How Menopause Vitamins and Nutrition Helped Me Sail Through Menopause

Guest post today by Nancy Cashman

If you are a woman between the ages of 40-50 you are either getting ready to go through, or are in, menopause. I was 42 and started to experience irregular periods, hot flashes, insomnia, and fatigue. I knew through family and friends that there were differences between vitamins and nutrition, and doctor prescribed treatments that can help women through the process of menopause.

Wanting to rule out a more serious medical condition, I first made an appointment with my medical physician. Never having been pregnant I did not have a regular ob/gyn. I had gone to the same general practice doctor since I was 18 years old, and had a lot of confidence in going through this new phase of my life with him.

After a blood test confirmed the start of menopause, I have to admit I was happy. Some may think I was crazy, but I figured after almost 30 years of monthly cramps, pms, and the other restrictions I had paid my dues.

As I said, my relationship with my doctor was great. He immediately offered to prescribe a hormone replacement drug to get me through the 3-5 years of menopause. After doing my own research I did not care for all the negative information I was getting. I thought it would be a more healthy option to target things like menopause treatments with vitamins and nutrition at the very first signs my body was changing.

Thankfully my sister was a Shaklee Independent Distributor and introduced me to a combination of products. I immediately started using them and sailed through menopause drug free. With reports of some of these very same drugs that are prescribed for menopause being pulled off the market, I am glad I chose the natural way.

Whether it is coping with menstrual cycle issues like PMS, or dealing with the transition to menopause, there are health solutions to help meet the unique health needs of women throughout every stage of life by giving the body what it needs in the form of nutrients targeted for women. When the body processes are functioning properly, you feel that in the form of feeling good because your body is not having the symptoms that make you feel lousy.

The products that I feel helped me the most are soy protein, an herbal menopause blend, calcium-magnesium, and a unique gamma linolenic acid formula (GLA). One difference that I have come to appreciate with Shaklee nutrition is that they combine ingredients in many of their products, allowing them to work together to give better results than individual ingredients. It was explained to me that they work synergistically to perform best. The definition of synergy is: a dynamic state in which combined action is favored over the sum of individual component actions.

There are also differences in the quality of ingredients and formulation processes that set this brand apart. For instance, the high quality energizing soy protein is water-washed so that it retains the critical isoflavones genistein and daidzein that provide health benefits associated with the whole goodness of soy. Other brands that are alcohol processed remove these beneficial isoflavones, and use chemicals that cross-contaminate. There are different options for using the soy, including my favorite, the Cinch Shakes.  They contain the same energizing soy, and are formulated into a full meal with fiber included, to make a perfect breakfast and wonderful nutrition start for the day.

A key product that made a difference for me once I knew that I had started menopause was the Menopause Balancing Complex, a combination of black cohosh, soy isoflavones, flaxseed oil, dong quai extract, red clover extract, and licorice extract. It is a unique combination of phytoestrogens that help reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes, promotes restful sleep, and helps reduce mood swings.

GLA promotes well-being for women during their menstrual cycles and is beneficial through menopause as well. The Shaklee formula contains GLA, an omega-6 fatty acid that our bodies use to form prostaglandins – potent, hormone-like substances that help the body to regulate many normal body processes, sunflower seed oil that is another source of health omega-6 fatty acids, and vitamin E.

Calcium is not to be underestimated in its value to girls and women throughout their lives. Other nutrients in this brand’s highly absorbable calcium blend include vitamins D & K, and magnesium. Benefits include reduction of PMS symptoms such as bloating, cramps, water retention, irritability, and moodiness.

Nancy Cashman represents Shaklee Independent Distributor brand Women’s Health Products.