Women's Health Tips

Daily calcium

To get the recommended 1,000-1,200 mg of calcium per day, women should consume three servings of milk products (1portion=1 cup/250 mL of milk, 6 oz/175 g of yogurt or 1 oz/45 g of cheese). If you don�t like milk products, you can replace each of the three portions with a 300 mg calcium supplement and try other sources of calcium.

Sleep stealers

Beware of factors that rob you of a good night�s sleep: Arguments before bedtime, caffeine, sugar, vitamin C and intense exercise.To relax, take a hot bath, drink a cup of herbal tea or a glass of milk and read. A drop of lavender or orange oil on your sheets can also help bring sweet slumber.

Growing bones

Gardening is a great exercise for building bone density because of all the bending and lifting. Taking care of your flowers just once a week can reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Calcium intake and age

A woman in her 20s needs about 1,000 mg of calcium a day. By her 30's a woman�s bones stop growing, so it�s wise to build a reserve of bone and calcium that�ll be needed in the future. Exercise can help. Women in their 40's can start to lose bone density. Dairy foods, leafy green vegetables, fish, and even non-dairy products that are fortified with calcium help to boost calcium-intake.

Cut the caffeine

Your chances of developing an irritated bladder can double if you�re drinking more than four cups of caffeinated coffee each day. Caffeine in tea, chocolate and cola are also irritants.