By Melinda Martinez & Rachel Hall

Menopause is a condition that affects most women as they age. While it is most commonly associated with aging, a small number of women can experience symptoms as early as a decade before menopause occurs. Symptoms do not always end with the last menstrual period either. One in ten women will experience symptoms for up to 12 years.

Examples of menopause symptoms are:

Headaches
Bleeding Gums
Sore/Tender Breasts
Bladder Issues / Urinary Urgency
Painful or Stiff Joints
Reduced Muscle and Bone Mass
Hot Flashes / Night Sweats
Hair Thinning
Racing Heart
Dry Skin, Eyes, Mouth
Vaginal Dryness
Reduced Libido
Insomnia
Weight Gain or Slowed Metabolism
Concentrating / Memory Problems
Depression / Emotional Changes
Anxiety

The most common treatments prescribed to assist with these symptoms include: hormone replacement therapy (HRT), counselling, dietary changes or exercise regimens. Additionally, low dose antidepressants are often given to combat the depression / emotional changes. These antidepressants sometimes have side effects that can be even worse than the menopause symptoms – these include: headache, nausea, dizziness, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, weight gain, diarrhea, constipation, reduced libido.

At A Healthy Solution we feel it is imperative to spread the word about alternative treatments to help women manage or reduce their menopause symptoms. Our recommended alternatives are CBD, minerals, collagen and menopause relief patches.

How is CBD beneficial?
CBD interacts with the brain’s ECS (endocannabinoid system). While not directly tackling menopause, CBD helps fight menopause symptoms.

CBD Benefits:
1. Helps regulate hot flashes by improving the brain’s signals in order to regulate temperature properly.
2. Can assist in maintaining bone density.
3. Serves as a mood booster to help relieve anxiety, depression and mood swings.
4. Reduces sleep disturbances and helps improve sleep quality.

CBD Recommendation: Our 1500mg Tincture from A Healthy Solutions Wellness Boutique Includes terpenes specifically made to help with menopause symptoms. This blend will also help with anxiety, insomnia, and pain.

How are minerals beneficial?
Minerals are nutrients essential to life. They work behind the scenes, nourishing our organs and making hundreds of body functions possible. Minerals are important in all stages of life, but especially needed during menopause.

Types of minerals and benefits:
1. Magnesium: Binds your amino acids to produce estrogen, progesterone, testosterone & thyroid hormones.
2. Zinc: Plays important role in managing oil glands & hair follicles to reduce hair loss.
3. Selenium: Can help alleviate fatigue.
4. Iodine: Extremely helpful for memory, concentration, cognitive ability.

Minerals Recommendation: Eidon Ionic Liquid Minerals

How is collagen beneficial?
1. Helps Hair, Skin & Nails
2. Supports Healthy Bones and Joints

Collagen Recommendation: Good Life Collagen Gummies

How are menopause relief patches beneficial?
Menopause relief patch contain Black Cohosh/Dong Quai to fight night sweats.

Menopause Relief Patches Recommendation: Menopause Relief Patch by Patch Aid

At A Healthy Solution, we also carry an array of different alternative products. Our Wellness Associates can customize a treatment plan to help manage your specific menopausal symptoms

First, we will start with Elderberry. Elderberries are one of the most commonly used medicinal plants in the world. The berries and flow of the elderberry plant are packed with antioxidants and vitamins that can help boost your immune system. They could help tame inflammation, lessen stress, and help protect your heart, too. Some experts recommend elderberry to help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms. However, the raw berries, bark, and leaves of the plant are also known to be poisonous and cause stomach problems. So be careful if you ever decide to eat them.

Next, we have Echinacea. The Echinacea, or purple coneflower, is the name of a group of flower plants in the daisy family They’re native to North America where they grow in prairies and open, wooded areas. Both the plant’s upper parts and roots are used in tablets, tinctures, extracts and even teas. Echinacea plants contain an impressive variety of active compounds, such as caffeic acid, alkamides, phenolic acids, rosmarinic acid, polyacetylenes and many more. Several laboratory and animal studies suggest that echinacea contains active substances that boost immune function, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and have hormonal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects. Because of this, specialized
herbalists may recommend echinacea to treat urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast (candida) infections, ear infections (also known as otitis media), athlete’s foot, sinusitis, hay fever (also called allergic rhinitis), as well as slow-healing wounds. Initial studies in the lab suggest echinacea may help prevent colon tumors when combined with cichoric acid. One study even suggests that echinacea extract utilized an
antiviral action on the development of recurrent cold sores triggered by the herpes simplex virus (HSVI) when taken prior to infection.

Following that, we have Zinc. Zinc supports a number of functions in the human body. As well as supporting the immune system, it enables the body to make proteins and DNA, contributes to wound healing, and plays a role in childhood growth and development. This mineral has also been shown to help with chronic disease, neurological symptoms, osteoporosis, age related degeneration, sexual health, and more. Zinc occurs naturally in many foods, such as beans, meat, and fish. It is also available as a dietary supplement. Generally, you can get enough Zinc in your system through your diet and maybe a supplement, otherwise your body doesn’t require as much as you may think. The recommended dietary intake for adult women is 8 milligrams (mg) per day and 11 mg for men, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). That amount can come from zinc-rich foods, such as oysters, red meat, crab, and lobster, or from supplements.

