The Top 10 Health Tips for Women

The health of all Americans, men and women, is affected by many factors—some that we have control over and some that we don’t. Among the ones that we can control are our diet and exercise habits, which are especially important to maintaining our overall health. Here are the 10 best tips you can follow to improve your health as a woman.

1) Eat A Balanced Diet

A balanced diet is the key to women's health. In addition to helping you maintain a healthy weight, it can also reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. But what exactly makes up a balanced diet? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a healthy eating pattern as one that includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, poultry and fish, while limiting red meat and sweets. The following tips can help you create your own healthy eating plan

2) Get Enough Sleep

Numerous studies have shown that women don't get as much sleep as they need. Some women are sleeping only six hours a night on average, which can lead to mood disorders, weight gain, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We recommend prioritizing your health and getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night. This may seem like a lot, but the benefits will be worth it!

3) Exercise Daily

Improving health starts with taking care of yourself. Women are at a higher risk of developing diabetes, stroke and breast cancer. Sitting too much can increase the risk of obesity, which leads to high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Eating well not only helps maintain your weight but it's also been shown to lower the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancers. Moving more can help improve your health by increasing strength, building muscle mass and improving insulin sensitivity

4) Drink Water

Every woman needs to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. It not only helps keep you hydrated and feeling full, but it also helps flush toxins out of your body.

5) Eat Less Processed Sugar

One of the best ways to improve your health is to cut down on processed sugars. Processed sugars can be found in a wide range of foods and drinks, from ketchup to cereal to yogurt. The best way to avoid these sugars is to read food labels and opt for food with less than 5 grams of sugar per serving.

6) Limit Caffeine Intake

Caffeine is a stimulant that can make you feel more awake, alert, and focused. However, too much caffeine can cause headaches, make you anxious and jittery, or lead to insomnia. To avoid this, limit the amount of caffeine you consume. Aim for no more than 400 milligrams per day (about four cups of coffee).

7) Reduce Stress

Women often feel stress from a variety of sources, including work, family and relationships. There are many ways to reduce stress that can have a positive impact on your health. For instance, yoga and meditation are both proven methods for reducing stress levels. Exercise is also an effective way to release pent-up energy and tension as it works out the body's tense muscles.

8) Manage Your Weight

Weight is one of the most important aspects of health. Women need to take care of their weight not just because it's aesthetically pleasing but also because being overweight can lead to many health risks like high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease. The first step to managing your weight is understanding your body mass index. Once you understand where you stand in terms of BMI, you can make a plan to maintain a healthy weight or work towards losing weight. Weight management starts with maintaining a calorie deficit by eating less and exercising more.

9) Get Vaccinated/Get Checkups

It is important to get vaccinated and to have regular checkups. There are also many small things that women can do to take care of their health. Women should drink plenty of water, eat a healthy diet, and avoid bad habits like smoking cigarettes or drinking too much alcohol. Women should also get enough sleep and exercise regularly.

10) Track Your Progress

-One of the best health tips for women is to take a calcium supplement. Women need approximately 1,000 mg of calcium per day. Calcium can be found in dairy products, beans and tofu. 

-Consider eating at least one low fat or fat free dairy product each day.