As you enter menopause, your body becomes reliant on certain vitamins and nutrients to keep it working properly. Taking a menopause support supplement with these nutrients can help ease your symptoms and improve overall health. However, many of these supplements are not regulated and may have side effects or interact with prescription or nonprescription drugs. To prevent any unnecessary harm, you should always consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking any menopause supplements.
If you’re looking for a menopause supplement, look for one that targets the specific symptom you’re suffering from. For example, soy isoflavones are a great choice for hot flashes, while magnesium helps ease constipation and sleep problems. Also, calcium is essential for preventing bone loss due to decreased estrogen.
The best menopause supplements should be FDA-approved and free of any additives, fillers, dyes, or preservatives. You should always read the label on your supplement and follow the recommended daily dosage. Many over-the-counter medications and some prescription drugs may interfere with vitamin absorption, so you should check with your doctor before starting any new supplements.
Vitamin A: Your body gets vitamin A in two forms: retinol, which is found in animal products and some dairy products; and carotenoid, which is converted to vitamin A in the body from vegetables and fruits. Vitamin A is crucial for eye health and skin, but it also supports the immune system. The best food sources of vitamin A are kale, spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, and pumpkin.
Magnesium: This essential nutrient is often deficient in people, particularly during perimenopause and menopause. It’s important for improving heart health, lowering blood pressure, combating osteoporosis, and improving sleep, but it can also reduce menopause symptoms like hot flashes and bloating. It’s best taken in the form of magnesium glycinate or citrate, but you can also find it in spinach, dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds, black beans, almonds and cashews, soy milk, brown rice, and avocado. Menophix is a great supplement that you can try other than herbal supplements.
You should avoid herbal supplements that haven’t been clinically tested for their benefits on menopause symptoms, including soy isoflavones, melatonin, wild yam extract and tinctures, ginseng, evening primrose oil, and rhapontic rhubarb. Some have been linked to nausea, diarrhea and blood clots, and are unsafe to take if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.