The intake of a balanced diet is essential for all groups of people. Foods contain nutrients that are absorbed by our bodies as a part of the digestion process. Our bodies require minerals as well as vitamins for its nutriment and effective functioning of the bodily organs.

Women are advised to consume a nutritious diet as it can help in restoring their health. This is important because their bodies experience changes as a result of pregnancy and breastfeeding impacting the health of their baby and themselves.

The best diet for women will advise the inclusion of the right foods that are helpful for uplifting the mood, boosting the fertility levels, reducing PMS-linked pain, menstrual as well as menopausal discomfort, strengthening the bones, and easing the pregnancy and breastfeeding phases.

After puberty, women’s bodies undergo hormonal and other changes. As a result, they are required to alter their diets for bridging the nutritional gaps.

Women require lesser calories and more vitamins as well as minerals, as compared to men. They experience hormonal imbalances during their menstrual cycles, child-bearing phase, and menopausal stages. Hence, they remain at risk of becoming afflicted with anemia, and bone-related complaints such as osteoporosis. For this reason, they are advised to include nutrients like folates, calcium, iron, magnesium, and vitamin-D in their daily diet.

Some of the foods that constitute the best diet for women are discussed in the following details.

Calcium-Rich Foods
Calcium is needed in the body for supporting the health of the teeth and bones. Additionally, it promotes the health of the cardiovascular and nervous system. Lack of calcium can give birth to sleep-related problems, depression, irritation, and anxiousness. When the body does not contain enough calcium for cellular function, it tends to extract the mineral from the bones, thereby, leading to their weakening.

The best diet for women will advise the inclusion of calcium sources in the diet for preventing the onset of osteoporosis.

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of calcium for women is pegged at 1000 mg daily. Women above the age of 50 years are recommended to take 1200 mg of the mineral.

Some foods containing calcium are green leafy vegetables, tofu, dairy-based items, some varieties of fish, summer squashes and cabbage.

Vitamin-D
The best diet for women will also encourage the womenfolk to add foods containing vitamin-D because this nutrient aids the metabolism of calcium. You can keep your body nourished with vitamin-D by exposing the skin to sunlight for 30 minutes during the early morning or evening hours. Moreover, you can include foods that are rich in vitamin-D in your dietary schedules such as eggs, shrimp, cod, vitamin-D fortified varieties of milk, and salmon.

Magnesium
A discussion on the best diet for women will include the intake of magnesium sources. This mineral is beneficial as it facilitates the absorption of calcium from the blood to the bones. The body is rendered unable to metabolize calcium without magnesium.

Some foods that are rich in magnesium include celery, broccoli, some seed varieties, green-colored leafy-based vegetables, green-colored beans, halibut, summer squash, and cucumber.

Iron
Women require more iron than men. In fact, they require twice the amount of iron as compared to their male counterparts. This is because they tend to lose iron during menstruation, pregnancy, and nursing. Nevertheless, most women do not consume adequate iron sources due to which they run the risk of being Anemic.

When the body lacks iron, you may feel weak and experience shortness of breath after low-impact workouts. It can also cause depression and mood imbalances in women. It would be wise to go for a blood test, if these signs are perceived, to ascertain if you are ailing from Anemia.

Some iron-rich foods include pork, cereals, fortified bread, pork, kale, chicken, turkey, red meats, and fish.

Folates
A discussion on the best diet for women would be incomplete without the mention of folates or vitamin-B9. In its supplement form, they are known as folic acid. If looking to get pregnant or during the first semester of pregnancy, folates should be included in the diet for reducing the chances of birth defects in the infants.

The addition of this nutrient in the diet is also advised for women because it reduces the risk of cancer and heart-linked illnesses in them. Also, during menopause, folates are beneficial as they stimulate the release of estrogen hormone. Folate deficiency can negatively affect the mood and reduce the concentration levels.

Some folate sources are nuts, green-colored vegetables, peas, fruit juices, and beans.

Restricted Foods
The best diet for women will prescribe imposing restrictions on calorie-rich foods. This is essential to keep weight measures in check for preventing obesity.

The following must be practiced:

• Avoid sugary drinks, candies, and fried items.
• Abstain from excessive alcohol consumption.
• Refrain from full-fat dairy products and opt for the low-fat versions.
• The avoidance of foods that are rich in saturated fats must also be practiced.