The Top 6 Vitamins And Minerals All Women Over 40 Should Take

16 April 2019

We are all aware of having a healthy mind and body gives us lots of benefits. And in order to achieve that, we must have and maintain a healthy lifestyle as well, which includes doing regular exercises and eating the right kind and amount of food. These things can also guarantee us a stronger and longer life. Vitamins and minerals are essential ingredients for all women over the age of 40.

However, as we age, manifestations of physical changes occur, which has an effect also on other aspects of our lives. The cliché “life begins at 40” is indeed true, because, at this age, women’s body is not the same as they used to have during their 20’s.

Various fluctuations usually happen at this age, like deterioration of the muscles causing to have bone-related conditions like osteoporosis. With the onset of menopause, unusual things are also experienced like hot flashes, loss of appetite, and sleeping disturbances.

Moreover, this is also the time where higher risks of diseases like cancer and heart diseases, hypertension and diabetes can happen because the immune system starts to weaken as well due to aging.

In order to lessen these risks, aside from maintaining an established healthy lifestyle, consuming vitamin and mineral supplements are needed to support the nutrients needed by the body to make it healthy despite aging.

While these supplements cannot fully guarantee the strength and the risks of not getting sick, knowing the vitamins and minerals that should be prioritized for the health is very crucial. Yes, Wellness Vitamins Canada the most essential vitamins and minerals women ages 40 and above must take to become healthier and stronger despite the age.

Contents

1 The Top 6 Vitamins And Minerals All Women Over 40 Should Take:

The Top 6 Vitamins And Minerals All Women Over 40 Should Take:

Vitamins and minerals are essential for your body to survive in hostile condition. You cannot make things happen in a day.

1. Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12

As the body ages, the body is getting slower when it comes to absorbing this vitamin because the stomach gets depleted. And while this vitamin is needed for the proper functioning of the brain and blood, consuming 2.4 mg recommended daily allowance of vitamin B12 supplement is vital for the body at this age. Moreover, animal and meat products like chicken, milk, fish, and eggs are excellent sources of this vitamin.

One thing good about this vitamin is that it is water-soluble, so it can easily release the unneeded amount through urine.

2. Calcium:

Calcium

During the younger years, the bones get most of the calcium it gets on from the foods and drinks we consume. And if other parts of the body are not getting adequate amounts of this mineral, it steals the calcium from the bones, which weakens it. This is what makes calcium another essential mineral, especially for aging women. Aside from the continuous bone health, calcium is needed by the body for other purposes- muscle contraction, proper functioning of the heart and nerves, and various biochemical reactions.

Mostly, women at 40-50 years old need 1,000mg of calcium every day, while women ages 50 and up need 1,500mg. Aside from supplements, calcium can be attained by eating dairy products, tofu, broccoli, spinach, and sardines.

3. Vitamin D

Vitamin D

This is very important especially by the time a woman reaches 40 because it helps the body to better manage some of the body changes that occur at that time. It is also important for the better absorption of calcium.

The insufficient dose of Vitamin D in the body is connected to the higher chances of having heart diseases, diabetes and multiple sclerosis and breast and colorectal cancers.

Enough exposure to sunlight is the best way to get Vitamin D, plus consuming foods like fish, fortified dairy products, grains, and cereals.

As for vitamin supplements, the expert recommends a D3, a vitamin D supplement that contains almost like vitamin D in the sun). The recommended daily intake of this vitamin should be from 600 IU for 40 to 50 years old, while 800 IU for ages 50 and above. Furthermore, a woman can take a maximum limit of 4000IU of this vitamin per day.

4. Magnesium:

Magnesium

Aside from Vitamin D, magnesium also helps the body to absorb the calcium better. In addition, this aids in regulating blood pressure preventing the risk of having hypertension, which women at ’40s are very prone to. It also aids in controlling the glucose in the blood and also has a role in the proper functioning of nerves and heart.

A woman must have a 320mg daily intake of magnesium, which can be attained from dark green, leafy vegetables, beans, nuts, soy, and avocados. Too much magnesium can cause side effects like diarrhea, nausea, and cramping, so a test must be done to ensure that the body has an adequate amount of magnesium before taking any supplements.

