Menopause is no joke, and it can be difficult to handle the symptoms without some help. There are so many things out there that can help you, but what are the best menopause supplements? Here are ten of the best supplements that can help ease your symptoms and make them more manageable for you.
Black Cohosh
Black cohosh, a supplement known to help menopause, has been highly studied to come to this conclusion. It comes from a plant in North America that is called the black cohosh plant, and it has been proven to help ease hot flashes. You should speak with your doctor and avoid this product if you have known liver problems.
Flaxseed
Flaxseed is beneficial for controlling night sweats that come with menopause. Flaxseed is known to contain lignans, which are known to balance hormones in females, especially experiencing menopause. While this can help ease your night sweats, it has not been proven to relieve hot flashes.
Calcium
When your hormone levels drop during and after menopause, bone loss is a common problem that you will have to deal with. You need to make sure you are getting enough calcium to prevent this issue. If you are under 51, you need 1,000 mg of calcium per day, and women over 51 you need 1,200 mg per day.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is just as, if not more, important than calcium when it comes to healthy bones. If you don’t get a proper amount of vitamin D, your body won’t be able to properly absorb calcium. Most adults will need a minimum of 600 IU of vitamin D daily, and you can find it in different foods, supplements, and the sun.
Wild Yam
There are pills and creams that are made from a specific species of wild yam that is an extremely popular alternative to hormone therapy. Some of the natural ingredients in the wild yam are very similar to estrogen and progesterone.
Ginseng
Mood swings are awful during menopause, so looking for something that can help is probably a top priority. A couple of different studies have found that some different types of ginseng can help improve your mood. Not only can ginseng help boost your mood, but it can also improve your sleep.
St. John’s Wort
Another supplement that can help with mood swings is called St. John’s Wort. It has been used to treat mild depression but can also benefit women in menopause who are having trouble controlling their mood. This supplement works best when paired with black cohosh.
DHEA
Natural DHEA levels start to drop in women when they reach the age of 30. DHEA supplements can help ease the symptoms of menopause like low libido and hot flashes. There is a slight concern that long-term use of this supplement can raise the risk of breast cancer. You should discuss this with your doctor before you start taking it.
Dong Quai
Dong Quai has been used by the Chinese as a way to treat women’s health for literally thousands of years. It is supposed to help with hot flashes, but the effect is different for each person. There are some risks of using Dong Quai for long periods of time, including cancer, so you should discuss with your doctor before taking it.
Soy
Women in the United States are eight times more likely to suffer from hot flashes during menopause than women who live in Asian countries. It is strongly believed that the amount of soy in the Asian diet contributes to this. If you are experiencing hot flashes, try incorporating more soy into your diet to see if it makes any difference for you.