Ladies! We never have it easy. Menstruating through 40ish years of our lives and menopause for another 10-15. If men only knew. Hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, moodiness, sleeplessness, thinning hair, low sex drive and ugh…vaginal dryness. What’s a girl to do?
Your options
Conventional treatments —- Most menopausal symptoms result from a rapid decline in the hormone estrogen. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) reintroduces estrogen through pills or topical applications. HRT is expensive and not covered by many insurance plans. Studies show1, 2 HRT increases risk of heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer.
Pharmaceutical approaches —- Doctors may prescribe medications for certain symptoms such as depression, hot-flashes, restlessness, anxiety, and osteoporosis. But pharmaceuticals come with their own side-effects and risks and, as the saying goes, sometimes “the treatment is worse than the symptoms.”
Nutritional Supplements —- Several all-natural supplements are available to get you looking and feeling your post 40 best. We look at which supplements support weight management, decrease hot flashes, aid sleep, improve mood, and support healthy bones — naturally.
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Not all menopause relief supplements work the same. Different formulas approach symptoms differently. With so many choices, we wanted to know which approach or combination of natural ingredients works best.
Our team independently reviewed 29 menopause relief brands using data from independent consumer testing laboratories, Labdoor and ConsumerLab, combined with our internal ratings system to determine the top 5 menopause supplements for women over 40.
| View the Top 5 Menopause Supplements for Women Over 40 Now |
Natural Approaches to Menopause Relief
Probiotics
More than half of the roughly 69 trillion cells in your body are microbial3. Tiny living organisms populate your entire body but are especially prevalent in the gut, vagina, colon, and gastrointestinal tract. Microbial cells regulate and support nearly every vital function including vaginal health, weight management, mood, blood pressure (hot flashes), and bone density.
Diet, environmental contaminants, antibiotics, alcohol and other factors can cause harmful bacterial overgrowth accentuating menopausal symptoms and estrogen imbalance. Seeding your microbiome with high doses of healthy microorganisms restores balance and improves overall health. When you restore cell function, symptoms lessen. You look and feel better because you are literally “healthier.”
Succinates
Succinates play important roles in cell metabolism as precursors to biologically consequential molecules. As part of the mitochondrial Krebs cycle, succinates are vital to enzyme regulation and energy production. Succinates also have antioxidant and antibiotic qualities.
How succinates help relieve menopause symptoms is unclear. And, while they have been clinically studied4, and anecdotally supported for menopause relief, the validity of those studies is questionable. Another study found elevated succinate levels linked to gut dysbiosis and inflammatory bowel disease5.
Herbs and Traditional Medicines
Soy beans and Soy Isoflavone
Soy has mild estrogenic effects. A systematic review of 19 clinical trials showed soy reduced the severity of hot flashes 11%-26%6. Another study found that while soy was beneficial to hot flashes, time to experience benefits ranged from several weeks to months7. Notably, reviewers of the systematic clinical trial review are affiliated with the Soy Nutrition Institute and could have vested interest6. Soy may help with hot flashes but doesn’t seem to have any effect on other menopausal symptoms like weight gain and reduced bone density.
Moringa Leaf
Known as the “Miracle Tree,” and largely unknown in the west, the moringa tree is the most nutrient-dense food on the planet. Moringa leaf contains a host of antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins and micronutrients. Besides powerful antioxidant effects and improving cellular function, moringa leaf boosts energy and metabolism by lowering blood glucose levels8. Moringa leaf is especially effective at combating menopausal
Two large clinical studies confirm moringa leaf’s weight loss benefits. One 8 week study found subjects taking a combination of moringa, turmeric, and curry lost 6.4 pounds compared with the placebo group9. Another study reported weight loss of 9.9 pounds compared with the placebo group10. Moringa leaf has also shown promise in reducing hot flashes and improving sleep12.
Black Cohosh
Black Cohosh is a traditional medicine with a long history of use among Native Americans and European settlers for treating menstrual irregularities, musculoskeletal pain, and women’s reproductive issues. And although it has been widely studied for menopause relief over 70 years, no studies ever reported a conclusive mechanism of action11.
One study of 351, 45-55 year old women reported black cohosh had no effect on reducing hot flashes or night sweats compared with the placebo group. In fact, after 12 months, women taking a black cohosh multibotanical formula with soy foods reported a significant increase in symptom intensity11.
Dong Quai
Known as the “Female Ginseng,” dong quai is a Chinese traditional medicine used for thousands of years for treating women’s health issues. Clinical studies are mixed with no conclusive outcomes. One study observed no statistically significant reduction in hot flashes12. Another reported a 73% decrease in hot flash symptoms at three months. Mount Sinai medical center warns women with bloating, digestive problems, or with higher risk of cancer should avoid dong quai. May cause rashes and women on blood thinners or hormone therapies should avoid dong quai.
Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are beneficial in maintaining health. The best source of vitamins and minerals is a healthy diet. Some vitamins and minerals beneficial to women over 4013 but hard to get through diet include vitamin D, omega-3, vitamin K, magnesium, vitamin B2, B6, B12, and iodine. Vitamins and minerals maintain bone density, prevent thinning hair, boost cognition, blood flow, immunity, and metabolism. Magnesium is especially effective at reducing the severity of hot flashes.
| View the Top 5 Menopause Supplements for Women Over 40 Now |
Supplement buying tips
Third Party Certification
The FDA doesn’t require third-party verification. Supplement manufacturers get third-party verifications as an act of good faith to provide transparency and distinguish products. Certifications verify ingredients and quantities claimed on the label. Various certifications include GMP, USP, NSF, Certified Organic, Non-GMO certified, etc.