5. Potassium:

Potassium

Foods like bananas, sweet potatoes, chards, beans, and lentils are an excellent source of potassium, a mineral that helps the body to regulate the blood pressure.

A woman aged 40 only needs 2mg of daily potassium intake. Too much potassium can cause damage to the heart and gastrointestinal tract and cardiac arrhythmias. That is why the careful intake of this mineral is very essential.

6. Omega 3

Omega 3

This may not be a vitamin, but this fatty acid has its own contribution to a woman’s health. According to research, Omega 3 helps in lowering blood pressure and the bad cholesterol minimizing the chances of getting heart disease and also aids in keeping the memory sharp.

The recommended daily intake of Omega 3 depends on your present health. For a healthy person, 500mg is needed, 800 mg to 1000mg for those with heart disease, and 1200mg for those with high triglyceride levels.

Read Also:

Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

View all posts

5 Types of Cancer Prominent in Women

Lifestyle, family, eating habits, surroundings – everything contributes to cancer possibilities in a person. Sometimes, late detection can be cured with substantial radiation and yet, sometimes early detection cannot be controlled. AMRI Hospital, a Kolkata-based hospital chain, suggests 5 types of cancer that have a higher possibility of manifestation in women than men. There are certain cancer prominent among the woman that can result in the substantial loss of life and body organs. Different Types of Cancer Prominent In Woman There are several types of cancer that are prominent in women while you want to get the best treatment in AMRI hospital. Lung Cancer : It is a pre-conceived notion that only regular smokers suffer from Lung Cancer. However, this is a false assumption. An oncology expert at the best hospital in Kolkata, AMRI Hospital, said “It is true that long-term smokers are more susceptible to Lung Cancer, but that’s not the usual case with women. In more than half of the cases we have come across, the patient does not have a smoking habit.” Some of the factors responsible for lung cancer are: Passive Smoking Air pollution Exposure to toxic gases Heredity Statistics reveal that Lung Cancer is responsible for one of the highest number of deaths. A few precautionary measures that can be employed to fight against this deadly disease are: Avoid passive smoking. Meet your friends later or just excuse yourself from the environment. Pollution masks are readily available with pharmacists. If your city’s air is in the red zone of air pollution, make sure you wear the mask, especially while traveling. Studies have revealed that reduced alcohol consumption decreases the risk of having lung cancer. Exercise regularly and improve your diet. Physical activity helps to recover your body from the exposure to smoke, and diet maintains the smooth the functioning of the systems. Breast Cancer : According to the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR), one out of every two women, newly diagnosed with breast cancer, dies in India. Generally, family history is one of the premier causes of breast cancer. If a person’s siblings, mother or daughter have the disease, the chances of suffering from the condition increase. There are a few factors that need to be considered in case of any suspicion about breast cancer:- Genetic Mutation of BRCA1 and BRCA2 Menopause after 55 or menstrual periods before the age of 11 No pregnancies or late first pregnancy (after the age of 30) Radiation treatment of chest for another cancer Medical studies have advanced to a level where controlling breast cancer is highly possible. However, there are some precautions to reduce the overall chances of the disease: Estrogen fuels breast cancer cells and it has been observed that loss of weight, especially if you are not aligned with BMI helps to fight the disease Avoid eating red meat. It is still under speculation but it’s better to be safe than sorry Quit drinking alcoholic beverages. Or at least minimize it to one drink per day. Thyroid Cancer : Although the chances of developing thyroid cancer are reasonably low, there are not many ways to prevent it either. Since potential tumors revealed via scans can be treated in early stages, it is pivotal to analyze the risk factors and focus on their control: Usually, this cancer develops in the 40s and 50s Family history RET gene mutation There are no such control measures for thyroid cancer, but some precautionary steps can be taken: Avoid radiation exposure Reduce the iodine content in your diet If there are any cases in family history, have regular check-ups for early diagnosis Uterine/Endometrial Cancer : Female reproductive organs are more prone to endometrial cancer. As the name suggests, it is cancer in the uterus lining. Similar to breast cancer, high estrogen feeds the cancer cells in this case. Never being pregnant, overweight and birth control pills are some of the premier causes of increased risk. Other factors include: Around the age of 60 Diabetes Family History Nutritionists at AMRI Hospital, Kolkata suggest, “Diet control is the best way to prevent uterine cancer. Since fat cells secrete estrogen, the level of the hormone increases and make a person more prone to the condition.” There are several facts that prove cancer is prominent among women. Colon Cancer : Women around the age of 70 are more susceptible to colon cancer. The abnormal cancer cells take almost 15 years to grow, so regular check-ups are an easy way for early diagnosis. Colonoscopy, blood tests or Cologuard (DNA stool test) are the best ways to diagnose colon cancer. Oncologist in Kolkata experts advises taking diets rich in calcium and fiber as precautionary measures. Read Also : Benefits Of E-Cigarettes Over Traditional Smoking Vaping In The Workplace: Legal Considerations How Does Smoking Weed Affect The Society

