Because men and women have different have extremely different make-ups, each needs different amounts of certain vitamins to be extremely healthy. Women tend to need more of certain vitamins than men.

The main reason that women need more and different nutrition is that women reproduce: pregnancy, menstruation and menopause create changes in a woman’s body that cause her to need different supplements.

Fad Diets

In addition, the popularity of crash dieting among women (particularly young women) puts them at a greater risk for deficiencies of vitamins. In order to get all of the requisite vitamins into her diet without taking supplements, a woman must eat a wide variety of foods. Crash diets do not allow much freedom, so women go without certain vitamins.

Iron Poor Blood

Iron is one of the vitamins that women should take in greater quantities than men. Men and women metabolize iron that comes from food at about the same rate. Women need about twice the amount of iron in their daily diet than men do, though. This is to make up for the iron that women lose during their menstrual cycle.

In addition, anemia, or iron deficiency, is the most common deficiency among women. Common symptoms of anemia include frequent lack of breath and lack of energy. Women with heavier periods are at higher risks for anemia and should take iron as result. In addition to taking iron supplements, women can get iron from foods such as leafy green vegetables, red meat, egg yolks, fortified cereals, and nuts.

Folic Acid

It is also extremely important for women to get enough folic acid. While this supplement is good for everyone, folic acid can greatly reduce the risk of neurological birth defects if women have enough of it in their childbearing years. When pregnant, women are advised to increase their dosage as well.

Most women do not realize that their bones continue to grow until they are 35 years of age. As a result, they need to make sure they have enough calcium in their diets. Calcium also may help reduce PMS symptoms such as bloating and irritability. There is also a possibility that it may help prevent weight gain.