Posts Tagged ‘Riboflavin’

It’s true that women need vitamins that are different from what men need. This is what makes choosing the right vitamins for women’s health a very specific task. Women’s special needs for vitamins have spawned a whole market specifically to cater to this segment. To figure out just what these needs are, read on.

Women need specific vitamins because at different stages of their lives, their bodies experience many drastic physiological changes that men don’t experience. This means that their need for a good and nutritious diet and supplementation are basic to their good health.

Some of the body changes that women experience which may require choosing the right vitamins for women’s health are discussed below:

PMS

When women go through PMS, they may experience mood swings, bloating, and irritability. At such a time, choosing the right vitamins for women’s health is crucial. This is when she needs Vitamin B-6 in doses of about 50-100 mg which helps to keep both the depression and nausea at bay. Vitamin B-6 also helps if women experience memory loss, and heart disease, by producing hormones and brain chemicals that help strengthen their immunity.

Pregnancy

If women have upset stomachs due to pregnancy, they can take Vitamin B6 which helps with nausea. Many women and doctors have discovered that turning to this vitamin is oftentimes the only thing that helps morning sickness. Women can also take Folic Acid when pregnant, which prevents neural tube deficits.

Pregnant women can benefit greatly from taking cod liver oil, which is a great source of Vitamins A, D and K, and Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin. These nutrients found in cod liver oil can guard against preeclampsia, which can be fatal for both new mothers and their babies.

Breastfeeding

Once women have given birth, it’s time to breastfeed their newborns. But though mother’s milk is filled with an abundance of nutrition, it has been found to be deficient in Vitamin D. However, this can be offset by the mother taking cod liver oil during her pregnancy.

This helps in the baby’s brain development and provides sufficient doses of Vitamin K which assists in bone-building. At this time too, consuming the proper nutrients for women’s health is absolutely critical since women now have the baby’s health and development to worry about.

Menopause

As women get older and reach menopause, they need to be particular of their vitamin intake. Here, again, choosing the right vitamin for women’s health involves taking additional nutrients such as Vitamin E. As an a antioxidant, Vitamin E counteracts the effects of DNA damage which can cause cells to age and guards against heart disease, cancer, memory loss, cataracts, and also improves immunity.

No matter how old she may be, choosing the right vitamins for women’s health is a very important decision – one that should be given careful consideration. To learn other essential considerations, please read part 2 of this article, ?Essential Tips for Choosing the Right Vitamin for Your Health: http://www.womans-health.net/choosing-the-right-vitamin.htm.

To learn other essential considerations, please read part 2 of this article, Essential Tips for Choosing the Right Vitamin for Your Health.

There are two types of vitamins that the human body uses. They are water-soluble and fat-soluble. Nutrition experts generally agree that there may be a need for supplementing water-soluble vitamins. These vitamins dissolved in water and hence are called water-soluble vitamins. This implies that does not store them. So, you must consume foods that are rich in these type vitamins daily to fulfill your body’s needs.

The water-soluble vitamins include the B-complex vitamins (B1-thiamine, B2-riboflavin, B3-niacin, B5-pantothenic acid, B6-biotin, B12-cobalamins, and folic acid) and vitamin C. The B-complex vitamins assist various bodily functions, including energy production, nerve cell, and carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolizing. Most people who eat a normal diet containing a variety of foods do not have a problem in getting enough of these vitamins everyday. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is vital for avoiding the buildup of free radicals in the system. Ensuring that your body gets sufficient amounts of vitamin C can lower your risk of heart disease and cataracts.

There are certain standards for the required amount of these vitamins depending on where you live. The recommendations for the B-complex vitamins vary. In general, your body needs 50 milligrams of vitamin C daily. This could be lower or higher depending on your age, sex, health status, and if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. This amount is only a guideline. It is always advised to consult a doctor to better understand the specific body needs.

Green vegetables, organ meats, and citrus fruits are the most common foods that are rich in vitamins C. While, the B-complex vitamins are a large group and hence a regular diet that includes a variety of foods including nuts, beans, whole grains, organ meats, fish, and poultry should be able to give you the sufficient amount of B-complex vitamins.

Vitamin C and the B-complex vitamin supplements are available in mega doses. Excessive amounts of water-soluble vitamins are excreted in the urine; however, it can also result in an upset stomach and other unpleasant side effects. You should never exceed the recommended amount of vitamins without approval from your doctor. If you are diagnosed for vitamin deficiency by a doctor, you can consider supplementation.

Len Gibb is one of the editors at a series of nutrition web sites, We offer a free health book for subscribers to our websites newsletter.

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