Women’s day is celebrated on 8th march every year, the aim is to eliminate discrimination against women.
Women has different stages of life and in each stage, she faces different type of challenges. In this 21st century women are balancing between family and professional life. Taking care of a women’s diet also plays an import role to keep her healthy mentally and physically.
Every woman is passionate to cook different variety of food for the entire family. But she is never fussy about the food what she eats and generally compromise on the nutrition part of her diet.
Women’s generally consumes left over food of previous days since they don’t want to waste the food.
They generally serve the entire family and later consume last part of the food which may sometime not be enough to her.
They are various reasons of a women having low Hb (anaemia), calcium deficiency, underweight, and various other health problems.
A balance diet is basically essential for a women health. So, here are some tips to keep the women healthy
Never skip breakfast – breakfast means breaking 10 hours of fast from the time of dinner to early morning breakfast. So, having a heavy breakfast dense in carbohydrate is essential to give energy for entire day. It can be a combination of our traditional foods or some continental steamed snacks (idli), Vegetable Upma, dhokla, poha, semia, dosa, pan cake, chapathi with vegetables, Oats or Broken Wheat porridge.
Lunch like a queen – means balance foods which consist of – Carbohydrates (rice /ragi /wheat/jowar/ millets), High on Proteins (dal, sprouts, egg whites, Chicken, Fish, Curds), high fibre (salads, green Leafy vegetables) Less fat and SAY NO to fried foods
Dinner should be – Eat early, eat light/ small portion and Eat simple to keep the body weight under control.
Mid-morning and evening Snacks – can consist of – Cut Fruit, Vegetables Salad, Veg sandwich, soup/ buttermilk, sprouts/ boiled or roasted grams, boiled Egg White or Bhelpuri.
Hydration: Drinking enough water, buttermilk, milk, Lime juice (No Sugar), clear soups, soups without butter or cream is important. Hydration is necessary for clear skin, hair and to give energy throughout the day.
Physical Activity – Fat starts burning after 40th minute of physical activity 1 hour Physical activity is a must to keep the body weight controlled and to be away from the diseases conditions.
Women’s Health also should not be neglected after certain age basic Investigations is required
| Investigation | When to get done |
| Mammogram | A “baseline” mammogram between age 30 and 35 |
| Pap smear | Every other year beginning with onset of sexual activity |
| Cholesterol | Every two years after 35 (more often if level> 200mg/dl) |
| Breast self-exam | Every month |
| Blood pressure | Every other year after age 30 |
| Electrocardiogram | A baseline ECG in the 30s followed by another at age 45 |
| Thyroid tests | Level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH),T3,T4 |
| Bone density baseline test | Menopausal women taking hormone replacement or corticosteroids |
Contributed by Dr.Pavithra N Raj, Chief Dietician, Columbia Asia Referral Hospital Yeshwanthpur
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