Hormonal shifts are the culprit behind most of the legendary side effects of menopause -- including an increased risk of certain conditions and diseases. When estrogen drops, the risk for heart disease and osteoporosis rises-- as does the tendency to experience symptoms such as mood changes, vaginal dryness, and hot flashes.
To combat this, supplements and vitamins can be a key component during and after menopause, but the process of picking which ones to take can be a bit overwhelming, to say the least. And when life gets overwhelming, it’s sometimes in our nature to just skip the very thing that was causing us stress in the first place -- in this case, making a decision on which supplements will best help you get through menopause.
Good news then, because at Love Wellness, we’re all about celebrating women and making feminine wellness easy! That’s why we went ahead and did the research to discover the best menopause supplements that will help kick those menopause symptoms to the curb. Are you ready to start feeling like a million bucks again? Read on for the best ingredients and things to look for.
But First, Here’s a Little Refresher on Menopause
Simply put, menopause is the permanent end of a woman’s menstrual cycle. It's marked by a missed period for twelve consecutive months -- not induced by medication.
Yep, that’s right -- you’ve got to wait a whole year before you can officially confirm you’ve reached menopause. Menopause signifies the end of childbearing and fertility years in a woman and is brought on by the decreased production of sex hormones estrogen and progesterone in the ovaries -- as well as the depletion of ovarian oocytes (eggs).
Reduced egg counts and hormone levels mean there’s no longer a need for menstruation -- so periods stop. Some may refer to menopause as the period leading up to this point, however, menopause isn’t actually reached until twelve consecutive months of missed periods.
Prior to this point, a woman is in what’s called perimenopause, and after this point, a woman is in post-menopause.
What Is the Average Menopause Age?
Ah, good question! So the average age that women tend to reach menopause is around 51. But the typical age range to reach menopause is 40-58 years of age. As you can clearly see, there’s a very wide age range, which can make it a little tough to pinpoint an exact age of menopause transition. And to make it even more of a mystery, some ladies are outliers and don’t reach menopause till their 60s. There’s also such as thing as early menopause that can actually affect women in their 20s and 30s… this is why we are all about honoring our womanly uniqueness here at Love Wellness!
There’s quite a bit of evidence linking the age of menopause between daughter and mother, implying that there is a hereditary factor, but more research is needed. What we do know for sure, however, is that the age a woman gets her period or whether or not she’s used contraceptives or had a little bundle of joy doesn't seem to play a role in menopause age or symptom severity.
Speaking of Symptoms -- What Are the Common Ones?
There are a ton of symptoms that come with menopause, and everyone is different, so they tend to vary from person to person, but here are some of the most common ones:
Thinning hair and dry skin: Estrogen is a fountain of youth -- to a certain extent. It keeps your hair lustrous and your skin supple. But as estrogen levels wane, you may notice your skin is drier than usual, and your hair is thinning. Some ladies also experience a little hair loss when hormones begin to fluctuate.
Hot flashes and night sweats: Believe it or not, body temp is another thing your hormones regulate. And when they fluctuate, you can have a hot flash whose onset is sudden and intense. They’re uncomfortable, distracting, and unpredictable -- which is why many women consider them to be one of the most aggravating menopause symptoms.
Night sweats are their nocturnal cousins -- they sneak up on you while you’re snoozing. If you’re struggling with getting to sleep and staying asleep, try Sleeping Beauty from Love Wellness -- a targeted daily supplement for restful sleep and reducing occasional stress. This powerful supplement contains melatonin to improve sleep quality and promote restful sleep.
Mood shifts: Your hormones also drive your moods -- and you know this first hand if you’ve ever had PMS. Unexpected mood changed, including depression and anxiety, are known to accompany menopause. Additionally, hormonal changes can also impact your ability to focus, leading to poor concentration.
Vaginal dryness: Reduced estrogen levels can lead to chronic vaginal dryness and painful sex due to a lack of lubrication -- which can sometimes interfere with intimacy. Another common side effect of this irritation is that it puts you at greater risk for infection. To avoid chafing and irritation during sex, be sure to use a super slippery and hydrating lube like Sex Stuff from Love Wellness. A little bit of lube can make all the difference.
Weight gain: Yet another bodily system that is managed by your hormones is your metabolism -- and with menopause often comes a slowing down of your metabolism. With that said, weight gain is common. You may also notice you lack energy and motivation.
Menopause Supplements: What to Look For
Before you start popping a bunch of vitamins and supplements, it’s important to make sure your body is prepped and primed to process them. This means a healthy gut and a happy liver. That’s because you can take all the vitamins in the world, but they aren't going to have the right effect if your gut and liver function aren’t in tip-top shape!
Probiotic
Start by ensuring a healthy gut by taking a quality probiotic -- like Good Girl Probiotics from Love Wellness. This powerful supplement is made with eight strains of good bacteria, whereas most probiotics on the market these days only contain one. Good Girl Probiotics supports three key areas: reproductive health organs, the immune system, and of course -- the gut.
Fiber
Next up, if your liver. The liver is important as it manufactures and synthesizes hormones and tells them where to go in the body, and if it’s not detoxing properly, you are going to have a hormonal buildup. We love Sparkle Fiber from Love Wellness because it supports healthy weight management, removes toxins from the body, and improves energy so you can take on your day.
Now We’re Ready To Tackle Those Menopause Side Effects
Black cohosh: This powerful ingredient is one of the most well-studied supplements for menopause. Made from the root of the North American black cohosh plant, several studies have found it to help -- especially with hot flashes.
Ginseng: A few studies have found evidence that different types of ginseng might help improve quality of life during menopause as it’s been shown to improve sleep and boost mood.
Calcium: Bone loss can become a serious concern once hormone levels drop post-menopause. It’s vital to get enough calcium to keep your bones strong and healthy.
Vitamin D: This essential vitamin is just as important as calcium for bone health. Why? Because without it, your body can’t absorb calcium!
Omega-3 fatty acid: Believe it or not, omega-3s in fish oil have an effective and potent natural whole-body wellness effect that is key during menopause. It’s not only helpful in terms of heart benefits and lowering cholesterol, but this powerful antioxidant is like a superfood for your brain. Pretty cool, don’t you think?!
So, Which Supplement Is Best?
There are a ton of supplements on the market geared towards relieving the notorious side effects of menopause, but our favorite is Whole Love™ 50+ Multivitamin + XOmengas™ from Love Wellness. Why? Because it’s the only multi-purpose multivitamin for rockstars over 50 made with a full-spectrum 25+ vitamins and minerals for your baseline nutritional needs -- plus, it contains special nutraceutical ingredients (like black cohosh and Asian ginseng root) to help maintain bone density while reliving six common symptoms of menopause.
What more could you want from a multivitamin?
Bottom Line
If you’re experiencing some of the common side effects of menopause -- Love Wellness is here to help. From the best multivitamin on the planet to probiotics and sleeping aids, Love Wellness has everything you need to kick those pesky symptoms to the curb.
Ready to start feeling like your amazing self again? Head on over to Love Wellness and see the difference clean supplements can make in your life today!
Sources:
Learn What Osteoporosis Is and What It's Caused by (nof.org)
Perimenopause: Symptoms, Treatments, Weight Gain, and More (webmd.com)