Looking after your health is more than exercise and regular checkups. It is essential for you to also monitor your physical and mental wellbeing and for you to find the right lifestyle habits to create and develop life balance. In this capacity, what you consume plays a significant role. What you fed your body helps you fight disease, enhances your physical and mental strength, resilience and adaptability, and ensures that your body functions normally.
Thus, feeding your body with natural ingredients—backed by scientific evidence—is ideal to optimise your health and enhance wellbeing. So, what natural foods are ideal for you to do this?
Health Foods – Image by Devon Breen from Pixabay
Herbs
There are a number of herbs that work to aid better health in women. During a woman’s life, it is natural to experience hormonal fluctuations. These changes can affect mood, weight, and mental and physical wellbeing. However, consuming the right herbs can balance hormones to maintain normal bodily functions—homeostasis, your mood, and weight.
The top herbs for women’s health include:
- Fenugreek: works to regulate the production of breast milk, which is ideal after childbirth. Furthermore, it helps aid a regular blood sugar metabolism.
- Black Cohosh: aids a healthy and balanced reproductive system during natural processes throughout a woman’s life.
- Vitex: balances hormones and regulates their production. This is essential for better overall health and emotional wellbeing.
- Tribulus: naturally increases a woman’s sexual sensitivity and libido, especially after menopause.
- Red Clover: a source of phytoestrogens, which is essential for better skin health. It also supports the body through menopause.
- Korean Red Ginseng: highly beneficial for heart health and immunity. It can help a woman achieve better overall health.
- Maca: the powder encourages libido and balances fertility. It can aid better energy and stamina for sex.
Cranberry
Bacterial imbalances cause urinary tract infections (UTI’s). These are more common in woman than man, with one in every two women having a UTI during their life.
Cranberry is a well-known fruit that protects the body against free radical damage, which causes UTI’s. The berry is a natural antioxidant that is incredibly high in vitamin C and E. These nutrients aid overall health, as well as helping with UTI’s.
The main property in cranberries that reduce the bacteria imbalance and growth is its anti-adhesion benefits. This prevents or reduces the bacteria that can build up in the urinary tract.
Drinking or eating cranberries on a daily basis is ideal to keep UTI’s away. Or, can aid in treatment and management when a woman experiences a UTI.
Garlic
Garlic is a powerful natural medicine due to its key ingredient called allicin. Allicin boosts the response of your body’s white blood cells. Thus, when a woman consumes garlic, the allicin plays a part in protecting against the ability of cold bacteria to infiltrate the body.
Garlic is commonly linked to the stimulation of hair growth, which many women find difficult. Hormonal imbalances can often cause a reduction in hair growth. Thus, eating garlic regularly can help aid hair growth and may help a woman achieve those dream locks.
Ginger
Ginger is a natural flowering plant that has natural anti-inflammatory effects. Ginger may help aid inflammation reduction, which can decrease swelling and pain.
Furthermore, ginger is suggested to aid digestion and prevent nausea, which are common symptoms of a hormonal imbalance.
Ginger is an easy ingredient to add to your diet. It can be enjoyed in teas, as a sauce, or on top of meals.
Manuka Honey
When the immune system dips, it can cause a whole range of issues. A common issue from a low immune system is psoriasis, which is a common skin disorder, especially in women.
Psoriasis is a skin disorder that causes itching, dry scaling skin, and inflammation.
Manuka honey has incredible antibacterial healing properties, which is key for the management and treatment of psoriasis symptoms. The properties of manuka honey can calm the skin and aid in the reduction of inflammation.
Natural Yoghurt
Another skin issue common in women is perioral dermatitis. Natural yoghurt may be the best natural aid to help treat the inflammation it can cause, especially on the face.
Perioral ermatitis often causes inflammation and redness around the nose and mouth. By applying natural yoghurt to the affected areas, the redness and inflammation can reduce.
Natural yoghurt has powerful antibacterial properties, which is important to help treat peripheral inflammation.
Red wine
Consuming a healthy amount of red wine is said to have great benefits, especially for a woman’s sex drive.
Drinking too much red wine will not offer benefits. Thus, it is important to consume an alcoholic beverage in moderation.
Red wine is an aphrodisiac, which can encourage a woman to feel more sexual, which can help her libido. Additionally, it may aid sexual function, such as energy and stamina.
