The female body is a complex system defined by internal functions, nutritional needs, and external processes that are unique to the woman. For this reason, what a woman eats, how she incorporates movement into her lifestyle, and how she caters to her health and fitness will look different than that of a man.
Unfortunately, many health and fitness spaces have been dominated by a single narrative, one that is centric to the male body. If you are a woman and have not addressed characteristics of your health and fitness journey that are heightened or exclusive to you as a woman, check out the following tips and tricks to ensure that your female body is receiving adequate support as you continue to improve your health and fitness.
PROTEIN
Protein is often associated with building muscle. This narrative has made it easy for women to misunderstand the role that protein plays in any health and fitness journey. Whether you are trying to bulk up, lean out, or lose body fat, protein is essential for all women. To ensure you are getting enough in your diet, try to incorporate protein at every meal or enjoy a protein shake on a daily basis.
COMMONLY MISSED NUTRIENTS
Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron, vitamin B12, and Iodine are some of the most commonly missed nutrients from a woman’s diet. Be sure that your diet is naturally supplying this variety of nutrients and if not, introduce a daily supplement that contains proper amounts of the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs.
ANTI-AGING SUPERFOODS
Aging is more than just getting gray hairs and wrinkles. In fact, it is as much of an internal process as it is external. Just like many things, aging looks different for men and women. Women should focus on consuming specific anti-aging superfoods to slow particular aging processes and to reduce the symptoms of others. Some of these foods include carrots, broccoli, beans, lentils, turmeric, manuka honey, green tea, and spinach.
FOLIC-ACID FOODS
Most women will associate the conscious consumption of folic-acid foods with pregnancy. While these foods are crucial for any pregnant woman, they are still very important for women who aren’t expecting. Asparagus, beans, broccoli, brussels sprouts, eggs, bananas, oranges, and avocados are a few foods high in folic acid that all women should incorporate into their diet.