Five foods that can help boost women’s health

When it comes to women’s health, nutrition is only a part of the picture – but it’s an important one

Conscious of how salt consumption might be impacting your health? Well, eating foods such as bananas, avocados and salmon could help reduce the negative effects of salt in women’s diets, according to new research. The findings, published in European Heart Journal, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), found diets rich in potassium were associated with lower blood pressure – especially for women with high salt intake. The researchers reckon this could be beneficial for heart health, and more so for women than men.

Of course, it’s still a good idea to be mindful of how much excess salt you consume – even if you are fond of bananas!

Wondering what other foods might be especially beneficial for women’s health? Here’s a look:

1. Leafy greens

Pauline Cox MSc, functional nutritionist, author and nutritional adviser to Wiley’s Finest (wileysfinest.com) sustainable fish oils, says: “Leafy greens are a super source of both magnesium and potassium.

“Magnesium is especially important, because subclinical magnesium deficiency is so common among women. Prolonged magnesium deficiency can lead to hypertension, atherosclerosis [thickening of the arteries], cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.”

Melissa Snover, a registered nutritionist and founder of Nourished (get-nourished. com) explains these vitamins and minerals can be particularly vital for women going through menopause.

“Vitamin deficiencies, which are a major consequence of menopause, can be combatted by eating leafy greens, which have also been shown to reduce fatigue and slow the rate of cognitive decline,” suggests Snover. “High fibre foods, such as broccoli, leafy greens, and beans and lentils, can help combat high insulin levels by slowing down digestion and reducing the effect of sugar on the blood.”

This could have a host of benefits for women’s health – including, for example, in managing conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can be associated with high insulin levels.

2. Beans

Cox says: “Beans are an important source of plant-based protein – and protein becomes increasingly important for women as they age. This is due to a reduced ability to break down protein into amino acids – key building blocks for building muscle, skin, and other tissues of the body.

“Muscle loss, known as sarcopenia, can make women more prone to weight gain and increased blood sugars. This is because muscles mop up blood sugars, using up lots of energy that would otherwise get stored as body fat,” Cox adds. “Retaining lean muscle mass is essential for women, particularly as we lose key growth hormones needed for muscle building at an earlier age than men, usually from our 30s onwards.”

3. Tomatoes

Cox notes heart disease is a leading cause of death among women. While there are lots of factors that influence our heart health, diet can also play a key role – and tomatoes could prove beneficial.

“Tomatoes are a super source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that may have benefits to heart health,” says Cox. “Optimising cardiovascular health is essential in preventing heart disease.

Lycopene may reduce free-radical damage, as well as having beneficial impacts on cholesterol levels.”

4. Nuts

Snacking on a handful of nuts, or your favourite nut butter, offers excellent health benefits. “I recommend a handful of nuts a day. It is important for everyone, including women and those assigned female at birth, to include healthy fats in their diet. This is needed for absorption of fat soluble vitamins,” says Dr Nitu Bajekal (nitubajekal.com), a senior consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist.

Cox adds: “Nuts are a great source of fibre, healthy fats and key vitamins such as vitamin E. Certain nuts, such as walnuts, offer an array of benefits.

“Rich in antioxidants, as well as being a super source of omega-3 fatty acids, walnuts have been shown to reduce inflammation, and promote gut health.”

Nuts may also help support women manage certain menopause symptoms.

As Snover explains: “Nuts are high in flavanols, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are excellent at helping alleviate feelings of brain fog, a common symptom of menopause, as they help reduce stress and inflammation in the brain.”