What Vitamins Should Women Take?

(December 13, 2010)

What vitamins should women take regularly?

There are several changes that a woman’s body undergoes, right from the time she hits puberty, until after she reaches menopause. However, it is not just her body that is changing; her nutritional requirements undergo several alterations throughout her lifetime too. Unfortunately, studies indicate that barely around 8% all the women in the United States have perfectly healthy eating habits, which enables them to get all the vitamins they need from their food. In such cases, it may be best to check if the levels of any particular vitamin are low in the body and increase the consumption of that particular vitamin. However some women may suffer from a deficiency of many vitamins and it may be best for them to take a vitamin supplement, upon the recommendation of the doctor.

Some women may also require additional levels of a certain vitamin, due to various factors and health conditions. For example, a woman who is within the childbearing ages needs a higher intake of Folic acid, as compared to others, in order to prevent any birth defects in her unborn baby. Also, women who are menopausal may need to increase their intake of other vitamins. A deficiency of an essential vitamin could lead to a severe health complication. Therefore, instead of asking themselves, “what vitamins should I take?”, during different phases of life, it is best for women to consult a doctor about it.

What vitamins should women take while planning a pregnancy?

There are several women who plan their pregnancies well in advance and undergo certain tests too, so that the risks of complications are minimized. Women usually begin to make certain healthy lifestyle changes, by following a healthy diet and getting rid of certain unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking alcohol. Such women also begin taking certain prenatal vitamins, up to a year before they plan to get pregnant. Most doctors advise women who are planning to get pregnant to take prenatal vitamins that contain Folate. However, there are certain vitamins that should be avoided by women before and during pregnancy. Therefore, it is best to consult a doctor, for a list of vitamins for women before pregnancy. 

What vitamins should women take during pregnancy? 

Most pregnant women are advised to eat high quantities of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy products and lean meats, since these foods are high in various vitamins. Women are usually asked to consume natural foods for the vitamins, as a supplement could lead to an overdose, which might be harmful for the baby.

What vitamins should women take during menopause?

Women going through menopause could experience various unfavorable symptoms, such as hot flashes, mood swings, palpitations, nervousness, sleeping disorders, depression and vertigo, just to name a few. Fortunately, there are some vitamin supplements for women that can help relieve many of these symptoms. Most women are asked to take higher amounts of Vitamin D as well as calcium when they are going through menopause.

It is important for people to realize that even the best vitamins for women can have an adverse effect, if it is taken in the wrong quantity. Therefore before adding any significant sources of vitamins to a diet, it is necessary for women to consult a doctor.