The old age debate on who is the strongest sex continues today. For men, their physique and stamina are their unwavering argument; while women resort to their ability to conceive and bring forth a human being into this world and other attributes serves as their firm stance. This can be valid, however, in the general population, women, and children are still considered as vulnerable groups, and they are the ones that are more prone to develop illnesses and with higher rates of mortality.
A word of caution before proceeding. This article is not to start another endless debate, rather point out the specific needs of women especially when it comes to nutritional aspects.
According to Jennifer Kromberg, PSYD, “Most people think emotional eating is due to a lack of self-control.”
Nutrition is the keystone of good health. With the physical and mental demands of being a woman, proper health teaching and encouraging women to take the lead concerning their nutritional health is very important. Any deficiency in protein, vitamins, minerals and caloric intake can result in a reduced health condition, both in the physical and psychological dimensions.
Malnutrition among women especially those in adolescent stage and who are at their childbearing age have been a social concern worldwide for several decades now. And this has weakened the ability of a woman for childbirth, increase susceptibility to infection processes, and development of chronic medical conditions. In the social part, the capacity to provide income and capability to look after their families can be compromised once sickness comes in.
“There is a definite connection between stress and our appetite. But the connection isn’t the same for everyone,” sayd Susan Albers, PsyD.
Addressing malnutrition will be of great help for empowering women and helping them to maximize their potentials. This will create a positive effect on the society as this will enable women to accomplish several roles in the community as a result of this helping to achieve socioeconomic development as well. Promoting and improving nutrition among women could also lead to the achievement of development goals which are markers of development progress in any country.
Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger
Women who are receiving the right amount of nutrition are well capable of having enough money for themselves, their children, and their families. For mothers, they are expected to have newborns with healthy birth weights and be spared from malnutrition.
Reducing child mortality
With the provision of proper and adequate nutrition to every woman, this will help the woman to become holistically prepared to bear a child, thus the incidence of low birth-weight babies, who are prone to die in infancy may be avoided. This will also result in having healthy newborns who can overcome any childhood illnesses.
Improved maternal health
Proper nutrition means having iron and other micronutrients adequately stored in the body, and this can result in less susceptible fatal infections and increase chances of surviving from bleeding during and after childbirth. Also, the succeeding post-partum stage is also a critical phase where the women breastfeed the infant, and she will need an adequate supply of healthy food substances.
A healthy population defines a healthy and prosperous country. The emphasis of giving importance to the group of women rather than men is because women are the primary caregiver and nurturer in any cultural setting. The ability of the woman to take care of the child and other members of the family are beyond what men can do if they can be the primary caregiver. No offense made on men, but wherever you go, women are still expected to provide holistic caring attitude by tending the children and managing a household. Thus, it is only proper that this particular attention presented to them.
TRIVIA: “Some people assume that if they are prescribed antidepressants they will need to take them for the rest of their lives.” – Jessica Koblenz, PsyD