National Women’s Health and Fitness Day: The Need To Prioritise Your Health

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The month of September calls for the celebration of National Women’s Health and Fitness Day. This day usually involves a set of community-based activities and awareness programs that focus on women’s health and fitness. It is dedicated to talking about the importance of female well-being, its nuances and how women need to work on their health through exercise, a balanced diet and supplementation.

National Women’s Health and Fitness Day

The day was initially established by the Health Information Resource Center (HIRC), a nonprofit organisation that focuses on promoting awareness about the impact lifestyles, diets, and exercise have on individuals. It was created to address women’s health specifically since it is often dismissed or lacks sufficient research. The day has gained recognition over the years with various organisations, communities, and health professionals promoting it and encouraging physical activity events for women.

Understanding Women’s Health Needs

It is a common understanding that a balanced diet and regular exercise are what keep one’s body healthy regardless of our assigned sex. However, it is important to note that women face a number of unique health challenges. Hence understanding these challenges in depth is required to bring effective solutions. A few of the health challenges women face include:

1. Hormonal Fluctuations

Women experience significant hormonal fluctuations during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. These hormonal changes bring about psychological and anatomical changes such as mood swings, weight gain/loss and menstrual disorders.

2. Bone Health

Women are at the highest risk of developing bone health issues like osteoporosis and arthritis. A drop in estrogen levels post-menopause is one of the leading causes of bone loss and weakening of muscles.

3. Reproductive Health

Women’s reproductive health holds a wide range of issues, including menstrual disorders, fertility challenges, pregnancy-related complications, and gynaecological conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Women are also often more susceptible to vitamin and mineral deficiencies which also cause an overall decline of health. These deficiencies can be kept under check through a balanced diet and specific supplements for women’s health.

Supplements for Women’s Health

Essential vitamins and minerals are important for maintaining overall health and well-being in women. Since women’s health is often not given the extra attention it needs, there is a lack of awareness regarding these vitamin/mineral deficiencies.

1. Calcium

Calcium is considered one of the most important minerals for maintaining bone health and healthy teeth. It is often stated that children and growing young adults require the highest amounts of calcium, but women also need to maintain adequate calcium levels because they are at a higher risk of developing bone health issues.

2. Vitamin D

Vitamin D and calcium go hand-in-hand as vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of calcium and calcium is the primary mineral for healthy bone development. It also plays a role in immune function.

3. Iron

Iron is crucial for the production of haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to tissues and organs. Women are more susceptible to iron deficiency anaemia due to blood loss during menstruation.

4. Folate (Vitamin B9)

Pregnant women often require high folate levels as it is vital in foetus development and well-being. It’s also important for DNA synthesis and repair of the body. Folate is usually taken in the form of additional supplementation.

Additional supplementation like Diataal can help women fill in various nutritional gaps present due to unbalanced diets and specific dietary needs.

Women’s Fitness and Optimal Health

Regular physical activity provides women with the optimal level of physical and mental health they seek. Exercise provides women with a wide range of benefits which includes, maintenance of bone health, weight, mental health and protection from chronic diseases. Some of the perks include:

• Improved Cardiovascular Health – Running, swimming, and cycling help strengthen the heart and improve its efficiency.
• Stress Reduction – Feel-good hormones like ‘dopamine’ are released which improves mood and overall mental health.
• Enhanced Metabolism – Exercise boosts metabolism, which means your body burns more calories at rest.
• Better Sleep – Exercise can improve the quality of sleep by regulating sleep patterns and reducing insomnia.

Exercises like Yoga, Walking, Running, Pilates and Strength Training often benefit women the most. Incorporating exercise into your daily routine can lead to a healthier body and mind.

Incorporating Diataal into Your Health Journey

Along with a well-balanced diet and regular exercise, additional supplementation can address holistic health and fill in any nutritional gaps present in women’s diets. Incorporating Diataal  supplementation into your daily nutritional routine can help solve vitamin/nutritional deficiencies, improve sleep, increase daily energy and much more.

Diataal provides multivitamins as well as specific nutrient supplementation. For maximum efficiency of supplementation, one must research factors such as timings, individual lifestyles, and individual health standards.

Prioritising Your Health on National Women’s Health and Fitness Day 

Female health has historically been overlooked and has not received the attention it deserves. It necessitates specialised research and supplementation due to the diverse range of anatomies, bodies, and overall health conditions that women exhibit. Embracing and understanding this diversity is essential to effectively address the various health issues that women encounter.

Remember to be an advocate of your own health and maintain a positive outlook in your journey of achieving your fitness goals.

Inspiring Stories

When women prioritise their health, they become stronger, sharper and better. Women around the world are realising the potential of exercise and the importance of healthier lifestyles. Here are some women that may inspire you to take the next step.

1. Dolly Singh

After experiencing an ankle sprain a few years ago, Dolly Singh, found her way to yoga. Today, she is renowned as India’s leading plus-sized yoga practitioner, making waves on social media as she challenges societal body stereotypes. Dolly is an advocate for women’s health and promotes the awareness of exercises like yoga on women’s overall well-being. She also provides a variety of female wellness tips.

2. Lean Beef Patty

A renowned American TikTok fitness influencer, Lean Beef Patty, started her fitness journey in 2018 and has been pursuing her fitness goals ever since, serving as an inspiration for numerous women along the way.

3. Emily Robinson

Emily Robinson, widely recognized on Instagram as @emilyrobinson.fit, is a prominent fitness influencer.  Her focus primarily centres on empowering women who are taking their initial steps into the world of fitness and exercise.

4. Massy Arias

Known to be a certified health & wellness coach and a trainer, Massy is the founder of the fitness program MA Warrior and wellness brand Tru Supplements, both of which aim at empowering women through the art of exercise. 

Building a Sustainable Health Routine

Good health like most things is a long-term commitment. Hence it is important that one builds a sustainable health routine that can be followed consistently and is tailored to individual goals and requirements.

A sustainable health routine provides you with benefits such as:

• Better quality of life
• Improved mental health
• Healthy ageing
• Prevention of chronic diseases
• A Feeling of achievement/satisfaction

Starting out your health and fitness journey does not have to be done alone as there is a plethora of resources one can use for motivation, inspiration and a starting step.

Conclusion

Women’s Health and Fitness Day emphasises the importance of regular check-ups, preventive care, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle to address issues like reproductive health, mental well-being, and chronic disease prevention. Prioritising one’s health is important for a fulfilling and comfortable life. Through various events conducted on this day, awareness around women’s health is expected to be raised so that we can strive for better solutions and care.

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