a week long due to their menstrual cycle. This is blood loss! Losing blood also means losing iron and it is super important to help replace that iron. Women’s iron levels will typically fall below normal during their menstrual cycle, which makes sense. However, it will rise back to normal after that. With a lack of iron, people tend to feel for fatigued than normal. But to stay happy, awake, and strong, eating extra green leafy veggies and some steaks or salmon can give your body that extra boost it needs.
3. Tomatoes.
These plump, red fruits, yes they are fruits, contain something called lycopene, which is another important nutrient for our gals. Lycopene works as an antioxidant and has many effects on all bodies, but it’s a pretty special thing for women. According to mayoclinic.org, studies and research have shown a link between lycopene and breast cancer as well as cervical cancer. For breast cancer, there is insufficient research in terms of preventing breast cancer but it has been looked into as being good for breast cancer therapy. But in terms of cervical cancer, studies are showing that it can have a significant benefit in preventing cervical cancer, which is cancer of the cervix in women.
4. Beans, peas, and more dark green veggies.
What you need from these is folic acid. When it comes to pregnancy this is the number 1 nutrient you need. You may or not may not be pregnant now, but if you are aspiring to be a mom one day, eating foods rich in folic acid, which is a B vitamin, will set your future baby up for success. Folic acid, taken in early pregnancy as well as before, can help prevent neural tube defects (NTD), which is the forming central nervous system of an embryo, as well as prevent serious abnormalities of the brain and spinal chord. According to the article “Top Folate Foods for Pregnancy” by parent.com, up to 70% of NTD could be prevented when ingesting folic acid. Taking a multivitamin is always a good idea for your body, but taking one with folic acid in it will ensure you a healthy baby soon, or in the future.
5. Milk, cheese, and of course, ice cream.
Dairy products are your number one source for the ever so famous calcium. We all know calcium works to strengthen our bones, but why is it extra important that the ladies have it in them? Women have a higher risk of being diagnosed with osteoporosis, which is a thinning and weakening of the bones. Men are at risk too, but post-menopausal women are at a greater risk. This is why it is important to start now and make sure you are getting calcium rich dairy products in your system daily. If you are lactose intolerant, multivitamins are great sources.
6. The sunny sunshine.
Our last important nutrient that is important for any body, is vitamin D. Vitamin D is what actually absorbs the calcium that you intake and without it, there’s no point of taking the calcium in. There is plenty of physiology behind how that work, but what happens is: there is a non-active form of vitamin D in our bodies naturally and getting plenty of sunlight will active it into activated vitamin D and that form will absorb calcium into the bones. So sunlight is your number one source. Other sources include fortified milk or orange juice, where activated vitamin D is put into the substance, which is perfect for those gray winter days. This is especially important for our women to keep that calcium in our bodies and prevent the later weakening of our bones.