Four Easy Ways To Take Back Control Of Your Health This Summer

We can all be guilty of letting things slip when it comes to our personal health. Everyone has been in the position where they have been too swamped with work to deal with that ache or pain right now. Anyone who is a parent will know that the priority is always going to be the health of their children and that we will always wait for a quiet moment before dealing with our own. More often than not, that quiet moment never comes. However, the fact is that we all need to be doing a lot more when it comes to listening to what our bodies are trying to tell us. The summer is the perfect time to do this when the weather is better and most of us are looking forward to a bit of time off to wind down and recuperate. There are things that we can do to help our bodies and our minds look after us, and there are steps that you can take to identify issues before they become a real problem. Let’s have a look at some of the best things that we should all be doing. 1. Book A Check-Up With Your Doctor Most of us only go to see our doctor when there is something obviously wrong. It can take a lot to push us to actually make that appointment and admit that we need to talk to a professional. If you want to take control of your health, then one of the best first steps is to get in touch with your doctor for a check-up. You should be seeing your personal doctor about once a year. You can ask about any issues that may have been keeping you up at night, and you get some advice about changes that you can make to your lifestyle that will help. The sooner you do this, the sooner you can start feeling more in control. 2. Look At An MRI Scan Speaking of health issues that keep us up at night, there is no illness that worries us more than cancer. Most of us are familiar with the big warning signs, but if you really want to take control of your health, then you should think about getting proactive. If you spot any warning signs early, then you have a much better chance of successful treatment and getting rid of it. One of the best ways that you can do this is by going for a full-body MRI. This scan will create 3D images of your body’s structure and your organs, and it is low risk. If you want to learn more about a fully-body MRI works and how it can help you, visit Ezra. They offer an annual scan that will look at up to 13 organs to give you the best chance of beating cancer. 3. Start Getting Organized Many of us struggle with taking control of our health because we have not factored it into our daily schedule. When you are over-stressed and over-tired, of course, you are going to react to problems as they arise and take the easiest route out of any potential issue. This is how you end up not getting as much exercise as you know you should and eating a diet that you know could be much better. If this all sounds a bit too familiar, then one of the best things that you can do is to get organized. Start by sitting down with your daily schedule and look at where you can dedicate an hour, or even half an hour, a day to a bit of exercise. It is recommended that we should all be getting at least 150 minutes of moderate to intensive exercise a week, and if you break it down that is achievable. When it comes to your diet, planning is the key. Write a meal plan at the start of the week and make sure that you have a shopping list before you head to the store. Think about what recipes you can make that will give you the vitamins and minerals you need, and which you enjoy cooking! 4. Take Your Mental Health Seriously Finally, we should talk about mental health. We have seen so many stories about mental health in the last couple of years, but it bears repeating: if you don’t look after your mental health, then everything else will suffer. This is one of the best ways to ensure that you are staying on top of your other health responsibilities, as well as your personal and work ones. Make sure that you are giving yourself time in the day that is just for you. Reach out and talk to people in your life if you are feeling isolated. You should also consider talking to a professional. Needing help with your mental health is nothing to be ashamed of. Read Also: Is It Healthier To Have Dentures?7 Health Tips For Medical StudentsTemporary Health Insurance and Who It SuitsWhen Will Social Media Addiction Be Considered a Mental Health Condition?

