Just like you invest your money today to get returns tomorrow, you have to invest in your body today to stay fit tomorrow. Women go through a lot of changes throughout their lives from going through the menstrual cycle each month to conceiving and childbirth. Along with these biological challenges, they’re also dealing with their career challenges.
Throughout these events, many forget to take a deep breath, think about themselves and take care of their own body. Planning out and following a healthy diet requires the least amount of effort but gives back much more to your body. Women and men have different bodies, bodies that are wired differently. There are physiological, metabolical, psychological, and hormonal differences in both men and women. Due to these differences, women have different nutritional requirements.
To celebrate these times of unstoppable women, here are our top suggestions of foods that will keep your body healthy throughout your hard times and good times!
1. Turmeric
This magical powder is more than just a spice! Turmeric gets its deep golden hue from a plant nutrient called curcumin; a substance that is used for ages to treat infections and heal wounds. A preliminary research in mice suggested that this golden spice may be useful in treating inflammations, digestive problems, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s. Research done regions of India with the highest regular consumption of turmeric have the lowest rates in the world of Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Nuts
Turns out, a few nuts a day can also keep the doctor away! Nuts are extremely rich in vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. They are good for your bones and memory.
- Almonds are rich in bone strengthening minerals like magnesium and calcium.
- Walnuts are rich with Omega-3 fats which are essential in preserving and strengthening bones.
- Pistachios contain very high amounts of magnesium, potassium, and Vitamin B6.
So eat a few nuts everyday to keep your body healthy in every way!
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3. Onions
No, no, don’t scroll away… apart from the smell, they aren’t really that bad and hey, you can always use a mouth freshner afterwards, right?
Onions contain polyphenol which boosts bone health. Eating onions is really healthy for your bones. As a study by the Medical University of South Carolina suggests, women who include onions in their meals on a regular basis have 20% less chances of suffering a hip fracture above the age of 50. Onions can increase your bone mass by 5%, so next time you’re out shopping for groceries, include onions in it!
4. Oatmeal
Heart attack and stroke are 2 of the top 5 leading causes of death in American women. High cholesterol is an alarming sign; it can lead to a heart attack or a stroke. To keep it away from you, you have to consider adding foods like oatmeal in your diet. Your ideal diet must include whole grains that are rich with soluble fibres, such as oatmeal.
A study done by Harvard shows that women who are the most fibre daily were 23% less likely to develop heart disease than those who consumed the least. High fiber content can also prevent the risk of type two diabetes and stabilize your blood sugar.
5. Kale
A part of the broccoli or brassica family, this superfood is loaded with nutrients and powerful antioxidants like quercetin and kaempferol. It’s an extremely rich source of Vitamin C and Vitamin K. Kale also helps lower the cholesterol, which may reduce the chances of having a heart attack or a stroke.
6. Yogurt
Yogurt is considered to be a food packed with medicinal and healing properties by the Eastern medicinal sciences. Yogurt contains the probiotics bacteria that helps in improving digestion, may reduce inflammation, and build immunity. It’s a powerhouse of nutrients. As yogurt contains a lot of calcium, Vitamin B, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium which help in improving your bones, it will protect you against heart diseases, regulate your blood pressure, metabolism, and your overall health.
7. Beans
Beans contain all the essential proteins without unhealthy fats. They’re rich in proteins, they are lower in calories, contain rich amounts of folate which is essential for overall health and making healthy blood cells.
Apart from that, beans are also a rich source of antioxidants like polyphenols which may protect you from certain cancers, cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, pancreatitis, and neurodegenerative diseases.
So the next time you make excuses for not eating beans, just remember the good things they can do for you!
8. Shrimp
Whether you hate or love Canadian food, you should be thankful to them for promoting shrimp fried rice! Okay, maybe fried foods aren’t the healthiest foods, but no harm in indulging yourself every once in a while, right?
Shrimp is an excellent source of a rare to find nutrient called choline. Choline is found to be very important for the functioning of all cells. It promotes neurotransmitter building and a deficiency of this compound has been linked to a number of neurological disorders and impaired or decreased cognitive functioning. Apart from being a tasty meal to your brain, this compound can also lower your risks of breast cancer.
9. Blueberries
Who isn’t afraid of getting wrinkles, right?
Blueberries have a lot of health benefits. But first things first. They are proven to be age defying and an excellent source of antioxidants. Except for that, blueberries contain a low calorie count and high levels of nutrients such as fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and manganese.
Blueberries may also reduce DNA damage, which results in protecting your body against aging and cancer. Blueberries also prevent cholesterol in the blood from getting damaged which makes them really good for your heart. These berries may also help you to keep your blood pressure in check.
10. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are way more helpful to humans than they seem. Apart from being the food of fun on the day of La Tomatina, tomatoes have actually served us well since ages.
This humble berry has the potential to protect us from various cancers. Tomatoes have a high concentration of the antioxidant lycopene, which means that tomatoes can lessen the chances of our DNA getting damaged; protecting us from prostate, lung, stomach, breast, renal cell carcinoma, and endometrial cancers according to research.
So these are our picks for the best foods to improve women’s health! Let us know if you enjoyed reading this article and when are you going to add these to your diet?
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