Women’s Health Nutrition
Women, including transgender women, and non-binary people assigned female at birth, have special nutrient needs which change during each life stage. Eating a nutrient dense and balanced diet helps maintain physical health and mental wellbeing and helps prevent chronic disease.
Healthful nutrition is also crucial for people who experience issues such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), infertility and menopause. Working with a registered dietitian to design a personalized lifestyle plan can help manage symptoms of PCOS and improve fertility. During menopause, hormonal changes can increase risk of bone loss and heart disease, as well as cause weight gain around the abdomen and decreases in muscle mass.
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for women in the US. Additionally, transgender women are at even higher risk of getting cardiovascular disease compared to their cis-female peers. This increased risk for transgender women may be due to the increased stress experienced from discrimination, stigma, and barriers to accessing health care that can impact mental and physical health.
Working with a dietitian at Avance Care can help ensure that you are meeting the nutritional needs unique to your body. Some issues that our dietitians can assist with include:
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
• Fertility concerns
• Gender-affirming nutrition care during hormone replacement therapy, regardless of sex assigned at birth
• Pregnancy
• Gestational Diabetes
• Lactation and post-partum recovery
• Cardiovascular disease prevention
• Cancer prevention
• Menopause concerns