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Menopause Vitamins: How supplements can help; What you need in menopauseand How to choose a good supplement First I'd like to tell you why I take menopause vitamins. I first began taking multivitamins and minerals when I decided to get pregnant and have my first child at age 40. I went to a holistic doctor for a complete physical. He told me to take a grocery store brand supplement, which I did. I continued this practice after the birth, because I knew I needed extra vitamins (the pregnancy and delivery was fabulous, but after my son was born I was a walking zombie for two years. I got a cold about every month and could barely stay out of bed each time.) It wasn't until my son turned 4 years old that I happened upon a vitamin/mineral complex that actually made me feel so much better -- more energy, less colds and flu -- that I became a firm believer in supplements right then and have taken them ever since. In an ideal world, we would get all of our necessary vitamins and minerals from our food, enough exercise from our lifestyles, and be stress-free. Of course this is not the case. In a study released in September, 2005, available on the USDA website, www.usda.gov it was found that about 93% of all Americans do not get enough vitamin E from their diets. About 56% don't get enough magnesium, 44% not enough vitamin A. What You NeedDuring menopause our bodies are under additional stress because of all the hormonal changes that are happening. Stress depletes nutrients, so we need even more than usual. In addition to stress, your adrenal glands take over making the hormones that your ovaries have been making, so they need extra nourishment as well. Taking menopause vitamins can help support your general health, which can make your specific symptoms more mild.Stress uses up more vitamin C, B complex, and magnesium, as well as anti-oxidants. More information about antioxidants In addition to stress, women going through menopause have higher needs for several different nutrients: B complex vitamins may help with mood swings, depression, anxiety, irritability, bloating and cramping. They can be found in potatoes, bananas, cereal, lentils, tempe, liver, turkey, and tuna. An exceptionally good source of B vitamins can be found in nutritional or Brewers yeast, found in health food stores Magnesium may help with anxiety, irritability, depression, insomnia, high blood pressure and memory loss. Magnesium can be found in spinach, nuts (especially almonds), seeds and some whole grains. Magnesium needs to be balanced with calcium. Too much or not enough magnesium can interfere with calcium absorption. Vitamin C is a supreme antioxidant and also regenerates vitamin E. It helps keep your skin looking young. Vitamin C can be found in broccoli, cranberries, potatoes, red peppers, strawberries, spinach, tomatoes and citrus fruit. Calcium and vitamin D help with prevention of osteoporosis. Calcium may also lower blood pressure and nourish the nervous system.
Whether you're looking for menopause vitamins or just a good womens vitamin,the first thing you need to know is that vitamins are not regulated the way pharmaceutical drugs are. The FDA does not regulate labeling of supplement manufacturers for truthful information -- they are left on their own to police themselves. For this reason I recommend you buy from a manufacturer that follows Good Manufacturing Practices as stated by the FDA for licensed pharmaceutical manufacturers. |