Then we have Colloidal Silver. The exact way colloidal silver works is not fully understood. But what we do know is that it’s known as a natural anti-inflammatory that works fast to reduce swelling, repair inflammation in the skin or body. Colloidal silver can benefit people as a nasal spray that kills staph aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections that could directly cause sinusitis and allergies. Colloidal silver can kill certain germs by destroying proteins, which is why it was previously used in wound dressings. But silver has no known function in the body and is not an essential mineral. Though in small doses with other compounds, can be safe to have in your system and can provide the antibacterial benefits needed. It is generally not recommended to take large amounts of silver unless you consult your doctor first due to it being dangerous to take it in large amounts.

Finally, we have Vitamins C, D, E, and B6. We will talk about each one individually, starting with vitamin C. Vitamin C is an important vitamin, meaning your body can’t produce it by itself. Yet, it has many roles and has been linked to impressive health benefits. It’s water-soluble and found in many fruits and vegetables, including oranges, strawberries, kiwi fruit, bell peppers, broccoli, kale, and spinach. The
advised daily intake for vitamin C is 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men. While it’s commonly advised to get your vitamin C intake from foods, many people turn to supplements to meet their needs. Usually because they want to guarantee they get the amount they need in their system. Vitamin C is an incredible antioxidant that can strengthen your body’s natural defenses. Antioxidants are molecules that boost the immune system. They do so by protecting cells from harmful molecules called free radicals. When free radicals accumulate, they can promote a state known as oxidative stress, which has been linked to many chronic diseases. Studies show that consuming more vitamin C can increase your blood antioxidant levels by up to 30%. This helps the body’s natural defenses fight inflammation. Now vitamin D. Vitamin D is crucial for various reasons, including sustaining healthy bones and teeth. It may also protect against a range of diseases and conditions, such as type 1 diabetes. In spite of its name, vitamin D is not a vitamin, but a prohormone, or precursor of a hormone. Vitamins are nutrients that the body cannot create, and so a person must consume them in the diet. However, the body is able to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D plays a significant role in the regulation of calcium and maintenance of phosphorus levels in the blood. These factors are important for maintaining healthy bones. People need vitamin D to allow the intestines to absorb and reclaim calcium that the kidneys would otherwise excrete. In adults, vitamin D deficiency develops itself as osteomalacia, or softening of the bones. Osteomalacia results in poor bone density and muscular weakness. A vitamin D deficiency can also present as osteoporosis, for which over 53 million people in the United States either seek treatment or face an increased risk.

Let’s move on to vitamin E. This vitamin can be naturally found in some foods, added to others, and is available as a dietary supplement. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that can help defend your body from oxidative stress. It may be useful in inhibiting or treating the symptoms of chronic inflammatory conditions such as diabetes and osteoarthritis. Still, more research is needed before any definitive
conclusions can be made. Generally, people get enough vitamin E through diet, but supplements do exist. There may be some side effects to ingesting too much vitamin E over a longer period of time, and vitamin E can interact with certain medications if you’re not careful.

And finally for this section, vitamin B6! Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin that your body needs for several functions. It’s important to protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism and the creation of red blood cells and neurotransmitters. Your body cannot produce vitamin B6, so you must obtain it from foods or supplements. Most people get enough vitamin B6 through their diet, but
several people may be at risk for deficiency. Consuming adequate amounts of vitamin B6 is important for optimal health and may even prevent and treat chronic diseases. Low levels of vitamin B6 in older adults has been linked to signs of depression, but research is still looking into how B6 can be effective when helping mood disorders. Vitamin B6 may also be able to help with brain functionality as well.
Along with mood disorders, B6 has been shown to help with conditions like Alzheimer’s and memory impairments by decreasing the homocysteine levels that have been associated with these conditions.

However, studies have not yet fully proven the effectiveness of B6 in improving brain health. It as also `been shown to add to the prevention of cancer and improves your overall eye health on top of that.

Furthermore, all of these compounds put together can help make a healthy blend to help your immune support and give you a better quality of life through better health. At AHS, we have many specialists and a nurse on staff to help answer any questions you may have.

Let’s start with Vitamin D. This vitamin is known as one of the most significant immune system strengthening nutrients that can decrease the risk of colds and flus. Though it’s usually known for its capability to strengthen our bones and add more calcium into our bodies. As the vitamin D receptor is expressed on immune cells (B cells, T cells and antigen presenting cells) and these immunologic cells are
all are capable of producing the active vitamin D metabolite, vitamin D has the ability of acting in an autocrine manner in a local immunologic milieu. Vitamin D can modulate the innate and adaptive immune responses. Deficiency in vitamin D is associated with increased autoimmunity as well as an increased sensitivity to infection. As immune cells in autoimmune diseases are responsive to the ameliorative effects of vitamin D, the beneficial effects of supplementing vitamin D deficient people with autoimmune disease may extend beyond the effects on bone and calcium homeostasis. There are foods you can eat that naturally put this vitamin into your system, those foods include: fatty fish, like tuna, mackerel, and salmon, or dairy products, orange juice, soy milk, and cereals, beef liver, cheese, egg
yolks, etc.

