Menopause brings many physical, emotional and mental changes to your body – that’s for sure! It’s not always a fun ride, but believe it or not, you can actually feel your best during menopause!
I say this because I know it’s possible!
I’ve had my fair share of menopause discomforts. I struggled at the start of my menopause. But with healthy eating, regular exercise and stress management, I felt a lot better. The use of menopause supplements and vitamins for menopause also helped me big time.
Many changes happen to our bodies as we age and approach menopause. Our body functions slow down, and our hormones decrease. Midlife is the best time to take extra care of ourselves and nurture our health!
A healthy diet is so important. Good food sources and a rainbow of veggies, fruits, nuts, proteins and healthy fats have no replacement. A little sunshine can also go a long way! Taking menopause supplements and vitamins for menopause is also good sometimes.
I want to help you feel good and enjoy the most of your menopause journey. Get an idea of how each supplement works and see what fits your needs. In this article, we’re going to talk about the some of the most important supplements:
- Menopause Supplements
- Dietary Supplements
- Phytoestrogenic Herbs
- Adaptogenic Herbs
- Vitamins and Minerals
- Amino Acids
The Two Types of Menopause Supplements for Your Symptoms!
I know a concern of yours when going through menopause are the symptoms. I experienced many of them too. Hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, anxiety and more.
Besides a healthy lifestyle, taking menopause supplements can also help relieve your symptoms. There is a variety of menopause supplements out there. Before using any menopause supplement, be sure to get your hormones checked!
Below are two types of menopause supplements:
1. Natural Menopause Supplements
Tap into the healing effects of food, herbs and plants!
Natural menopause supplements can balance your hormones and improve your health. They need a while to take effect but provide long-lasting results.
It’s important to remember that “natural” doesn’t always mean organic. Natural means they are from good sources that went through minimal processing. Natural supplements don’t contain hormones, antibiotics or artificial flavors.
As always, check product labels before buying or testing. Make sure they don’t contain ingredients that you’re sensitive or allergic to!
2. Synthetic Menopause Supplements
Synthetic menopause supplements come from non-natural sources. Ingredients are artificial and laboratory-experimented. Hormones used for HRT and BHRT are examples.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) uses artificial hormones experimented in labs. These hormones don’t have the same chemical structures as endogenous hormones. Hormones in HRT also come in fixed doses regardless of the needs of the patient.
Bioidentical hormones come from sources such as yam, soy and other plants. Although considered “safer” than HRT, bioidentical hormones are still synthetic. Even if they come from natural sources, they still go through lab testing to be like our natural hormones. BHRT comes in individualized doses depending on your needs.
Synthetic menopause supplements take effect faster because of their strong chemical compounds.
Dietary Supplements for Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
Do you know that our vitamins and minerals play a great part in hormone production and balance? We need them more than ever during menopause! Dietary supplements help us:
- replenish what we lack
- even out imbalances
- support hormone-producing glands
- promote optimal health
- feel better in the long-term
You might wonder why you need to take vitamins for menopause when you can get them from food. Here’s why:
- Dietary supplements have more nutrients, so they can address different deficiencies.
- Dietary supplements are rich in essential vitamins and minerals. They come from plant-based foods and medicinal herbs. So, they contain a wide range of healing properties. For example, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, balancing and hormone-supporting properties.
Besides dietary supplements, whole food supplements are also helpful during menopause. So, what’s the difference between the two?
- Dietary or nutritional supplements have one or more nutrients. They can be vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids. Dietary supplements can come from natural or synthetic ingredients. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has great information about dietary supplements. Go read it!
- Whole food supplements have plant enzymes as the base. These enzymes are mixed with synthetic nutrients and processed in labs. Despite being plant-based, whole food supplements may still have fillers and binders.
Phytoestrogenic Herbs for Estrogen Balance
Phytoestrogenic herbs are one of the best supplements for menopause. These herbs contain phytoestrogens or plant-based estrogens that help support decreasing estrogen.
Experts say phytoestrogens are safer than synthetic supplements because they are less active. They copy the effects of endogenous and do not disturb hormone balance.