11 Effective Ways To Improve Testosterone Levels In Your Body

Testosterone and how it affects our body: We are generally aware of testosterone as the sex hormone responsible for ‘manhood’. This hormone is also known as “Human Growth Hormone” (HGH). It is entirely right that it is essential for playing a critical role in metabolism, stimulating sexual desire, increase libido, sexual arousal and satisfaction. Both men and women produce testosterone but females produce it in relatively lower quantity than men. Testosterone is secreted in testes and adrenal glands in men, whereas in women, it is produced in the adrenals and ovaries. This hormone peaks during the early twenties and then goes on to decrease by 10% in the successive decades of aging. Besides all this, it is also required for maintaining healthy pain response, sufficient levels of RBC, regular sleep patterns, bone density, muscle mass, and high energy levels. As we grow, our testosterone levels start declining. Our lifestyle is also responsible for lowering of testosterone levels. Insufficient nutrition, low vitamin-D levels, weight gain, inadequate exercise and prescription drugs (statins) are some of the main reasons for the lowering of testosterone levels. 40% of men over 45 years are affected by low testosterone level. Visible symptoms of low levels are observed in decreased sexual drive, frequent mood-swings, difficulty in concentrating, Good level of Testosterone Poor level of Testosterone Sharper mind Fatigue Happy Moods Risk of Alzheimer’s disease High confidence levels Depressed Healthy Heart Increased fat tissues Healthy libido Erectile dysfunction and poor libido Strong and healthy bones Risk of osteoporosis Full of energy Short of memory Naturally effective ways to increase Testosterone Levels in your body: Boosting your testosterone level turns out to be a basic necessity to keep yourself healthy and effectively productive at all levels. It will improve your energy levels, confidence, and happy moods to tackle day to day problems of your life in a much more pleasant manner. It is always better to adopt a lifestyle which helps you in improving the T-levels so as to attain its numerous health benefits. However, if nothing seems to work out to improve your testosterone levels, you should consider medical assistance from a reputed organization. Talking about which, professionals from Kingsberg Medical can help you with any doubts regarding your growth hormone therapy or current levels of testosterone in your body. ● Get adequate and quality sleep: Getting enough sleep at the right times of the day tends to be one of the most effective natural ways to raise testosterone levels. Most people require 6 to 7 hours of sleep during the night. The body resets itself every night and releases chemicals like cortisol, which contribute towards the balancing of overall hormone levels and prevent lowering of T-levels. Some endocrinologists claim that one hour of sleep between 10 pm and 2 am has similar healing effects on your body which are resulted by two hours of sleep before or after this time. So ideally, one should go to bed around 10 pm and wake up at around 6 am for optimal hormone balance. ● Stress reduction: People with lower testosterone levels are often found to be struggling with frustration, unforgiveness and anger issues. This chronic stress kills your quality of life. You need to find ways to relieve your stress to keep your testosterone levels up. To begin with, you can make a list of people you wish to forgive and then do so. Also, it is essential if you can turn to religious books or personal growth books. You can also seek the help of a personal counselor. Take care of your emotional issues, resentment, unforgiveness, anger and frustration and you will find yourself much more relieved and stress-free. Ultimately, raising your testosterone levels naturally. ● Fasting intermittently: Intermittent fasting is one of the most natural testosterone boosters. It has been observed to increase the T-level by 200 % or even up to 400 %. A study conducted by a medical school found that growth hormone levels increased manifold in men who didn't consume any calories for 24 hours and growth hormone levels are further correlated with testosterone. Basically, intermittent fasting means that you skip your breakfast and eat your meals close together. You can eat three meals per day with three hours of an interval, starting at noon and ending by sunset. This paves the way to a relaxation routine of your organs, particularly liver which is known to be highly related to testosterone levels in your body. ● Use of healthy fats: Another natural way is to add a lot of healthy fats in your diet. If you have a dire habit of consuming junk food and too many carbohydrates, then you must get rid of those habits and add healthy fats to your food habits. There are three categories of healthy fat. Firstly, healthy saturated fat is right for your health. It is generally found in coconut oil and raw fermented dairy products, like yogurt or milk cheese. Avoid conventional dairy products because it dampens your testosterone. The other type of fat that your body needs is omega-3 fatty acids. You can readily consume chia seeds, Flaxseeds and walnuts to keep up the supply of vital omega-3s. Lastly, monounsaturated fats are also gainful in naturally hiking the level of testosterone. ● Use of Vitamin-D and other vitamin supplements: Another crucial