10 SUPPLEMENTS THAT ADDRESS MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS
Menopause is a bitch. And whether we ladies like it or not, we all have to deal with her at some point in our lives. Like most women who are peri-menopausal, menopausal or post menopausal, you’ve probably searched for ways to get symptom relief through products, supplements, diets, exercise, therapies, and other strategies. Speaking of which, there currently exist over 70 menopausal symptoms that have been cited by medical professionals the most common of which are: hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, mood swings, brain fog, fatigue, achey joints, bone, hair and collagen loss. Some symptoms show up in peri-menopause and some can show up later. Some may not show up at all if you’re lucky! Every woman’s menopause journey is unique, can last anywhere from 10-30 years, and can start as early as 30 years of age. The good news is, women don’t need to suffer in today’s world and have a fair amount of options that they can try. Some women can opt for HRT (hormone replacement therapy) and can react very well to a doctor-prescribed, balanced hormone replacement regimen with the use of biodentical hormones given orally, through topical creams or via a skin patch. Other women prefer a more holistic, natural approach to menopause relief in the form of all-natural supplements, vitamins and diet. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all or silver-bullet supplement that exists, so many of us have to use a trial and error approach before finding something that works for us. And sometimes, we have to change things up if our bodies become too habituated to a specific vitamin or supplement.
There are many supplements and vitamins on the market today that can help ease many of these reported symptoms. In this blog, we are featuring 10 highly rated, natural, hormone-free vitamins and probiotics that can help ease menopausal symptoms. Just keep in mind that every person’s physiological and biological makeup is different, so what might work for one woman, may not work for another. Always read company and product reviews & information, and seek medical advice before taking any supplement/probiotic. Consult your doctor before starting any new supplement especially if you are on any other medications, hormone therapies, pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have a history of allergies, migraine, auto-immune disease, cancer, or any other medical condition.
Menopause Support or Vitex (Chasteberry) by Gaia Farms
I love Gaia products (and it’s not just because Gisele is their new brand ambassador). Gaia’s is a pioneer and leader in the supplement industry, produceing their herbal ingredients on their 350 acre organic farm in Western NC and has some of the highest purity, potency and integrity standards in the business. I started using Gaia supplements in my 30’s, before my peri-menopausal symptoms arrived (starting with Turmeric Supreme, Holy Basil, and Echinacea Goldenseal to name a few) and can confidently say that all of the products I’ve tried are effective. So when I started to experience hot flashes and mood swings, I was thrilled to discover these two Gaia supplements below: Menopause Support and Vitex Berry. The Menopause Support supplement is a nice blend of herbs known to help balance many of the symptoms of menopause including hot flashes & mood swings while the Vitex Berry supplement is known to help calm irritability, mood swings, & headaches. I’ve personally tried both of these supplements below and can confidently say that they both worked for my menopausal symptoms. (note: I haven’t taken both of these at the same time) I like to switch things up and try new supplements but these will always be “old faithfuls” for me in the future.
MENOFIT by MenoLabs
I was first introduced to MENOFIT by a friend several months ago and after researching the company and MENOFIT’s ingredients, I decided to give it a go. I’ve been taking it everyday and so far the results have been really good. MenoLabs is a reputable supplement company founded and operated by two women whose team consists of naturopathic and physiological doctors. Since starting Menofit a couple of months ago, my hot flashes have greatly reduced, my mood swings are at a minimum, and my energy is up. I also love that this is a menopause supplement and probiotic in one pill. I’m not sure if it’s made significant changes to my gut health, but I haven’t experienced any negative effects either so that’s a good thing! (sidenote: I also take an additional B vitamin and some brain supplements for an added boost in energy and focus) You can purchase MenoLabs products through Amazon or directly from their website where they offer several “bundle-and-save” packages.
Femmenescence (3 supplements to choose from)
Femmenescence is a brand that many of our menopausal friends swear by, and is highly recommended by consumers and medical professionals. The company distinguishes itself with several core values that are highlighted in many areas of their website including: results, science, purity, quality, environment, and social responsibility. Their “seed-to-shelf” philosophy consists of sourcing 100% natural and organic herbs for all of their products while never using preservatives or chemical extracts in their processes. Referencing the company website, Femmenessence products were introduced to the market after 5 years of clinical human trials and states “Our clinical trials also demonstrated that Maca-GO® has the highest success rates (74-82%) in reducing menopausal symptoms in perimenopausal women as well as benefits for heart and mental health.” Their products are made of proprietary blends of maca phenotypes aimed specifically to support hormone balance in women and perimenopause. Based on this information along with thousands of mostly positive online reviews, I might have to try one of these next. Click on the images below for more information and to shop.
