Are Menopause Supplements Necessary?
As women grow older, their estrogen levels will naturally decline. This decline in estrogen increases a woman’s risk for developing heart disease, osteoporosis and many kinds of cancer. One important way to help offset these risks is by making sure you have sufficient amounts of calcium and vitamin D in your diet. The use of menopause supplements can help ensure that you receive adequate amounts of these important elements.
Many women experience the “middle-age spread” or weight gain, once they enter menopause. Recent studies indicate that women who have adequate levels of Vitamin D and calcium can significantly decrease the amount of weight they gain during menopause as well as helping to alleviate hot flashes and night sweats.
It is important to understand that simply getting adequate amounts of calcium and Vitamin D will not provide a fool-proof weight loss program. Anyone who wants to avoid gaining weight will need to follow a healthy diet and exercise plan while taking calcium and vitamin D supplements.
Another big concern for women entering menopause should be their bone health. Estrogen helps protect bones and as a woman’s estrogen levels decline, it becomes necessary to start thinking about ways to minimize and even reverse the effects of bone loss. Vitamin D deficiency has become an epidemic in the U.S. and in many other countries as well. Your doctor can order a blood test in order to determine if you have a deficiency, in which case he may recommend higher doses of vitamin D until your tests fall within a normal range. However, it is important to take vitamin D even if you have not been diagnosed as deficient.
Most doctors will advise women who are over the age of 50 to start taking a calcium supplement and research shows that vitamin D will not only help with the absorption of calcium, but it can also play a critical role in reducing certain health risks commonly associated with menopause. For example, taking vitamin D and calcium supplements has shown to help slow bone loss and reduce fractures.
Related posts:
- The Signs of Menopause
- Osteoporosis and Menopause
- Women and Night Sweats
- Why You May Need Nutritional Supplements
- Understanding Estrogen Dominance and it’s Causes