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Women have long been aware of the benefits of exercise in reducing the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and breast cancer, not to mention weight management. Ever since title IX in the early 1970s, females have been participating in sports and athletic activities in ever increasing numbers. When women engage in regular physical activity or train for athletic events, women often require specific nutritional and herbal support for optimal performance. This nutritional support varies more by sport than by gender differences in body fat, hormonal influences and muscle mass. Those issues are more relevant in terms of dosing of nutrients rather than the nutrient selected and in some cases of lower body weight, nutrient depletion caused by the exercise may have a more adverse impact in women than in men. However, it is important to recognize that in general, women have lower muscle mass, greater body fat, and less upper body strength than do men. On the other hand, this body fat can be useful in endura nce activities as fuel for continued prolonged exertion. The greatest concern about the influence of women's menstrual cycles and exercise is the risk of underweight women and/or heavy exercisers. One or both of these can lead to infrequent or amenorrhea which in turn will significantly impact bone mass and an increased risk of osteoporosis later in life. All women should assure proper nutrient and caloric intake, in particular calcium and vitamin D. For women aged 14-16, 1,300 mg of calcium per day; for women aged 19-menopause, 1,000 mg per day, and for post menopausal women, 1200 mg per day. The current recommended dietary intake for vitamin D is 400 IU daily for women aged 51 to 70 years and 600 IU daily for women over 70. If these amounts are not achieved in the diet, then supplementation is required.