Skip to main content

Balanced diet for ladies: Eat according to your body’s age

Experts say that as years roll by, your body’s ability to absorb nutrients decline, so it is even more important to formulate a balanced diet and eat according to one’s age.

The following age-specific information (excluding the details given under ‘Expectant Mothers’) is a summary from an article I read in the popular UK food magazine called Delicious and the article is titled “Eat your age: Wise up to your changing needs.” It is written by Anna Montague and published in  March 2011. 

[READ: Why Salad is Good for you ]




Balanced Diet during Teen Years
Iron deficiency is seen as a predominant condition in most teenage girls and this trend is increasing. Teenage girls are not getting enough iron from their diet.

  • 200gm of low fat yoghurt every day
  • Lean meat, fish, pulses and eggs
  • Dried fruits
  • Leafy vegetables
  • Fresh fruits
  • Say no to sugary drinks
Having a daily sufficient calcium intake is important for girls as it is like having ‘bone in the bank’ for the future.

Balanced Diet in the 20s’
  • Fortified cereals
  • Have fresh and dried nuts
  • Fruits
  • Low fat yoghurt
  • Watch portion size
Balanced Diet in the 30s’
  • Breakfast cereals
  • Fibre
  • Green leafy veggies
  • Whole grain bread
  • Pulses
  • Fish
Balanced Diet for Expectant Mothers
It is important for expectant mothers to maintain a proper balanced diet. High levels of caffeine can lead to low birth weight or even miscarriage.

  • Women who are pregnant need to have folate-rich food besides 400 mcg folic acid supplement daily to reduce the risk having a baby with neural tube defects such as spina bfida.
  • In South India, it is recommended that having coconut water thrice a day is highly recommended as both mother and baby will be replenished with natural vitamins from nature. Also, most mothers who have tried this method vouch for babies with smooth, glowing skin.
  • Customary practice is that expectant mothers can have warm milk with saffron. My gynaecologist advised me it is not good for the baby because saffron has a ‘drugging, sedative effect’ which is not good for a baby’s developing brain. So, I didn’t touch it.
Balanced Diet in the 40s’ & 50s’
As you grow older, it becomes more important to stay fit and healthy.

  • Have plenty of calcium-rich foods for your bones as a woman’s body at this age produces less oestrogen and therefore, bone loss also accelerates.
  • Bask in the sunshine. Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium effectively. Sunlight on the skin is a main source of vitamin D.
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Salt intake should be carefully monitored.
  • Cut down on saturated fat.
  • Fibre rich foods like oats, beans, pulses and lentils can help reduce blood cholesterol levels.
Have a balanced diet whatever phase of life you are and try to always eat according to your body’s age. And if you feel like reading a very heartwarming post, do read ''A Dad's Advice to the Daughter He Loves.''


♥♥  I thank you with all my heart for reading my post. I dedicate this post with love and gratitude to all those who are looking to improve their health and nutrition.REQUEST: Please SHARE this article on your favorite social networks. Every share, like or tweet makes me reach out to more people and hopefully, more women. I am grateful and I appreciate you for doing so. ♥♥

Comments

Harish P I said…
Thanks for sharing it. Also right exercising is as important.
Raji said…
Great info! Thanks for Sharing...
very useful for a health & fitness freak like me!!
Thanks Harish. As you rightly mentioned, exercise is important for good health and keeping fit.

Raji, I am glad you liked the post.

Shooting Star, if you are a health and fitness freak, do give me some tips. I could do with them, see you soon:)
Anonymous said…
It's the best time to make a few plans for the long run and it is time to be happy.
I've read this post and if I could I want to
suggest you few interesting things or suggestions. Perhaps
you can write subsequent articles referring to this article.
I desire to learn even more issues approximately it!

