A crucial nutrient ALL women must have

When I speak to women about their nutritional needs, 99 times out of 100 the first thing that pops into their minds is calcium.

Yes, calcium is very important, especially for women who may have osteoporosis concerns.

But there is another nutrient that is arguably far more important for women than calcium!

It’s needed at ALL stages of life—not just middle age—and serves a variety of crucial functions in a woman’s body.

And it even helps protect against the #1 cause of death in women!

I’m talking about Omega-3 essential fatty acids.

Here is why they are so “essential” for women—from the cradle to the grave.

Brain development in infancy

Omega-3 EFAs are absolutely vital for a baby’s (both boys and girls!) brain and nervous system to develop properly.

This is especially true of DHA—Docosahexaenoic acid.  Our brains are very rich in this Omega-3 fatty acid—as a matter of fact, a quarter of the dry weight of your brain is DHA!

Babies must have their Omega-3 EFAs supplied by their mothers both in the womb and preferably through breastfeeding as an infant (more on that below).

The PMS years

More than one-third of menstruating females suffer from pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) with 10 percent of those suffering severely.

But there are actually two times in a woman’s cycle when her hormones show the greatest changes in estrogen and progesterone levels—during ovulation and the few days leading up to menstruation.

It’s the balance between these hormones that is thought to be largely responsible for the symptoms of PMS—and that especially includes mood swings.

What can make mood swings even worse is when a woman is low in Omega-3 essential fatty acids.  Because of their importance to the brain and its proper functioning, women lacking these nutrients tend to suffer more often and from more severe mood swings during their cycle.

Pregnancy

Findings recently published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism revealed that most pregnant women aren’t getting enough Omega-3 fatty acids – specifically DHA. 

And as I mentioned above, that is the fatty acid that is VITAL to a baby’s brain and nervous system development.

Sadly, the researchers found that only 27 percent of women during pregnancy and 25 percent of women three-months postpartum were meeting proper DHA recommendations.

But that’s not all.

Because Omega-3 EFAs are also needed by a pregnant woman for her body to produce more red blood cells so that she can provide enough nutrients and oxygen to the growing baby.

These fatty acids also help the placenta grow and function as needed—and it’s through the placenta that the baby derives its nutrients.

Menopause and beyond

Mental health problems are very common during menopause, and similar to the PMS years, that especially includes depression, anxiety and mood swings. 

Therefore, being low in Omega-3 EFAs during this stage of life can also worsen menopausal mood swings.

In addition, it is during the menopausal years that many women also being suffering the effects of osteoarthritis. 

Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory condition—and since Omega-3 EFAs are a natural anti-inflammatory, lacking them can trigger or worsen arthritis symptoms.

Heart disease protection at ALL ages

Although men may suffer just as much as women from heart disease, it actually kills more women than men.

And that includes women as young as 20 years of age!

Inflammation in the inner arterial walls is the primary contributing factor behind high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. 

So the anti-inflammatory action of Omega-3 essential fatty acids are extremely important here…as in, they may save your life!

Make sure you’re getting enough

So as you can see, it’s crucial for women of ALL ages to make sure you’re getting enough Omega-3 EFAs, especially the brain-supporting DHA.

You can help make sure you’re covering your body’s needs by both incorporating more oily fish into your diet (be sure to look for wild-caught varieties and not farmed fish) as well as supplementing with a high-quality fish oil formula like VitalMega-3!

The suggested 2-capsule daily serving packs a health-loving 1,200 mg. of EPA, DHA and other Omega-3 fatty acids, which more than satisfies the levels recommended by most experts.

Additional cardiovascular protection if you need it!

If the early stages of heart disease are already a concern for you, or if you just want to support your cardiovascular health and help prevent heart disease from becoming an issue, Dr. Salerno’s Cardio Factor is your ticket.

Dr. Salerno’s unique formula is jam-packed with nutrients that help support proper cardiovascular functioning, including vitamins B2, B12, B6 and folate (deficiencies of which are factors in high blood pressure), magnesium and zinc.

Use the power of nutrients, ladies, to help make sure you stay healthy and vibrant at ALL ages!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia

PS: Always be sure to let your doctor or healthcare provider know what supplements you are taking.