Apples
Apples also may aid a better sex life. Eating apples regularly may increase sex drive, which is due to the naturally occurring sugars.
Additionally, apples can help reduces the risk of heart conditions due to their dietary fibre and antioxidant properties.
Chocolate
Who doesn’t love chocolate? Well, you can enjoy it even more now if you are seeking an increased sex drive. Although evidence is small, there are some studies that suggest chocolate can aid sex drive. It is advised that dark chocolate has the greatest effects.
Coffee
Coffee is often referred to as a drink to avoid, due to its high caffeine content. However, when consumed in moderation, caffeine is great to boost mood.
Coffee is commonly associated with reducing the risk of cancer too. This is especially the case for female cancers, such as breast and ovarian.
Raw oysters
Throughout history, raw oysters have been associated with aiding sex drive for those who have lost their libido. Consuming raw oysters on a regular basis may help with your sex drive if you are looking for a boost.
Figs
Figs offer women various health benefits. Firstly, they are a useful aid for those looking to improve their hair and skin. Figs are rich in vitamins, which are essential for better and stronger nails and hair.
Furthermore, figs are a great anti-diabetic. Thus, those who are vulnerable to attaining diabetes may find a fig rich diet that can help reduce the risk.
For those looking to help with weight loss, figs may be able to assist with that. They are naturally rich in dietary fibre, which is ideal for weight loss and fat burning. They can satisfy the stomach for a long time, which can curb hunger and cravings.
Bananas
Bananas are incredibly high in magnesium, which is beneficial for heart health.
Furthermore, bananas may help with increasing libido. Bananas can help boost testosterone. Although the hormone is heavily associated with men, women also have testosterone. If levels are low, then a woman’s sex drive can significantly be affected.
Potatoes
Potatoes are heavily rich in potassium, as are bananas. Both offer great benefits for stabilising blood sugar and improving the nervous system.
Furthermore, potatoes are highly beneficial for women easing menstrual cramps. Potassium is to thank for this. The chemical can reduce or inhibit cramps, which can ease the cramps caused during a woman’s time of the month.
Salmon
Salmon is a great fatty fish for better heart health. It is packed full of antioxidants and omega-3’s, which can lower the risk of developing heart conditions.
Furthermore, salmon is a great food for women looking to improve their skin, hair, and nails. The omega-3’s are ideal for strengthening them.
Walnuts
Again, walnuts are rich in omega-3’s and antioxidants. If you consume a plant-based diet, then walnuts are a great substitute.
Walnuts are ideal for those who are vulnerable to developing cardiovascular diseases. They can significantly promote blood flow, to reduce the risk of blood clots and heart attacks.
Shrimp
Shrimp is rich in choline, which is a nutrient that can aid improved brainpower. Brainpower can help with concentration, memory, and thinking skills.
Eating shrimp on a regular basis can decrease the risk of developing neurological diseases.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are rich in antioxidants, especially lycopene. They can protect our DNA from free radical damage, which can cause breast, lung, and stomach cancers. The more tomatoes you eat, the better your body can absorb lycopene, which can help reduce the risk of developing such cancers.
Green tea
Green tea is extremely high in antioxidants that can help reduce the development of breast cancer. Breast cancer affects around 46,000 women in the UK alone each year.
Consuming a cup a day can provide great benefits for making women less vulnerable to breast cancer.
Roobios tea
Speaking of teas, another one to add to your list is rooibos tea. This derives from the red bush of South Africa and contains cortisol boosting benefits, which is great to improve mood.
The tea can soothe the mind and calm the brain, which can help a person feel more relaxed and in a better mood overall.
If you are a woman looking to benefit your health and reduce the risk of illness, then consider adding these foods, drinks, and ingredients to your diet. You’ll be thankful that you did.
Want to know more about living your best life? Then drop the editor a line and suggest an article topic. InShape News would love to hear from you 🙂
InShape News – ‘Live. Life. Healthy. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.’
For similar content delivered weekly to your inbox, subscribe to our feed.
For daily updates on how to lead a happier, healthier lifestyle, follow us on social media: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter
If you’re looking for more on fitness or health and wellness, then visit the InShape Online Group or the Trixi Club to plan for better, more sustainable health, fitness & wellness.