My website nk (http://www.jaknapisaccvonline.pl/zabawne-zdjecia-w-internecie)

Most Popular Posts

The Ugly Truth about Caste in Kerala

Many years ago, when I wrote this post on Kerala's caste system, I had not considered that people would start sending in abusive comments about one caste over the other. It baffles me that this is how Indians, all of us, continue to judge each other on account of caste differences.  [ READ: Guru Kripa: Powerful Lessons at the Lotus Feet ] My question is - why do you ABUSE any caste or community? I suggest that you read about the lives of great Masters and their stories - none of them judged anyone on the basis of caste.  You can read the life stories of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagawadpada, Tulsidas, Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, Shirdi Sai Baba, and many more Gurus in Sanathana Dharma. NONE of them endorse these caste hierarchies in Bhakti Marga. Assuming that Guru Sampradaya does not appeal to your sensibilities, do read this  new book 'Ants among Elephants' written by Sujatha Gidla, who writes about herself as being born

How do you light Deepam at home?

How do you light deepam at home? As a child, I loved watching the ritual of my grandmother lighting the deepam or the traditional lamp at home in the evenings. A sense of serenity accompanied her frail figure as she would carefully straighten every wick, dip it into the tiny puddle of oil and light the lamp. As my grandmother would read out the scriptures and chant the prayers, the fragrance of incense sticks and flowers added depth to the experience. In many Hindu homes nowadays, the lighting of the lamp (or the nilavilakku, as Malayalis refer to the traditional lamp in their homes) is not a regular practice. A lot of people have many questions around how to light deepam at home and which oil to use and so on. An important point to keep in mind - Maintain physical cleanliness and hygiene while lighting the lamp. Wear clean clothes while lighting the lamp. Frequently Asked Questions About Lighting Deepam at Home Collating most queries related to how to light the deepam at home, I'v

What is the story of Shivaji? The great son of a great mother called Jijabai

Chhatrapati Shivaji, the great Maratha warrior whose guerrilla warfare tactics are fleetingly mentioned in Indian history textbooks, is increasingly relevant today. A Hindi movie 'Tanhaji' starring Ajay Devgn and Kajol got many of us curious to know more about this warrior. Sadly, we don't seem to have much information in our history textbooks!   [ READ: Significance of Surya Argya  and How do you Light Deepam? ] Source: Anjali Natarajan on Twitter  Shivaji Maharaj: The Great Son of a Great Mother Jijabai The more I read about Shivaji Maharaj,   the more fascinated I am.   I wondered why we have learned so little about this great warrior and his great mother Jijabai, and why public memory has been totally erased from most history books! As a mother, I have always been fascinated by how some of India's greatest and most revered men and women are individuals who were deeply influenced at an early age by their mothers. Bharat is a country that belongs to great mothers who

Malayalam Movie Review: Rani Padmini asks serious questions but fails to deliver a meaningful impact

I like movies that show strong women.  I had great expectations from Aashiq Abu's latest Malayalam movie - Rani Padmini.  The two heroines Manju Warrier and Rima Kallingal demonstrate commendable chemistry despite a poorly paced script and badly written screenplay.  W hile Jinu Joseph is impressive as the racer, there is no chemistry with Manju Warrier. The vibes are sangfroid between the two actors.  The first half of the movie puts you on edge. You keep waiting for a spectacular story but the second half is where the story "begins."  The pace of the film is inconsistent. The 'Ant" story and also the 'paragliding' scenes were stretched to too slow. Then suddenly, the narrative becomes too pacy. Malayalam Movie Review: Rani Padmini Story The story goes like this: Padmini  (starring Manju Warrier)   is a Malayali girl married to a Delhi based racing car driver, whose name is Giri (starring Jinu Joseph). The couple love

Vidyarambham 2019: What is the literal translation of Ezhuthiniruthu?

Vidyarambham 2019 will forever remain one of my happiest moments of the year.   Growing up, the festival of Vijayadashami is linked to my happiest memories with my cousins and parents, a remembrance of piping hot prasadam and books that are carefully wrapped and labelled and then, placed in the puja room. [READ: How and Why Malayalis celebrate Vidyarambham]                                                [Image: Pixabay] Believe it or not, three times a day, a puja would be conducted at home. Those were the days when we didn't have domestic help as an integral part of inside kitchen chores. This meant that everyone pitched in. Yes, it seems almost unthinkable nowadays.   Back then, all family members would gather and pitch in for cooking and cleaning and so on.   A sense of togetherness is what made the festival so special.   For children, this became THE season to not have to study anything, watch TV and play outdoors with other cousins and be up to all kinds of mis