Women’s health beyond the multivitamin

The female body is amazing, and not just because it can grow and birth a whole human being. But let’s face it, that ability comes with some associated struggles. Between menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and ever-changing skin care needs, the female body goes through some things.

But help is out there! Whether it’s an iron deficiency, monthly cramps or hot flashes, there are plenty of vitamins and supplements that provide additional nutrients or botanicals to support women and their various everyday health needs. Let’s take a look at some of the more common issues around women’s health.

Menstrual cycle health and support

For some, menstrual cycles come and go each month with no major side effects. Others can experience cramps ranging from minor to debilitating along with mood swings and breast tenderness. Heating pads and over-the-counter pain medicine can offer some relief, but there are supplements to provide support, too.

Nutrilite™ Cycle Support is made with two plant ingredients that have been clinically shown to help ease common physical and emotional symptoms of the menstrual cycle when taken for at least two cycles.† Chasteberry, a fruit from the chaste tree native to the Mediterranean and Asia, helps ease cramps and offers temporary relief for breast tenderness. Saffron, which comes from the saffron crocus flower, supports minor mood swings during normal menstrual cycles.

Childbearing years and prenatal care: Address iron deficiency

Iron is lost through menstruation, which means all menstruating women should pay special attention to their iron intake to avoid iron deficiency. But iron and folic acid are especially important for those who are pregnant or may become pregnant.

The Office on Women’s Health reports that birth defects can occur in the very early stages of pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. Also, about 40% of all pregnancies are unplanned, so it’s important to pay attention to iron and folic acid intake.

Foods rich in iron include meat, seafood, eggs, beans, lentils and fortified cereals. Folic acid is found in dark leafy greens, Brussels sprouts, asparagus and avocados. Many breads, pastas, rice and flours are also fortified with folic acid.

Supplements can help fill any gaps, too, such as Nutrilite Iron Folic. It features three sources of iron (iron bisglycinate, iron fumarate and mustard greens) plus folic acid and 30mg of vitamin C to increase your body’s ability to absorb iron.

Menopause supplements and support

Menopause occurs when a woman has no more menstrual cycles. The time leading up to that and the phases after are called perimenopause and post-menopause. The whole process typically lasts about 7 years, but it can go as long as 14 or more.

During this time, women need to increase their calcium intake to combat the rapid loss of bone mass and strength that can occur. Vitamins K, D and magnesium also support bone health. Menopause can be filled with unfortunate symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats and natural mood swings.

Menopause supplements can make this stage of a woman’s life easier by filling nutrient gaps and addressing those frustrating symptoms. Nutrilite Complete Menopause Support targets bone health with magnesium and vitamins K and D while also addressing menopause symptoms.

It includes Siberian rhubarb, which has been clinically proven to help alleviate some of the common menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, natural mood swings or a changing libido.† In fact, a consumer study showed that 94% of women said they experienced a reduction in those common symptoms, including a 49% reduction in the severity of hot flashes after taking the supplement.*

Vitamins for skin, hair and nails

While the types of skin care products used on the outside of your skin may change as you age, supporting healthy beauty through a well-balanced diet is one strategy that stays the same no matter how old you are.

A healthy diet filled with plenty of fruits and vegetables in a variety of colors is a great start toward supporting healthy skin, hair and nails, but a supplement with some key nutrients can help support healthy beauty efforts, too.

Biotin is an essential nutrient that works at a cellular level to help support hair and nails. Collagen is an essential structural component of healthy skin and vitamin C helps protect against oxidative stress, which can take a toll on skin.

Nutrilite Hair, Skin & Nail Health features all three of those nutrients plus grapeseed extract for additional antioxidant protection and extract from horsetail, a plant that is a natural source of silicic acid, which supports healthy hair and nails.

Support everyday health with a women’s multivitamin

Regardless of what age you may be or what stage you are going through, a women’s multivitamin is a good baseline supplement to support everyday health and ensure you’re filling any nutrient gaps that might exist when your diet might not be ideal.

Nutrilite Women’s Daily is a women’s multivitamin that targets immunity, energy, eye and bone health while rounding out daily nutrition needs with 23 essential vitamins and minerals and 200mg of organic plant nutrients to support everyday health.†

You could also consider the Nutrilite Women’s Pack, a convenient collection of supplements that target women’s health needs: Nutrilite Cal Mag D for calcium and magnesium, Nutrilite Concentrated Fruits and Vegetables for added plant nutrients as well as the Women’s Daily Multivitamin and Hair, Skin & Nail Health.

Want to learn more about the nutrition needs of women and how they may differ from men? Read this story on Amway Discover. And to learn more about various Nutrilite supplements that might meet your health and wellbeing needs, check out Amway.com.

^{†This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.}

^{*Results based on Amway-conducted, 12-week Consumer Perceptual Research Study using the validated Menopause Rating Scale (MRS).}