Women’s Health Month: Nutraceuticals for Hormonal Balance

May is Women’s Health Month, a time to spotlight the critical role nutraceuticals can play in supporting women’s hormonal health and overall well-being.

Throughout each month, women experience natural hormonal fluctuations that can impact mood, metabolism, energy levels, and reproductive health. Symptoms like irregular periods, mood swings, fatigue, and weight changes are often the result of imbalanced hormones. Nutraceuticals offer targeted support to ease these symptoms and promote balance from within.

In this blog, we explore key nutraceutical ingredients that support hormonal balance, ease menstrual and menopausal symptoms, and promote overall women’s health.

Why Magnesium Matters for Women

Magnesium is always hitting the headlines, but did you know that as well as supporting the body in general, the mineral also plays a crucial role in regulating hormonal production and function in women?

This powerful supplement can alleviate symptoms related to hormonal imbalance during perimenopause and menopause, by aiding users with sleep disturbances, mood swings and anxiety.

And that’s not all, for those suffering during their monthly cycle, magnesium can support menstrual cramps by enhancing muscle relaxation and providing neurotransmitter support for mood regulation and stability. (1)

Unlocking Women’s Wellness: The Power of Omega-3s

Omega 3 Fatty Acids offer numerous benefits for women’s overall wellness, including supporting heart health, reducing inflammation and potentially improving cognitive function.

With its anti-inflammatory properties, this soothing supplement can help relieve menstrual pains and reduce discomfort. Not only that, Omega-3s can be beneficial for women struggling with menstrual irregularities, as the acid is understood to have bleeding-regulating effects to help moderate the amount and duration of menstrual flow.(2)

Fertility-wise, Omega 3s are always high up on the list of supplements for women wanting to get pregnant due to their hormone regulation and balancing effects, which are crucial for ovulation.(3)

The Power of Ashwagandha for Women

Although Ashwagandha can sometimes feel like a ‘buzz-word’ in the supplement industry, there’s absolutely no denying its endless list of benefits.

The ingredient, which comes from an evergreen shrub in Asia and Africa, specialises in reducing stress and improving sleep quality, but also can balance hormones – a particularly beneficial trait to support women’s menstrual cycle, reproduction and menopause.

A 2021 study revealed that Ashwagandha root extract significantly improved quality of life and reduced physical, psychological, and urogenital symptoms in women experiencing perimenopause, outperforming a placebo. (4)

Regulating the menstrual cycle is what a lot of women may look for in Ashwaghanda supplementation, as the ingredient’s phytoestrogens may help restore balance and aid in cycle regulation, particularly for those who suffer from endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

The Crucial Role of Iron in Women’s Health

During both pregnancy and their monthly cycle, women are particularly vulnerable to iron deficiency. That’s because iron powers haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around your body.

One in three women report heavy periods, and the numbers are even higher in girls and young women, with the latest UK National Nutrition and Diet Survey showing 49% of girls aged 11-18 have iron below recommended levels.

Iron supplementation helps to support healthy red blood cell production, which can reduce fatigue and weakness, especially around the menstrual cycle, helping users keep both their energy and cycle on track.

Understanding B Vitamins: A Woman’s Health Essential

B vitamins are like your body’s ‘energy team’, helping you to convert carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into usable energy, which is why they’re a popular supplement used to fight menopause fatigue.

But it doesn’t stop there, these powerful vitamins also contribute to the proper functioning of endocrine glands (glands which release hormones into your bloodstream), aiding hormonal balance during the menopausal transition.(5)

The Gut-Feminine Connection: Why Probiotics Are Key for Women’s Health

You’ve probably heard the saying, ‘Good health starts in the gut’, and there’s a lot of truth to it. But did you know that probiotics do more than just support digestion?

For women, probiotics offer a whole host of extra benefits, especially when it comes to vaginal health. Just like the gut, the vaginal microbiome needs the right balance of bacteria to stay healthy. When that balance is off, it can lead to discomfort, infections, and other issues. That’s where probiotics step in, helping to restore the balance and support everyday wellbeing.

Probiotics may even lend a hand when it comes to fertility (6). By keeping the vaginal environment healthy, they can support treatments and improve the chances of conception for some women dealing with fertility-related conditions.

Partner With Us

If you’re looking to formulate products that focus on women’s health, get in touch with us today.

With over 30 years of experience in nutraceutical formulation, we specialise in both off-the-shelf and bespoke supplement solutions.

Whether you’re expanding your range or developing new products, our expert technical team is here to support you from concept to shelf.

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Disclaimer

Our blog content is for professional use only, reflecting our business-to-business (B2B) model. It provides general information, not regulatory compliance advice or nutritional/health claims. While we strive for accuracy at the time of posting, food laws and regulations may change, and posts may not always be updated accordingly. As a global nutraceutical contract manufacturer, Redrose does not provide regulatory compliance advice. We recommend consulting an independent regulatory advisor to ensure compliance with target market regulations. Redrose assumes no liability for actions taken based on this content.