05.01.06
Girl Power
Women today are more in tune with their health needs than ever before. They want to make sure they remain in good, working condition for the next 50 to 60 years—if they’re lucky. And these days baby boomers seem to be taking on their “golden years” with a vengeance, serving as age-defying examples for the generations that follow.
I recently turned 30 (sigh…) and it really got me thinking about my health. The only problem is most experts say women need to start thinking about their health much earlier than that. In fact, they claim maintaining health in the early years is actually more crucial and beneficial to living a long, healthy life. (In my case, better late then never I guess...)
But I have to admit, even though I work for a publication that covers the latest health developments, I am still utterly confused and overwhelmed about the steps I need to take to reach each age milestone gracefully. And I know I am not alone.
Fortunately, this issue’s women’s health article (page 40) takes some of the guesswork out of the process. Associate editor Marian Zboraj does a wonderful job taking a daunting subject like women’s health and knocking some sense into it. Her article covers some of the most recent, somewhat controversial research related to soy, in addition to the latest news on lignans and cranberries. She also touches on health issues that affect women only like pregnancy and menopause, as well as those that affect women in greater numbers, such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
The market opportunities for female-centric products have never been more abundant. In fact, according to a report cited in Ms. Zboraj’s article, food and beverages targeted toward women totaled $4.6 billion in 2004, up 11% from $4.2 billion in 2003. More significant, however, is that the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2000 to 2004 was over 80%! The good news is this type of growth is likely to continue, as almost every woman in the coming years will be looking for products designed with their health in mind. So get out there and harness that girl power with your nutraceutical products!