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By Karen Kupinski, HealthAtoZ contributing writer
Move over, breakfast of champions. Here come cereals for women.
Food manufacturers have long lured consumers with fortified products that promise to improve memory, reduce cholesterol, stave off osteoporosis and much more. Now, the makers of breakfast foods are offering products geared toward a woman's unique nutritional needs.
Breakfast cereals are quick, economical and fit into a woman's busy lifestyle, making it easier to eat a nutritious breakfast. Are these cereals the answer to a woman's hectic lifestyle, or are they simply slick advertising designed to entice health-conscious consumers?
Do we need female-focused cereals?
Women are definitely falling short of meeting nutritional requirements. Too many do not find time to tend to their nutritional needs. Based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) survey of food intake patterns, less than half of all women get the recommended level of some vital nutrients, including calcium, folic acid, iron, and vitamins A, B6, and E.
These nutrient-rich cereals provide a good portion of the daily vitamins and minerals a woman needs to stay healthy. This includes certain vitamins that have been scientifically linked to protecting the heart and reduce bone loss.
Calcium is an important nutrient for building strong bones. The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) says that many women do not get the recommended amount of calcium in their diet, which increases their risk of developing osteoporosis, a bone-thinning disease.
So how do the breakfast cereals stack up when it comes to calcium? A number of cereals provide a good portion of a day's calcium requirement. Check the box to see what percentage of your calcium requirement is fulfilled from a serving. Vitamin D, magnesium and soy may also be present in women's cereal to boost the bone-building effects of calcium.
Women cannot live by cereal alone
Keep in mind that your body is not designed to metabolize 100 percent of the nutrients you need at one time. Whatever your body cannot metabolize gets excreted. That's why nutritional experts advise you to space out your nutrients throughout the day.
That may mean having another bowl of cereal during the day because with calcium, more is not better. For optimal absorption, you should take calcium in doses of 500 mg or less. Calcium can come from a variety of food sources, including milk, yogurt and dark green vegetables, which provide additional bone-building vitamins and minerals.
Breakfast cereal is not a magic fix to an otherwise unhealthy diet, however. Cereal cannot take the place of a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and legumes, which have a proven track record in maintaining health and fighting disease. Still, substituting any whole grain cereal for a donut or croissant is a healthier option.
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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