What Women Need (Nutritionally) Part 2

So what is the difference between a women's multivitamin and a men's multivitamin? If you run out of yours, is it a big deal for you to sneak a few of the other for a few days, until you can run out to the store again?

Our last blog post talked about how it's probably best to get nutrients from food, although this can be difficult. So, if you decide to take a supplement, such as a multivitamin, what's the difference?

Different companies will come up with different formulations, so it's important to check to label to be sure that if there is a specific nutrient that you are looking for, that it's in there in the amounts that you would like. Also, there's a huge difference in the absorptivity of different supplements, so that's important to keep in mind, if you've been taking a certain brand consistently for a while, but find that you do not feel any difference from it. All vitamins and supplements are definitely not created equal.

Now, here are a few key points for women's supplements:

Calcium: Needed to support strong bones and prevent bone density loss, which can lead to osteoporosis. (Have you heard a story of how an old lady fell and broke her hip? Her hips were weak from not enough calcium, and so broke from the small impact of a fall.)

To aid in absorption of calcium, it is recommended that calcium be taken with Magnesium and Vitamin D.

Iron: When women menstruate, they lose some iron. For this reason, women's vitamins have more iron that those for men. Women that are past menopause do not need this extra iron any more. The extra iron is not included in men's vitamins because excessive iron can build up in the body, causing undesired things to happen.

These are just the basics, a small taste of general nutritional information for you. I provide guidance for my clients with personalized goals and requirements. Visit Dorothy Pang, L.Ac's website at www.AcuSpaWellness.com for a full list of services provided.

How Do Low Calorie Diets Extend Lifespan?

Diadzein, a soy isoflavone, is being touted as a possible life extender. Researchers believe it activates the same proteins in the body that a restricted calorie diet does. We may be one step closer to finding out why it is that a restricted calorie diet seems to extend lifespan so much in rats...

It's hard to know if this applies to people as well, but it seems to. Restrictive calorie diets do seem to lead to longer lifespans. For more info on that, visithttp://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Could-soy-isoflavones-extend-life

Can we get this life-extending benefit without calorie restriction? I personally would not invest in diadzein supplements yet. Isoflavones can act like estrogen in the body, throwing off a normal healthy hormonal balance.

This is another example of why it's a good idea to talk to a professional about nutritional supplements. Dorothy Pang, licensed acupuncturist, is one such example. Visit us at www.AcuSpaWellness.com for more information.