[excerpt] While women are generally in charge of the family's nutritional needs, they often jeopardize their own health with poor eating habits. North American women are uniquely at risk for many nutrition-related diseases like heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, osteoporosis and weight-related illnesses. Consider the following statistics.
Heart Disease
* number 1 cause of death in women
* one out of every two women will die of heart disease
* excess body weight, especially in the abdominal area, places women at greater risk for heart disease
* other contributing risk factors include low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes
Cancer
* second leading cause of death in women
* diet may play a role in preventing or altering progression of breast, colon and ovarian cancers
Osteoporosis
* more than 25 million women in North America have this incurable bone disease
* adequate calcium intake throughout life is important in building strong bones
* other dietary factors like caffeine, alcohol, protein and sodium intake can compromise bone health
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