Low estrogen is the cause of our vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats. By taking in phytoestrogens, you can relieve these symptoms during menopause.
Phytoestrogenic herbs are all natural, which makes them less potent. Some of the most helpful phytoestrogenic herbs include:
1. Black Cohosh
2. Shatavari
3. Dong Quai
4. Sarsaparilla
5. Flax Seeds
6. Licorice
7. St. John’s Wort
8. Chamomile and Valerian
9. Red Clover
10. Ginseng
11. Ginkgo Biloba
Get to know each one of these herbs and how they help relieve your symptoms. Visit our Phytoestrogenic Herbs page!
Adaptogenic Herbs for Hormone Balance
Adaptogenic herbs contain adaptogens which balances your body functions. Adaptogens help you in many ways:
- Detoxifies your body from xenoestrogens, fake hormones and toxins which offsets hormone balance.
- Supports your adrenal glands to produce estrogen and progesterone. This helps when hormone production from your ovaries decrease and finally ceases.
- Stimulates your brain to produce serotonin, dopamine and endorphins. These hormones improve mood and ease anxiety and depression, which are common menopause symptoms.
With their stress-relieving and hormone balancing properties, adaptogenic herbs are great menopause supplements. Some of the best adaptogenic herbs to use during the transition include:
1. Ashwagandha
2. Chasteberry
3. Damiana
4. Gotu Kola
5. Maca Root
6. Rhodiola
7. Tribulus
Want to manage stress better and balance your mind and body? Get help from any of these herbs from our Adaptogenic Herbs Page!
Vitamins and Minerals for Better Health
Your body needs vitamins and minerals to survive. These nutrients have hundreds of vital functions in the body. They keep your balance, influence genetics and fight bacteria and viruses.
To maintain all these functions, your body needs raw materials. This is where vitamins and minerals come in.
There are vitamins and minerals that your body can’t manufacture on its own. A healthy diet can meet this need, but supplements are also good if you need concentrated doses.
Think you need more nutrients? Support your diet with the right vitamins and minerals! See our Vitamins and Minerals Page and explore your options!
Amino Acids Supplements to Maintain Energy and Physique
Amino acids are almost unheard-of supplements for menopause, but it’s one of the most important!
Without amino acids, the body can’t use proteins well. They are responsible for intertwining your proteins together. They form cells, tissues, muscles, organs and body systems.
The function of amino acids to strengthen, build and repair muscles helps boost metabolism. As a result, you have more energy, burn fats faster and lose weight a healthy way. Amino acids also improve flexibility and lengthen endurance, which we need in menopause.
Aside from giving your body structure, amino acids also help absorb and distribute nutrients. There are many amino acid types, but some of the most helpful for menopause include:
1. Tyrosine
2. Carnitine
3. Lysine
4. Arginine
Read about the different types of Amino Acids and what they can do for you in your menopause journey!
A Friendly Reminder!
Before you start any type supplement, be sure to consult your doctor for proper advice. It’s good to take a menopause test before supplementing.
When buying a supplement, read labels, and see what ingredients are in them. It’s also good to buy from reputable and trusted manufacturers. The lesser the synthetic ingredients, the better!
Disclaimer: This article or list of health supplements does not replace expert information from a qualified health practitioner. Before trying any supplement, consult your health practitioner for proper guidance. You can talk to a naturopath or a practitioner of integrative medicine.
A healthy lifestyle and support from menopause supplements is a pretty good combination! It will make your menopause journey more vibrant!
We’d love to hear what changes you’ve made! Also, let us know menopause supplements you’re taking and why. Share all these in the comment box below to help other women!
Gita is the founder of My Menopause Journey. Since 2014, she has been supporting midlife women by sharing hard-earned learnings from her own experience. To advance her knowledge, Gita puts a lot of her time and effort into understanding the broad spectrum of women’s health. She immerses in extensive research about the physical, mental and emotional aspects of menopause. Gita believes in the life-changing power of healthy, holistic living — this is where she anchors her message to all women. Learn more about her marvelous mission in About us - My Menopause Journey.