Women's Health : 255 Articles

Women have different nutrition needs than do men and are also at unique risk for nutrition-related health conditions including heart disease, osteoporosis, breast cancer and weight related problems.  Search this section for articles and study findings relevant to women in all stages of life.

Vitamin D may reduce risk of uterine fibroids

Women who had sufficient amounts of vitamin D were 32 percent less likely to develop fibroids than women with insufficient vitamin D, according to a study from researchers at the National…

High-fat dairy linked to poorer breast cancer survival

Patients who consume high-fat dairy products following breast cancer diagnosis increase their risk of dying from the disease years later, according to a study by Kaiser Permanente researchers.…

Omega-3 DHA may prevent earliest preemies

For pregnant women, supplements of an omega-3 fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may help to reduce the likelihood of giving birth very prematurely, according to a new study. The…

Diet and exercise impact hormone levels related to good health

Overweight couch potatoes live a dangerous life: Epidemiologists estimate that about 80 percent of the most common diseases are linked to severe overweight and obesity and a sedentary…

Eating junk food while pregnant may make a child crave junk food

Now there's another reason why a healthy diet during pregnancy is critical to the future health of a child. New research from Australia suggests that pregnant mothers who consume junk food…

Vitamin D and calcium supplements don’t prevent bone fractures in older women

Older women shouldn't take vitamin D and calcium supplements to prevent broken bones, and there's not enough evidence to say whether it would help anyone else either, says a U.S.…

Dietary iron may protect women from PMS

Women who reported eating a diet rich in iron were 30 to 40 percent less likely to develop pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) than women who consumed lower amounts, in a study conducted by…

Strawberries, blueberries may cut heart attack risk in women

Eating three or more servings of blueberries and strawberries per week may help women reduce their risk of a heart attack by as much as one-third, say researchers from Harvard School of Public…

Vitamin D tied to women's cognitive performance

Two new studies show that vitamin D may be a vital nutrient for the cognitive health of women as they age. Higher vitamin D intake is associated with a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's…

6000 daily steps enhance midlife women's health

Moving 6,000 or more steps a day-no matter how-adds up to a healthier life for midlife women. That level of physical activity decreases the risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome (a diabetes…

Sugary drinks tied to higher stroke risk

Women who consume sugary soft drinks almost every day are 83 percent more likely to have a certain type of stroke than women who rarely drink soft drinks and other sweetened beverages.…

Low calcium diet linked to higher risk of hormone condition in women

A low calcium diet is associated with a higher risk of developing a common hormone condition in women called primary hyperparathyroidism, suggests a new study. Primary hyperparathyroidism or…

Diet high in antioxidants protects women from heart attack

Coronary heart disease is a major cause of death in women. A new study has found that a diet rich in antioxidants, mainly from fruits and vegetables, can significantly reduce the risk of heart…

Obese, overweight women at increased risk of recurrence of breast cancer

Extra pounds-even within the overweight but not obese range-are linked to a higher risk of recurrence of the most common type of breast cancer despite optimal cancer treatment, according to a…

High carb, high glycemic diet tied to breast cancer risk

Older women who eat a lot of starchy and sweet carbohydrates may be at increased risk of a less common but deadlier form of breast cancer, according to a European study. The findings from a…

More fruit, vegetables, exercise extends life expectancy in women

Women in their 70's who exercise and eat healthy amounts of fruits and vegetables have a longer life expectancy, according to research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics…

Too little calcium, water linked to kidney stones

Older women whose diets include too little calcium or water - or too much salt - have an increased risk of developing kidney stones, a study confirms. Researchers found that among more than…

Citrus fruits guard against stroke in women

Eating citrus fruits, especially oranges and grapefruit, may lower women's risk of developing clot-associated or ischemic stroke, according to a new study published online in Stroke:…

Low cab dieting 2 days per week may reduce breast cancer risk

An intermittent, low-carb diet was superior to a standard, daily calorie-restricted diet for losing weight and lowering blood levels of insulin, a cancer-promoting hormone, according to a…

Starch intake may influence breast cancer risk

Researchers have linked increased starch intake to a greater risk for breast cancer recurrence, according to results presented at the 2011 American Association for Cancer Research San Antonio…