Clinically Studied Ingredients
Traditional medicine has many proponents and we don’t make any claims about the anecdotal evidence handed down over hundreds or thousands of years. However, ingredients (even those clinically studied) without a clear mechanism of action are difficult to evaluate. We based our top 5 menopause supplements for women over 40 on clinically studied ingredients supported by a body of evidence.
Beware of Fakes
Sadly, according to the New York Times,14 one in four products sold on Amazon is fake. This is especially true of nutritional supplements. Avoid buying supplements on Ebay. When you buy from Amazon, ensure you buy from the manufacturer’s Amazon store. Otherwise, buy directly from the manufacturer’s website. Buying fraudulent products may cause nasty side effects — be extra cautious about authenticity.
Look for Products Made in the USA
All supplements made in the USA are regulated by the FDA. Ensure products you buy come from FDA regulated facilities using GMP certified manufacturing processes. Many supplements, especially those purchased on eBay and Amazon come from China and abroad. One study found 60%-70% of supplements do not contain the ingredients or quantities claimed on labels15.
Money Back Guarantee
A risk-free guarantee lets you try supplements without fear of losing your money. If you try the product and don’t experience the results simply contact the manufacturer for a refund. What more can a manufacturer do to stand behind their products?
| View the Top 5 Menopause Supplements for Women Over 40 Now |
| Provitalize | |
| Why we like Provitalize As of July 2022, over 1.2 million women worldwide have tried Provitalize, making it the most popular menopause probiotic supplement in the world. In addition to a unique blend of Thermogenic probiotics that help to address menopause-related symptoms, Provitalize contains a herbal blend with demonstrated benefits for premenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal women including turmeric root extract, moringa leaf extract, and curry leaf extract. Together these have been shown to combat inflammation and bloating, decrease hot flashes, joint pain, and support healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Bioperene (black pepper extract) and sunflower lecithin are shown to enhance absorption of vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial properties of herbal formulas. | Pros FDA, GMP, and Certified OrganicVegan, keto, paleo friendly100% natural, safe ingredientsThermogenic herbal assisted probiotic formula12,989 Amazon reviewers report 84% positive results4.1 Star Trustpilot rating62 Billion CFUClinically proven probiotic strainsVegan DR CapsTM ensure the probiotics reach your gut safelyIndependently verified by Eurofins Testing Laboratory90 day money-back guarantee |
| ConsNo free trial<10% report no weight loss | |
| **Best Value** Slim Gut Bundle (Provitalize + Previtalize) | |
| We listed the Slim Gut bundle second because it costs slightly more than Provitalize alone, but we believe it is a better value. Get all the benefits of Provitalize, plus Previtalize. Previtalize is a prebiotic blend that increases the likelihood of beneficial probiotics in Provitalize colonizing your gut. Previtalize contains healthy plant fiber probiotics need to thrive including, fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, and inulin. Previtalize also aids digestion and stabilizes mood naturally. Some customers recommend taking Previtalize first for 5-10 minutes, before taking Provitalize, to see maximum impact. According to published reviews, Slim Gut customers have reported seeing results in just a few days. | FDA, GMP, and Certified OrganicVegan, keto, paleo friendly100% natural, safe ingredientsThermogenic herbal assisted probiotic formula12,989 Amazon reviewers report 84% positive results4 Star Trustpilot rating62 Billion CFUClinically proven probiotic strainsClinically studied prebioticsVegan DR CapsTM ensure the probiotics reach your gut safelyIndependently verified by Eurofins Testing Laboratory90 day money-back guarantee |
| ConsNo free trialSlightly more expensive than Provitalize alone. | |
| Amberen | |
| Amberen is a well established brand available at most major retailers. Amberen is a clinically studied succinate based formula with a long history. Amberen also contains magnesium which has been shown to be beneficial in hot flash relief. We ranked Amberen third because although many women are satisfied with the decreased severity of hot flashes night sweats, and overall mood stabilization, Amberen has no reported effectiveness at combating menopausal weight gain compared with Provitalize and/or the Slim Gut Bundle. | Pros60 day money back guaranteeMade in the USA64% five-star Amazon ratingsComplies with FDA regulationsClinically tested |
| ConsProprietary formula does not reveal individual ingredient quantitiesContains MSGNot veganNo third-party verification | |
| Menofit | |
| We listed Menofit fourth because it contains probiotics together with an herbal formula. While it contains only 25 billion CFU of clinically studied probiotics, it also contains prebiotics. Additionally, vitamins and herbs in the Menofit formula have been shown to increase energy, reduce food cravings, and alleviate menstrual cramps. However, some of the ingredients fall under the category of “traditional medicine,” and rely on historical, anecdotal evidence rather than clinical studies. | ProsClinically studied ingredients2,805 Amazon reviewers report 86% positive results4.9-star Google ratingGood customer support100% natural, safe ingredients90 day money-back guarantee |
| ConsNot GMP, and Certified OrganicNot all ingredients are clinically studiedExpensive | |
| Estroven | |
| Estroven claims to be the “#1 Ranked Menopause Brand of Choice Among Women” with the disclaimer “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.” Estroven is a popular plant-based formula sold at major retailers. Estroven contains mostly traditional medicines including black cohosh and soy. We ranked it fifth because it does contain clinically studied rhaptonic rhubarb, which has demonstrated benefits in reducing the intensity of hot flashes. | ProsClinically studied rhaptonic rhubarbComplies with FDA regulations90 day money-back guaranteeVegan |
| ConsNo third-party verificationExpensiveContains soy and black cohoshUpset stomach and nausea reported by some | |