I was recently approached by Walmart Canada and asked “What does Women’s Health Mean to Me” (timely as May 28th is the International Day of Action on Women’s Health). I knew my answer right away. To me, women’s health means living actively and fully now and into the future.
We live in a culture of prevention and pro-activity. There are a multitude of good choices we can incorporate into our routines to ensure a healthy lifestyle (the essential tips for women’s health below may inspire you to make good choices!).
Case in point, if you ever spot me at a day-long conference (or road trip) you will find a meal replacement shake in my bag. TRUE. I find sipping on a shake, like the Equate High Protein Shake, really helps me when I have a busy day. The vanilla, creamy, taste easily goes down and gives my body the energy it needs to be on-the-go.
10 Essential Tips for Women’s Health
By Sue Mah, RD, Registered Dietitian
Get enough iron. When you’re low in iron, you’ll feel tired, look pale and may develop anemia. Food sources: meat, poultry, fish; beans, lentils; spinach; iron-fortified breads, pasta and breakfast cereals.
Count your calcium. Your bone density actually continues to grow until about age 30.Food sources: milk, fortified soy/almond /plant-based beverages; cheese, yogurt; edamame beans, tofu, navy beans; almonds; collards, kale.
Focus on folic acid. Taking a folic acid supplement before you get pregnant helps reduce the risk of birth defects that affect the baby’s brain and spine. Food sources: dark green vegetables; orange juice, cantaloupe, papaya; peanut butter, sunflower seeds; beans, chickpeas, lentils; enriched bread, pasta and breakfast cereals.
Consider a multivitamin supplement. Consider taking a supplement such as Equate Women’s Formula Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement. It contains a range of nutrients to help maintain immune function, maintain healthy skin, and help in the development and maintenance of bones, cartilage, teeth and gums. (Plus, it’s super easy to incorporate Equate Women’s Formula Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement into your morning routine. Take it with a cup of tea and done).
Get social with food! Celebrate the joy of food by cooking and eating with your kids, family and friends. Ask the kids to help you pick out veggies at the grocery store.
Stay fueled on the go. Keep your energy levels up with a ready-to- drink nutritional shake like Equate High Protein Shake. A serving offers 225 calories, 25 essential vitamins and minerals, and 12 grams of protein.
Ditch the diets. Have a healthy relationship with food and tell yourself it’s OK to enjoy these treats in moderation.
Let movement be your medicine. Regular activity is also a natural stress buster.
Practice the 3 Ps: Prioritize, Plan, Pace. Prioritize your tasks so that the most important ones get done first. Then, plan your “To Do” list. Finally, pace yourself to avoid burnout.
Get a good night’s sleep. Not only is sleep deprivation tied to possible weight gain, but it’s also linked to a higher risk of health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.
This post is sponsored by Walmart Canada as part of the “What Women’s Health Means to Me” program. In exchange for this post, I have received perks in the form of products and/or compensation. All opinions on this blog are my own.
I always forget about taking vitamins. I need to be better about making sure I take one every day.
I always take a multivitamin every day. I also make sure I take a vitamin D supplement, as well. Those are biggies for women’s health.
I take no supplements till now but I know I should start. I have to take everything you mentioned in consideration!
I have been trying to take better care of myself and taking vitamins each day. I know I have to do a better job!
I really need to get back to taking care of myself. I need to start with these tips!
I definitely have to keep reminding myself to get my vitamins. Those Equate high protein shakes are perfect for my busier days too.
Tracking water consumption is my best tip for women’s health- it’s something I used to struggle with!
Great tips for women who want to stay healthy. I get anemic easily so I have to watch my iron.
Totally agree with your exercise tip! Exercise totally helps with everything!
A good night’s sleep is something I’ve been lacking for almost two years. My nursing daughter would wake every night, but now that I’m trying to ween she’s actually starting to sleep longer and in turn, I am too. Thank goodness!
I am trying to eat healthier, be more active, and conscious of what I am putting in my body.
I will have to pick up some Equate High Protein Shake to try. I am always looking for ways to add more protein in my diet.
These are great tips for women’s health. I would love to try Equate High Protein Shake. It is so important to get enough protein in your diet.
I really need to take more supplements now that I am over 40! And I would love to the the Equate High Protein shake!
The Get a Good Night’s Sleep is where I fall down. I can’t remember….oh well. Something to work towards
I really like the strawberry meal replacement by Equate. I try to get a good night’s sleep. I feel so much better in the morning when I do.
I need to take calcium every day and I also take vitamin D and magnesium for my bones. I definitely need to improve my sleep habits though.
These are all great tips. I know I need to work more on getting my supplements in each day. This is something I don’t really do and need to start doing.
I haven’t tried the strawberry flavour yet…thanks for the recommendation.
Vitamin D is so essential
It has a nice taste
I struggle with drinking water as well.
I agree with your tips and you try this vitamin product.
These are simple, basic tips that we all need to be reminded of every now and then. Following them really makes a difference. I used to be able to get by with less sleep but not any more. I feel awful if I don’t get enough sleep. And drinking plenty of water really helps too.