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It is a recognized fact that vitamins do play an important part in our lives and it is essential that women take multivitamin supplements to maintain a healthy body and general well being. A little known fact, however, is that the composition of the multivitamins that women need to take changes with their age. As women get older and as their bodies undergo the natural cycles of aging, they need different composition of multivitamins to meet their bodies' needs. Multivitamin Requirements for Younger Women Women in this age group include women who have just started their menstruation cycle. They are of the child bearing age and are usually sexually active. The main hormonal activity in women of this age is that of estrogen and with the menstruation cycle, the need for multivitamins increases. Women in this age group should maintain a Packed Cell Volume (PCV) between 35% to 45%, but their monthly menstruation cycle sometimes makes the PCV drop below this range and exposes them to anemia. Iron and Folic Acid Sometimes women below 40 have a very heavy or prolonged menstrual flow or menorrahlgia which can lead to anemia. To avoid health problems associated with this condition, women need to supplement their diet with multivitamins and iron. This helps in replacing the blood loss. However iron, which is needed to ensure new blood cell formation, should be taken as a separate supplement. This is because iron is not required on a daily basis and is only needed to supplement iron deficiencies if you have any. Folic acid is another supplement that is beneficial to women who are hoping to get have children or those who are already pregnant, and should be included in the multivitamins that they already take. Folic acid, when included in the multivitamins, will not only prevent anemia but it will also protect the unborn child from congenital malformations, especially from Spinal Bifida. Multivitamins and Pregnant Women Prenatal and nursing women have different supplemental needs from pregnant women. While expecting mothers should consult their doctor and supplement their diet with multivitamins that she recommends, prenatal and nursing mothers can benefit from supplements that contain omega 3 fatty acids, folic acid and iron. Folic acid is highly recommended for pregnant women and these days doctors prescribe 400 mcg as a daily supplement in addition taking multivitamins. Women above 40 and Multivitamins When women reach menopause, they stop menstruating and estrogen does not play a significant role in their body. At the stage there is no blood loss and they can get most of the iron and folic acid that their body requires from their diet. However at this stage in their lives they need a multivitamin that is high in calcium in order to prevent osteoporosis, which is a calcium deficiency in their bones. Though there are many misconceptions about the role of multivitamin supplements in the diet of post menopausal women, studies show that these multivitamins do not lower the risks of various cancers. Post menopausal women are encouraged to get their vitamins through their diet by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables as these vitamins lower the risk of cancer. Women above 60 Women above the age of 60 need to take multivitamin supplements that are high in calcium as these will help strengthen their bones and help them prevent bone fractures that most elderly women are prone too. Taking multivitamins high in calcium will help them to store the calcium in their bodies which is needed for the protection of their bones. About The Author
Dedicated to healthy living, the author made it her mission to set about finding which multivitamin is best for maintaining and improving health as well giving people the right amounts of important nutrients that they may be missing in their daily diets. Having read countless reviews and visited many vitamin websites she now enjoys sharing her knowledge by writing about the best vitamins for women.
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