4 Things You Need to Take for Women’s Health

Women’s health is an important topic being discussed more now than ever before and women, like yourself, are becoming more aware of the importance of caring for yourself. A woman’s body and it’s functions are complex, so when thinking about women’s health, consider the uniqueness of a woman. Our physiology is different than a man’s so our body’s needs for nutrients for things like exercise, metabolism and daily micronutrient requirements (vitamins and minerals) will also differ!1,2 We experience many changes throughout our lifetime from puberty, to adulthood, pregnancy, post-partum and menopause. Our needs will vary depending on what stage of life we are in. Using this perspective when looking for ways to support your body will allow you to care for it best.

Here are 4 things to support your health as a woman:

1.  A women’s focused multivitamin

We can ALL benefit from added essential vitamins and minerals that may be lacking in our diet and multivitamins provide a simple way of meeting these needs in a compact and convenient way. PLUS, the majority of Canadians including women are experience micronutrient deficiencies throughout their lifetime. Progressive offers a variety of Women specific multivitamins to suit your needs throughout the journey of womanhood.

2. Calcium3

An essential mineral needed for proper bone development and maintenance as well as proper muscle functioning alongside magnesium. Calcium is a foundational nutrient and a woman’s requirements for it change with age! For young ladies still growing and for aging women, calcium is a non-negotiable. Post-menopausal woman, due to reduced estrogen production, are at greater risk of osteoporosis. Progressive has two formulations of Complete Calcium designed for a women’s needs including a formula for ladies over 50 years of age.

3. Magnesium4,5

A key mineral which is involved in more than 300 reactions within the body yet over 1/3 of Canadians, including women, are not getting enough from their diet and require additional supplementation. Magnesium is essential for proper muscle function and studies have shown that low magnesium status has been linked to many women’s health conditions. Magnesium is so important for maintaining proper muscle function! Try Progressive’s Magnesium Bisgylcinate, which is a highly absorbable form to benefit all the muscles in your body.

4. A Probiotic Specific for Women6

The health benefits of probiotics or beneficial bacteria go far beyond our digestive system and supporting our gut. Scientific evidence suggests the support of probiotics for many aspects of our overall health. In addition to the prevalence of digestive issues women deal with, urinary tract infections are one of the most common bacterial infections in women with 50-60% having UTIs at least once in their lifetime.7 Progressive’s Perfect Probiotics has a women’s specific probiotic that includes cranberry extract to help prevent the recurrence of urinary tract infections while also supporting and promoting a favorable gut flora.

References:

1. Power, M., & Schulkin, J. (2008). Sex differences in fat storage, fat metabolism, and the health risks from obesity: possible evolutionary origins. British Journal of Nutrition, 99(5), 931–940. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114507853347

2. Raffaella Comitato, Anna Saba, Aida Turrini, Claudia Arganini & Fabio Virgili (2015) Sex Hormones and Macronutrient

3. Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. Calcium. Accessed March 31, 2022 at: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/calcium/#:~:text=Calcium%20is%20a%20mineral%20most,heart%20rhythms%20and%20nerve%20functions.

4. Government of Canada. Canadian Community Health Survey. Accessed January 20, 2022 at: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/food-nutrition-surveillance/health-nutrition-surveys/canadian-community-health-survey-cchs/canadian-adults-meet-their-nutrient-requirements-through-food-intake-alone-health-canada-2012.html

5. Parazzini F, Di Martino M, Pellegrino P. Magnesium in the gynecological practice: a literature review. Magnes Res. 2017 Feb 1;30(1):1-7. English. doi: 10.1684/mrh.2017.0419. PMID: 28392498.

6. Akgül, T., & Karakan, T. (2018). The role of probiotics in women with recurrent urinary tract infections. Turkish journal of urology, 44(5), 377–383. https://doi.org/10.5152/tud.2018.48742

7. Al-Badr, A., & Al-Shaikh, G. (2013). Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections Management in Women: A review. Sultan Qaboos University medical journal, 13(3), 359–367. https://doi.org/10.12816/0003256