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Why Women’s Longevity Starts with Foundational Nutrition

The Global Wellness Trends Summit’s 2026 Future of Wellness Report highlights a long-awaited industry shift within the space: a growing focus on women’s health and longevity.

And with that increased attention, it’s becoming clear that extending women’s healthspan — the number of years a person lives in good health — requires a more tailored approach. Much of that approach centers on hormonal transitions tied to ovarian function, which the report describes as the “command center” for women’s health.

For companies like Amway that have spent years researching women’s healthspan and long term health, it ultimately comes down to one key principle: healthy aging for women begins with foundational nutrition that evolves throughout life’s different stages.

“Women’s health is dynamic,” said Holiday Durham Zanetti, PhD, MS, RD, a principal research scientist and clinical investigator working on Nutrilite™ supplements at Amway. “What you eat needs to be geared towards meeting the needs of these various stages to best support your healthspan and vitality.”

Each major biological transition that women experience – from adolescence and reproductive years to pregnancy, perimenopause and postmenopause – brings shifts in hormones that can influence nutritional needs and long-term health outcomes.

For example, adolescent girls often require more iron to replenish what is lost during menstruation. During pregnancy, folate plays a critical role in healthy cell division, early fetal development and maternal wellbeing. Nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D become increasingly important for maintaining bone health as women age. 

“Understanding these hormonal changes allows us to develop nutrition strategies that work for each life phase,” Durham Zanetti said. “And meeting these nutritional needs can help build the biological resilience that supports healthy aging.”

Zanetti is part of a global network of more than 800 innovation and science experts at Amway studying how vitamins, minerals and plant-based phytonutrients support cellular health, metabolic wellness and overall wellbeing. Their work is further informed by Amway’s Scientific Advisory Board, a group of external experts whose research helps guide the company’s ongoing innovations in the field of health and wellbeing.

Beyond nutrition, Durham Zanetti notes that lifestyle habits also play a major role in women’s long-term health. For instance, strength training and consistent physical activity helps maintain muscle mass which then supports metabolic function, preserves bone density and promotes mobility as women grow older. These lifestyle habits combined with nutrient-rich diets are critical for healthy aging.

It is clear that equipping women with science-based information and tools to support their health across every life stage will largely impact their long-term health. Through our continuous research and with the help of scientists like Durham Zanetti, we’re excited to deliver on that promise every single day.