Provitalize by Better Body Co.
Every menopause supplement offers a unique formulation and can claim to ease specific symptoms. The Provitalize supplement by Better Body Co. claims to reduce bloating and stubborn belly fat and increase metabolism, while also easing hot flashes and joint inflammation. Provitalize contains a proprietary probiotic blend with added herbal extracts such as turmeric root extract, moringa leaf, and curry leaf. In addition to a reduction in their tummy area, many consumer reviews from Amazon and the company’s website say that they have also experienced less fatigue and much better sleep. If these positive reviews hold any weight - I’m all ears! I know from personal experience that the belly bloat struggle is real, so for me, I’m more than likely going to give this one a chance at some point and cross my fingers that it works.
Meno by OPositive Health
Like most of the supplements featured in this blog, Meno claims to alleviate hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, stress, and occasional sleeplessness. The creator, Mary Kay Bitton, came up with the idea for a menopause vitamin after an unexpected hysterectomy that triggered her awful hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, and brain fog. Together with O Positiv, they developed MENO as a natural, hormone-free solution. MENO’s star ingredient, black cohosh extract, has been clinically shown to help relieve common symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes & night sweats.* The reviews on this product are mostly positive (4 out of 5 stars) which is why we included it in our top 10. MENO is available in gummy or capsule form and can be combined with other supplements on their website as an extra savings bundle. MENO is also available on Amazon.
Hormone Harmony by Happy Mammoth Co.
Established in 2017, the Happy Mammoth company states that they are “the first Natural Health and Nutraceutical company owned by Australians dedicated to solving the most complex health problems that are still considered ‘unsolvable’ by many medical practitioners today”. The family owned and operated company developed Hormone Harmony as a menopause supplement for women experiencing low energy, hot flashes, bloating , brain fog, and many more symptoms. Based on over 18,000 customer reviews, most Hormone Harmony users reported increased energy, weight loss, better sleep, and a reduction in hot flashes and night sweats. The company also offers a handful of other products developed to help ease menopausal symptoms and you can take their online quiz to help you determine which formula is right for you. We looked around and it appears that you can only purchase Hormone Harmony directly from their website. As with all of the other supplements we are featuring on this site, the formulation sounds pretty good but the actual proof is in the pudding, and this one might be worth a shot.
Estroven
We haven’t heard much about Estroven in our own social circles, but this supplement has been on the market for a long time, and with over 14,000 reviews on Amazon, we felt that it should be mentioned here. While we personally haven’t tried this one, it has mostly positive online reviews so it’s probably worth a try. And at around $20 a bottle for a 28 day supply, even more so worth a try. When researching the ingredients, we found that this seems to have the most simple formulation as it lists only one active ingredient: Rhapontic Rhubarb Root Extract. Say that three times fast! Most reviewers claimed that it really helped with their hot flashes which is one of the top 5 issues reported by menopausal women. As far as helping with mood swings and weight gain, the reviews were a mixed bag of results. But if your only or primary issue is hot flashes, perhaps this is the one for you to try!
We hope that you found this blog helpful and wish you the best of luck when trying different menopause supplements and other options out there. Whatever phase of the menopause journey you may be on, we hope that you are finding relief that works for you because no woman should ever have to suffer through it. As a precaution, be sure to do your research with any menopause supplement available on the market as most of them aren’t FDA approved. Also, consult your doctor before taking any new supplement especially if you’re taking a prescription medicine, hormone therapy, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a history of allergies, migraines, cancer, or any other medical conditions. Once you’ve done your research and have consulted with your doctor, take only one pill at a time for the first few days to see how your body reacts to it. Another suggestion would be to “test” your new supplement on days when you don’t have too much going on and not before a major event that you plan on being a part of. Best of luck ladies! We are all in this together! XOXO Penny & Maya
All of our product reviews featured here are solely based on opinion and not medical fact. Like most supplements and vitamins, these products are not FDA approved and therefore should be discussed and approved by your doctor before taking.
