Women’s Unique Nutritional Needs | National Nutrition Council (NNC), Republic of the Philippines

WOMENS WEEK 2

Trying to balance the demands of family and work or school—and coping with media pressure to look and eat a certain way—can make it difficult for any woman to maintain a healthy diet. But the right food can not only support your mood, boost your energy, and help you maintain a healthy weight; it can also be a huge support through the different stages in a woman’s life.

As we celebrate National Women’s Month let’s take look at Women’s unique nutritional needs.

While women tend to need fewer calories than men, our requirements for certain vitamins and minerals are much higher. Hormonal changes associated with menstruation, child-bearing, and menopause mean that women have a higher risk of anemia, weakened bones, and osteoporosis, requiring a higher intake of nutrients such as iron, calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin B9 (folate).

Calcium for strong bones throughout life
Women are at a greater risk than men of developing osteoporosis, so it’s important to get plenty of calcium, in combination with magnesium and vitamin D, to support your bone health.



Iron: why you may not be getting enough
Due to the amount of blood lost during menstruation, women of childbearing age need more than twice the amount of iron that men do—even more during pregnancy and breastfeeding.


The importance of folate (vitamin B9) for women of child-bearing age
Folate can greatly reduce the chance of neurological birth defects when taken before conception and during the first few weeks of pregnancy.

We make change work for women – We make good Nutrition work for Women.