Table of contents:
- What nutrients do women of childbearing age need?
- 1. Folic acid
- 2. B12
- 3. Omega-3
- 5. Iron
- Nutritional problems that are often experienced by women of childbearing age
- 1. Nutritional deficiencies
- 2. Iron
- 3. Iodine
- 4. Vitamin A
- 5. Obesity
The childbearing age is the safest and most likely age to get pregnant. According to research conducted by the Royal College of Obstetrician Gynecologists, women of reproductive age are women in the range of 20 to 35 years. Pregnancies aged 35 years and over are at greater risk of complications such as preeclampsia, miscarriage, and a tendency to give birth by caesarean section. However, even though childbearing age is the most important period in a woman's life and health, in fact many people experience nutritional problems at this age.
What nutrients do women of childbearing age need?
Several specific nutrients are needed at this time, because the reproductive age is a period of development in which the female reproductive organs are mature and functioning properly. These nutrients include:
1. Folic acid
Is a form of vitamin B complex. These nutrients can help prevent your fetus from becoming deformed during its development in the uterus (neural tube defect). Folic acid intake needed by women of childbearing age is around 400 to 800 mcg. Its own consumption is allowed in supplement form.
2. B12
These nutrients are essential for the development and functioning of the human nervous system. Your body usually needs about 2.4 mcg. However, you need 2.6 mcg if you are pregnant, and 2.8 mcg if you are breastfeeding.
3. Omega-3
Is an important fatty acid because it is useful in maintaining the health of the brain and nerve cells, as well as heart disease. A woman who plans not to have children is also advised to fulfill this intake.
4. Calcium
The fulfillment of calcium in youth, will really help you in living your old age. Women of childbearing age are advised to consume 1000 to 1300 mg of calcium per day,
5. Iron
Women of childbearing age are advised to consume this nutrient as much as 19 mg per day. However, for pregnant women, the recommended dose is 27. This is due to the use of a lot of iron during pregnancy.
Nutritional problems that are often experienced by women of childbearing age
1. Nutritional deficiencies
Usually the form is in the form of chronic malnutrition or underweight. The reason could be due to having experienced malnutrition in childhood, having unhealthy eating habits, or lack of access to nutritional intake (common in developing countries). If not treated immediately, this condition can lead to the birth of low birth weight babies.
2. Iron
Anemia or iron deficiency is often experienced by women since the start of their first menstruation. Anemia is also common in women with very low body weight. Iron intake for women alone should be 15 to 18 mg per day. This iron can be obtained from foods such as red meat, vegetables and cereals.
3. Iodine
Iodine is still a nutritional problem in some areas that are deficient in iodine content. The danger, iodine deficiency in women of childbearing age has the potential to trigger mental illness in the offspring later. Iodine is also required during pregnancy.
4. Vitamin A
Initially vitamin A only attacked toddlers, but over time, women of childbearing age are also vulnerable to vitamin A deficiency. Lack of this vitamin is also associated with anemia.
5. Obesity
Obesity is a disease that continues to increase. Although genetics may have a role, environmental factors (high lifestyle intake but low physical activity) remain the majority of causes of this disease. However, the long-term impact of obesity can potentially trigger other diseases such as cardiovascular disease and other metabolic diseases in the future.
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