Taking supplements can be beneficial for providing you with the support your body needs to stay healthy. They’re great for when you’re in need of an extra vitamin and mineral boost. There are also tons of supplements to choose from depending on your specific needs. With ones for arthritis, dementia, diabetes, and even pregnancy, there seems like an overwhelming amount to pick from.
Another factor in choosing which supplements are best for you is also based on your age. Different age groups have different needs, just like different genders as well. As your body begins to age, you may realize you need specific supplements, including one for your overall health. According to Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CEO of NY Nutrition Group and author of The Core 3 Healthy Eating Plan, the best supplement to take if you’re a woman over 50 years old is a high-quality multivitamin.
“For my middle-aged clients, I typically prescribe a high-quality multivitamin that includes vitamin D for bone health, magnesium for muscle and nerve function, and antioxidants, such as resveratrol and glutathione,” says Moskovitz. “Antioxidants fight against inevitable oxidative stress that can accelerate and complicate the aging process.”
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Which nutrients women over 50 should prioritize
Moskovitz believes that as your body advances through different life stages, your nutritional needs change too. Therefore, it becomes increasingly important to have a varied, nutrient-dense diet. This will help protect you against and prevent age-related illnesses.
“Vitamin D and calcium are essential for bone health, extra B-12 counteracts the decrease in absorption rate, and focusing on fiber is key for digestive and gut health,” says Moskovitz. “Fortunately, you can get most of these essentials from your diet, but a supplement can help fill in the gaps and introduce additional healthy aging nutrients.”
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If you are a woman 50 or older, you are also at greater risk of deficiency in vitamins B6, B12, and D as you age. This can be possibly due to a medical condition, a low-calorie diet, or even a loss in appetite. Thankfully, these vitamins are most commonly found in multivitamins. You may need to take supplements with three vitamins in them if you are not getting enough nutrients.
With these supplements, there’s also a chance you will gain more energy. The B vitamins in the multivitamin will both help curb your fatigue throughout the day and help enhance your energy and mood.
Keep in mind…
Like most foods you put into your body, you could potentially negatively affect your health, too. You’ll want to be careful with the types you take, as taking multivitamin supplements can lead to consuming too many vitamins you’re not lacking in, which can also be dangerous. You also have to be careful when mixing your multivitamin with other medications, as they could interfere with one another. These, along with other side effects, should be discussed before you consume a specific type of multivitamin supplement.
What brands to buy
If you’ve discussed your multivitamin needs and are ready to leap into taking a supplement, there are a few brands worth trying.
“A few of my top-recommended brands include Oh Grape by Groove, which provides 500 milligrams of resveratrol [an antioxidant], vitamin D, and magnesium,” says Moskovits. “I also suggest Garden of Life Vitamin Code 50 and Wiser, as well as New Chapter 55+ multivitamin.”
Kayla Garritano
Kayla Garritano is a Staff Writer for Eat This, Not That! She graduated from Hofstra University, where she majored in Journalism and double minored in Marketing and Creative Writing. Read more
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