I get asked a lot about menopause supplements that work for women who can’t or don’t want to go down the medication route.
Supplements do just that, they ‘supplement’ a good diet and healthy lifestyle. They are not ‘magic pills’. I would always work on getting the diet right first, managing stress levels, cleaning up your environment and getting the right kind of exercise first before looking at supplements.
All of these things are vital steps to balance your hormones and stay healthy, whether you’re pre, peri or post menopause!
But supplements can provide the missing nutrients that your body needs to make you feel good.
There are some general supplements for women over 40 that I always recommend to supply the nutrients you need as you go through hormone imbalances and ageing.
And there are some specific menopause supplements that can really target the oestrogen imbalances common during peri and post menopause.
I always try to use evidence based products wherever possible. And there are 2 particular menopause supplements that I have come to rely on in clinic, and they have some impressive clinical research behind them.
1/ Maca
I’ve always loved and recommended maca as a superfood because it’s got some good studies behind it that show clear health benefits. It’s a root grown in the Peruvian Andes, known for it’s ability to increase energy, stamina and libido. In fact they call it ‘nature’s viagra’ in those parts!
You can buy maca powder as a superfood but as there are 13 different types of maca, you’re not going to be 100% sure if it’s the right kind for your symptoms.
So when I heard about Femmenessence maca supplements, and the impressive clinical research, I started recommending it to clients. And we had some great results.
They have 2 products that are made from a special maca extract that is 100% pure and have maximum bio-availability;Â Macapause and MacaLife, aimed at peri and post menopausal women.
These menopause supplements have independent clinical trials behind them, showing that they helped reduce symptoms in 84% of the women who participated versus 60% for most other natural products. By the way, bio-identical hormones were at 90%, so this wasn’t far behind!
What do the studies say about MacaPause and MacaLife?
Studies show that both products can help to support;
- Balanced oestrogen, progesterone, thyroid, and adrenals
- Heart health – increased HDL, reduced LDL and TG’s
- Blood sugar reduction
- Body weight (participants lost an average of 6% body weight)
- Mood and sleep – by helping to balance oestrogen and cortisol
- Bone health – by helping to balance oestrogen, progesterone and cortisol, also increasing bone density, reducing risk of osteoporosisÂ
- Hair, skin nails – by supporting thyroid levels. Iron absorption, androgen balance and stress, results showed improvements in hair retention, complexion and nail growth
- Libido and vaginal dryness – by supporting estrogen and testosterone levels
MacaPause is aimed at post menopausal women. MacaLife is aimed at peri-menopausal women who are still having periods, even if irregular.
Maca is generally safe, there are no known drug interactions, but like everything that affects your hormones, it may not suit everyone – so if you do have any unwanted side effects or reactions, then do stop taking it and get professional help.
2/ Red Clover
Promensil is another menopause supplement that has a lot of evidence behind it. Red clover extract that provides your daily dose of phytoestrogens – these are plant oestrogens that lock on to your oestrogen receptors and trick the body into thinking it’s your own oestrogen. It’s the isoflavones in red clover that does the clever stuff. And it contains more isoflavones than soy.
What do the studies say about Promensil?
Studies show that Promensil can help to support;
- Reduction in hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and PMS symptoms
- Bone health
- Heart health
And NO side effects were reported in the clinical trials.
It’s not advised to take Promensil if you’re on HRT, but taking Femmenessence products alongside your HRT is generally safe (but do check with your Dr if you are unsure or have any side effects).
If you want to try either of these supplements (or both!), you can get both brands in my new Shop Collection at Live Better With Menopause.
Click here to visit the shop and let me know how you get on!