nutrient to restore healthy testosterone levels is vitamin D3. In case of those suffering from vitamin D deficiency, it is absolutely necessary that you get out in the sun regularly in order to get your body detoxified and have the essential dose of Vitamin D. Herbs like ginseng benefit healthy testosterone levels, making it yet another natural testosterone booster. The best way to increase your vitamin-D levels is sun exposure. You only need 20-30 minutes of exposure to a large amount of skin. If your skin isn’t conditioned to this exposure, start slow walking with 10 minutes a day and gradually work up to 20-30 minutes. ● Figure out a Balanced Diet: It's apparent that having good eating habits is significantly essential when you need to keep your testosterone level rich and maintain your overall health. Low testosterone levels and overweight contributes to a variety of inflammatory conditions and impaired neurological function. Overeating and irregular dieting disrupt hormone levels. This effect is mostly observed in athletes and people who are very active. The best diets are those that include mostly whole foods and offer a healthy balance of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. A healthy and nutritious diet keeps all hormones levels in the body balanced and promotes optimal long-term health. ● Lower body fat and weight: It has been observed that lower body fat and weight loss help increase testosterone levels naturally. When you consider the effects of insulin resistance and poor sleeping habits has on testosterone, it really makes sense that it is all closely interlinked with obesity. Obese males tend to have 50% fewer testosterone levels than those who are not overweight. So basically, you need to cut out on processed sugars from your diet, which has links to insomnia, obesity, diabetes and a number of other hormone disorders. ● Heavy-weight Training: If you want to boost your testosterone level naturally, then this one of the best ways to do so for those who are physically capable of exercising at a gym. Hitting the gym for least three days a week and lifting heavy weights can do the job for you. Strength training helps in providing T-levels in your body so that you can overcome the deficiency of the growth hormone. Burst training not only boosts T-levels, but it also helps keeps your testosterone elevated and prevents its decline. Burst training involves exercising at 90–100 % of your maximum effort for a short interval in order to burn your body’s stored sugar (glycogen). Along with improving your T-levels, this way you can effectively burn between 3–9 times more fat, lower your resting heart rate, keep blood pressure in check and your brain young by increasing blood circulation. ● Review medication and detox liver: While prescription medications help manage a variety of health conditions, they are one of the most common reasons for low testosterone levels. Several medications used for lowering cholesterol may partially work by reducing testosterone. If you suspect your low testosterone is due to prescribed medications, you should bring these concerns to their doctor's attention. Your liver is very crucial to have effectively decent testosterone levels. An improperly functioning liver can take a severe hit on the amount of this hormone present in your body. Men with cirrhosis of the liver tend to lose testosterone level with the growing disease. So it is very vital that you have a healthy liver to keep up your testosterone level naturally. ● Practice deep breathing: Deep breathing helps in calming an overactive nervous system and relax the body. This lowers stress hormone and improves the production of sex hormones like testosterone that are needed for growth and repair. The best way to adopt this way is to do yoga exercises or carry out a simple exercise in a field involving deep breathing in and out for about thirty minutes a day. It will improve your respiratory system and supply fresh oxygen to your brain cells to rejuvenate the processing of thinking and release hormones in your body balancing out the requirements of testosterone by your body at an optimal level. ● Maintain Zinc and Magnesium levels: Make sure to balance out your zinc and magnesium levels. Both these nutrients are vital factors to testosterone production in your body. You can try out methods like using pumpkin seeds to deal with low levels of these elements in the body. Studies suggest that focusing on improving Magnesium level can have a significant impact on the net level of testosterone in a person. It has been observed that taking supplements for at least one month might increase testosterone in general. You need to carry out various thoughtful dietary changes to boost your level of magnesium and zinc deficiency. This can be done by including items lime dark leafy greens vegetables and whole grains in your regular diet. Zinc is also an ingredient in dark green vegetables, flax seeds, and pumpkin seeds. Creatine which occurs naturally in salmon, tuna, and beef has proved to be a reliable source of increasing testosterone. Advice: Those who are concerned about their testosterone levels should see their doctor. In case, you need a therapy it is always better to adopt natural ways as well to improve it. Read Also: 7 Healthy Habits That Make Us Look Younger Flexoplex Reviews: Is It The Best Joint Supplement Of 2019?

The Top 6 Vitamins And Minerals All Women Over 40 Should Take