Now on to Vitamin C, it’s importance to the body and how it can improve your life. This vitamin is known for boosting our immune systems by supporting the production of white blood cells that help fight off infections. Because your body isn’t naturally able to make Vitamin C on its own, it has to come from the foods you eat every day. Research shows vitamin C is essential for the growth and repair of tissue all over the body. Vitamin C helps heal wounds and repair and sustain healthy bones, teeth, skin and cartilage, a type of firm tissue that covers the bones. As an antioxidant, vitamin C fights free radicals in the body which may help prevent or delay certain cancers and heart disease and promote healthy aging. Vitamin C from foods also seems to reduce the risk of cartilage loss in those with osteoarthritis. Though it may not keep you from catching a cold, there is some evidence that high doses of vitamin C may decrease the length of cold symptoms by as much as one to one-and-a-half days for some people. Sources of vitamin C are reach well beyond the ever-popular orange or orange juice. Many fruits and vegetables supply this vital vitamin. Sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, green and red bell peppers, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and kiwifruit, among others. You can enjoy these foods raw or cooked, but it’s important to note that fruits and vegetables lose vitamin C when heated or stored for long periods of time. To get the most nutrients, eat them as soon as possible after shopping and consider steaming or microwaving vegetables for short periods of time to limit nutrient loss.

Next up, we have Zinc! Zinc is found in cells throughout the body. It helps the immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses. The body also needs zinc to make proteins and DNA, the genetic material in all cells. Scientists determined in human cell culture and animal studies that a protein lures zinc into key cells that are first responders against infection. The zinc then interacts with a process that is vital to the fight against infection and by doing so helps balance the immune response. It can also help reduce symptoms of COVID-19. While there is no current cure to this illness, there are ways to help prevent it from affecting you, such as the COVID-19 vaccine. But if that isn’t the route you want to take or want to use something more to help you stay immune, this could be a good choice. At the moment there are few good quality trials examining the role that zinc supplements or low zinc levels have in COVID-19 which means we need to review good quality research that looks at zinc in other conditions as well. A Cochrane review of 18 studies found zinc lozenges (at least 75mg/day) administered within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms reduced the duration of cold symptoms in healthy people. They could not make a recommendation regarding whether zinc supplementation reduced the risk of developing a cold. Zinc gluconate (13.3mg) reduced the symptoms of a common cold by more than three days in 100 employees in Cleveland. Zinc was shown to inhibit the activity and replication of another coronavirus
(SARS-CoV which caused an outbreak in 2002) in the laboratory. Low zinc levels were associated with a poorer outcome in people admitted to a hospital in Spain with Covid-19.

And finally, elderberry! The berries and flowers of elderberry are packed with antioxidants and vitamins that may boost your immune system. They could help tame inflammation, lessen stress, and help protect your heart, too. Some experts recommend elderberry to help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms. What’s nice about this plant is that it’s high in vitamin C, high in dietary fiber, a good source
of phenolic acids, a good source of flavonols, and rich in anthocyanins. Though how much the berries have in them can depend on the variety of the plant, the ripeness of the berries, and the environmental/climatic conditions. Elderberry extract has been shown to reduce the length and severity of symptoms caused by the influenza virus. While the results are promising, further large-scale human studies are needed. Elderberry fruits, leaves, and flowers are strong in antioxidants. However, their protective effects on humans appear to be insignificant. Additionally, the processing of the berries and flowers can reduce their antioxidant activity. Elderberry has some benefits for heart health, such as reducing cholesterol, uric acid, and blood sugar levels. However, further research is needed to demonstrate if these effects are significant in humans. Though these benefits seem great, uncooked berries, leaves, bark, and roots of the elderberry plant contain the chemicals lectin and cyanide, which can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Cooking the berries and seeds will remove the cyanide. So be
careful while ingesting this plant before cooking.

In conclusion, all of these vitamins have many different healing benefits for the body. Always consult your doctor before trying any new medical treatments.

For healthy people,supplements may help prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies when their diet does not provide all necessary nutrients. Whether it’s flu season or you just want to make sure your body is fighting against all the daily chemicals and pollutants that we encounter, you can take vitamin supplements to reap different health benefits.

Vitamin C is one of the biggest immune system boosters of all. In fact, a lack of vitamin C can even make you more prone to getting sick. Foods rich in vitamin C include oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, kale and broccoli. Daily intake of vitamin C is essential for good health because your body doesn’t produce or store it.

Vitamin B6 is vital to supporting biochemical reactions in the immune system. Vitamin B6-rich foods include chicken and cold-water fish such as salmon and tuna. Vitamin B6 also is found in green vegetables and in chickpeas, which is the main ingredient in hummus.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps the body fight off infection. Foods rich in vitamin E include nuts, seeds and spinach.

Vitamin B-12 plays an important role in white blood cell production, and white blood cells are essential for proper immune system functioning. Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and dairy products.

You can find vitamin supplements at CVS, Walgreensor any nutritional stores.