When it comes to menopause, there can be so much going on that you don’t know where to look for support. Roughly 20% of women sail through menopause with no symptoms at all; whereas others feel like their entire world has caved in and they’re slowly going mad with no one to explain what’s happening.
The truth is that every woman’s natural menopause follows the same pathway of falling progesterone followed by falling oestrogen levels. It’s the imbalance of the hormones that can cause both mental and physical symptoms and ending up with lower levels of all the major reproductive hormones can have effects on several other body systems and organs as well.
Which is where Zooki supplements come in.
Best supplements for menopause
Collagen supplements and menopause
One of the responsibilities of oestrogen is to maintain bone, muscle and tendon strength. Which it does by supporting the total body production of Collagen. Research has shown that post-menopausal women produce only around a third of the original collagen they were producing in their 20s. So it’s no wonder that the body loses strength, muscle mass and even bone density.
Taking a hydrolysed Marine Collagen supplement on a consistent basis can help alleviate some of the loss by being absorbed itself and also by encouraging the body’s own production of Collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin. Collagen also helps support the skin, keeping it more resilient and slowing down the visible signs of ageing.
Glutathione supplements and menopause
We mentioned earlier that progesterone levels fall first during perimenopause. The imbalance with oestrogen can lead to symptoms of oestrogen dominance. During this time it is important that your body is able to process and excrete oestrogen well.
One of the nutrients most responsible for that is Glutathione. Glutathione is a master antioxidant used by the liver to conjugate and excrete oestrogen. In fact, this is the liver’s primary pathway for metabolising oestrogen. The human body can produce some Glutathione and there are certain foods that contain it; but it’s notoriously poorly absorbed, so your best bet is to take a lipid wrapped liquid supplement like Glutathione Zooki.
Vitamin D for menopause
Vitamin D is a super hard working nutrient that we need throughout our lives. Many people, especially in the UK, are deficient because we don’t have enough good sunlight to generate it. During and after menopause Vitamin D supplements can become even more important because of its protective effect on bones, its role in boosting the immune system and even its support for better mental health.
Omega 3 supplements and menopause
Finally, Omega 3 fatty acids can assist in alleviating some of the brain fog and anxiety that often accompanies those swinging hormones during menopause. When you consider that at least 60% of the dry weight of the brain is made up of these essential fatty acids, as well as making up the protective coating of the neurons themselves, you can see why a well absorbed supplement like Omega 3 Zooki can make all the difference in supporting your brain through menopause and beyond.
Find out more about our MenoZooki bundle or helping menopausal women in the workplace with our Corporate Menopause bundle here.
Diet and lifestyle tips for menopause
As well as our supplements there are some simple diet and lifestyle changes that may help:
-
Eat some protein before 10am. Menopausal women need good supplies of protein and consuming some early in the day sends a message to the genes that regulate metabolism and insulin production.
-
Avoid alcohol and sugar. Alcohol affects sleep, oestrogen metabolism and is a neurotoxin (sorry!) Insulin control becomes much harder during menopause, so avoiding concentrated sugars as much as possible can make the difference when it comes to energy levels and weight gain.
-
Exercise is important to reduce stress levels and maintain strength. Now is a good time to add in something like yoga or Pilates to boost flexibility and balance as well as keeping the weight training going.
Finally, I always like to remember that the Japanese word for menopause is ‘KONENKI’ which means ‘renewal years’ or ‘energy’. Going into menopause with the knowledge and support you need will hopefully mean a symptom free transition into the next stage of life.
References:
- Estrogens and Androgens in Skeletal Physiology and Pathophysiology
- Modulation of Metabolic Detoxification Pathways Using Foods and Food-Derived Components: A Scientific Review with Clinical Application
- Vitamin D, menopause, and aging: quo vadis?
- Omega-3 fatty acids for major depressive disorder associated with the menopausal transition: a preliminary open trial
