2/19/12

To Help Others, Start With YourSELF

With so much going on in the world around us, it is very easy to get lost in the news, daily on-goings, friendships, and work stress. When we come home at the end of the day with a headache and absolutely wiped out, we assume it's from all of the running around and chaos we had to get through in order to make it back to bed. While, yes, this may be so - your body are also screaming at you to STOP and LISTEN to yourself and not just those around you.

So start at the beginning, experience any of these?

  • Depression
  • Presence of headaches
  • Craving sweet foods
  • Excessive sleep
  • Thoughts of suicide
  • Loneliness
  • Drastic mood swings
  • Fatigue
  • Complications at work
  • Disinterest in social activities
  • Low energy
  • Drug abuse
  • Increase in weight
  • Sensitive to rejection
  • Guilty feelings
  • School complications
  • Anxiety
  • Poor concentration
  • Feeling hopeless
You're not alone. Over 500,000 Americans experience these symptoms as seasonal depression, majority of which are women. Additionally, depression, anxiety, poor work conditions, stress at home, and everything throughout the day can affect our bodies - not just our minds. Truly sit down and have a conversation with anyone and guaranteed there is at least two stressors in their life. Even the meditation yoga teacher has road-rage. Knowing you're not alone is one thing, but being able to do something about it is another...

Women do not have the same nutritional needs as men. It is estimated that more than 60% of Americans are vitamin D deficient, most of which are women! Because of factors like menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, we have different needs in exercise, food intake, and vitamins. Now add to that the slue of pills we take (including birth control pills) and our bodies start screaming for our attention.

Today, the most common vitamin deficiencies include B6, folate, iron, calcium, and D. Additionally, every person's chemistry is different so there are so many more that your body may be in need of. Just think, by taking your vitamins, you may start to feel:

  • PMS symptoms relief
  • Natural menopause treatment
  • Weight loss and control
  • Rejuvenation for hair, nails and skin
  • More consistent and restful sleep
  • Clearer thoughts and less stress


A Few Important Vitamins to Start...

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency that many women develop today. Menstruating women require almost twice as much iron as men, because blood loss during menstruation is sapping their iron stores.

Calcium deficiency among women is next after iron. Many women develop its shortage just because they do not eat enough foods that are rich in this mineral.

Folate is one of the most important vitamins for women and many do not get enough of this vitamin through their diet. Deficiency of folic acid (another name for this vitamin) increases the risk of cervical cancer, gum inflammation and anemia.

Vitamin E helps to relive premenstrual syndrome symptoms such as breast pain and hot flashes in menopausal women. As an antioxidant it necessary for the prevention of breast cancer. Vitamin E promotes healthy skin and hair and retards the aging process. Women who are on slimming diets risk developing vitamin E deficiency because the richest sources of this vitamin are foods rich in fats and those are usually avoided by slimmers. The easiest way to get enough of vitamin E for women on the diets is to take it in a supplement form.

Omega-3 fatty acids – nutrients most people do not get enough through their diets including women. Omega-3s play a key role in many body functions and may prevent many health disorders including heart diseases, breast cancer, high blood pressure, joint problems and many others.


Vitamins for Women and Birth Control Pills

Are you on the birth control pills? Then you need to think about extra intake of some vitamins, because birth control pills are causing serious depletion of many necessary vitamins for women. Especially vitamin C blood levels are very low in women on the “pills”, because of high excretion rate of vitamin in the urine. About one in twenty women that are taking pills suffer from depression and researches indicated that depression in those women is due to a deficiency of pyridoxine (B6). Trials revealed that depressions in pill takers might be prevented by supplementation of B6 vitamin. Women, who had vitamin B6 deficiency in their blood, lost all the symptoms of depression after the treatment with pyridoxine.Vitamins B12, riboflavin, thiamine and folic acid are also reduced in the women’s systems by the contraceptive pills. Serious depletion of vitamin E is caused by the “pills”. It has been suggested that prevalence of thrombosis in women, taking contraceptive pills, may be related to vitamin E deficiency.


Here are some tips on choosing the best vitamins for women:

  • Make sure it is a plant based product containing natural plant concentrates that are rich in phytonutrients found only in plants.
  • Check if your multivitamin formula provides all essential vitamins and minerals you need daily (12 essentials vitamins and at least 7 minerals).
  • Avoid vitamins for women that contain artificial flavors, colors and preservatives.



Want to know more? Call or stop in for a personal consultation

Parkade Health Shoppe
Erika Dworkin Nutrition Consultant & Coach
378 Middle Tpke W Manchester, CT 06040
(860) 646-8178

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