• Home
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Media Kit 2023
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Events
  • Comments
  • Posts
Health Care Asia LogoHealth Care Asia Logo
HCA Twitter HCA Meta
  • Home
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Media Kit 2023
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Events

Women should eat more colourful fruits and veggies for better health

July 18, 2022
Women should eat more colourful fruits and veggies for better health

Women have noticeably higher rates of chronic illness despite living longer than men. These high rates of illness can be managed by prioritising a diet of brightly-coloured fruits and vegetables such as kale, spinach, yams, watermelon, bell peppers, tomatoes, oranges, and carrots – the pigmented carotenoids act as antioxidants to prevent visual and cognitive loss, according to researchers at the University of Georgia (UGA).

Research shows women tend to store vitamins and minerals in their bodies differently from men: UGA professor of psychology Billy Hammond pointed out that women reserve many dietary vitamins and minerals in their body fat, to be used for pregnancy. This unfortunately means that the nutrients are less readily available for the brain and retina in women, putting them at risk of degenerative problems.

A UGA study details several degenerative conditions, from autoimmune diseases to dementia that, even controlling for lifespan differences, women experience at much higher rates than men. Women account for nearly 80% of all autoimmune diseases, said Hammond, and so, need extra preventive care.

Dietary intake of two specific carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, have been shown to directly improve ocular and central nervous system health. Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in specific tissues of the eye and brain.

“Men and women eat about the same amount of these carotenoids, but the requirements for women are much higher – there are, generally, not any recommendations for men or women for dietary components that are not directly linked to deficiency disease (like vitamin C and scurvy),” said Hammond.

“Components of diet influence the brain, from things like personality to even our concept of self. I don’t think people quite realise what a profound effect diet has on basically who they are, their mood, even their propensity to anger. And now of course this is extended to the microbiome and the bacteria that make up your gut – all of these components work together to create the building blocks that compose our brain and the neurotransmitters that mediate its use.”

Carotenoids are also available via supplements, and the National Institutes of Health has focused resources on specific carotenoids through the National Eye Institute program. And though supplements of lutein and zeaxanthin are a way of increasing intake, Hammond said getting them through food is a much better strategy.

Health Care Asia Home Women- Health Care Asia

Tags: women

Category: Features, Wellness and Complementary Therapies

Email Facebook Google StumbleUpon Tumblr Twitter

Subscribe

If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.

Privacy guaranteed. We never share your info.
Subscribe via RSS Feed Follow Us on Twitter Connect on Facebook

Comments are closed.

« Virtual reality-in-app used to treat common phobias and anxiety
Two new cases of the deadly Marburg virus detected in Ghana »
2023 MJN Media Kit
Subscribe to HCA for exclusive updates

Sponsored Content

6 Ways to improve your hearing and prevent hearing loss

6 Ways to improve your hearing and prevent hearing loss

Caring for your hearing health is essential regardless of your age. Not only does it reduce the risk of suffering from irreversible hearing loss... Read More

Top Viewed News

Sunway Sanctuary upscale senior living facility to open in 2023 in Kuala Lumpur

Sunway Sanctuary upscale senior living facility to open in 2023 in Kuala Lumpur

Sunway Healthcare Group (Sunway Healthcare) is set to launch its flagship senior living residence in response to increasing... Read More

A look into type 1 diabetes

A look into type 1 diabetes

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has mentioned that diabetes claims about three lives every minute worldwide – to narrow it down diabetes has been found to affect over 1 in 5 Malaysians... Read More

Regular breast cancer screening and self-examination helps your chances of survival

Regular breast cancer screening and self-examination helps your chances of survival

The prevalence of breast cancer is expected to cause more than 2.5 million deaths between 2020 and 2040, if nothing is done to avert it... Read More

Identifying childhood diabetes

Identifying childhood diabetes

Type 1 diabetes mellitus mostly afflicts young children – it is apparently the most common form of childhood diabetes in Malaysia... Read More

Free counters!

2023 -2024 Exhibitions



2023 Events


4-6 October
Medical Device Development (MEDIX)- Osaka
INTEX, Osaka
www.japan-mfg-kansai.jp


9-11 October
Saudi International Pharma Expo
Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center
www.saudipharmaexpo.com


9-11 October
Saudi International MedLab Expo
Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center
www.saudimedlabexpo.com


10-11 October
AI Asia Expo Philippines
Marriott Grand Ballroom Convention Center, Manila
www.aiasiaexpo.com


19-21 October
Health Asia
Karachi Expo Center, Pakistan
www.health-asia.com


3-4 November
Eldercare Exhibition and Conference Asia (ELDEX Asia 2023)
Suntex Singapore Exhibition and Convention Centre
www.eldexasia.com


28 November 2023 @ 9:00 am to 29 November 2023 @ 5:30 pm
Hospital @ Home Asia
Singapore
www.hospitalmanagementasia.com


2024 Events


11-13 September
Medical Fair Asia
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
www.medicalfair-asia.com


Tweets by @healthcareasia

© 2023 Healthcare Asia Daily News | Asia's Leading News and Information Source on Healthcare and Medical Industry, Medical Technology, Healthcare Business and R&D, Healthcare Events. Online since 2010. All rights reserved