March is a month when we celebrate women, from International Women’s Day to Mother’s Day, making it the perfect time to focus on women’s health. While not as pretty as Mother’s Day flowers, our gift to you is a rundown of the best vitamin supplements for women, to help you make the best decisions for your health.
Until recently, scientific research largely treated men and women the same. But new studies are increasingly recognising that women’s needs are very different and certain deficiencies are more common. For example, research suggests over a quarter of women have inadequate iron intake.
Research is also now more focused on how hormonal changes influence the nutrients that women need. With studies suggesting that in addition to iron, vitamin D, magnesium and Omega-3 are particularly important for women, especially during midlife and after menopause when bone health, energy levels and hormonal balance need more support.
Want to know more? Here's a deep dive into our 6 must-have vitamin supplements for women and the benefits you could enjoy if you give them a try:
​Iron: one of your must-have vitamin supplements for women
Iron is one of the most important nutrients to consider when looking at the best vitamin supplements for women, because not getting enough is particularly common if you're female.
According to the NHS, women are at a much higher risk of iron deficiency during menstruation, due to blood loss from periods, or pregnancy. Iron plays a crucial role in transporting oxygen around the body and helping produce red blood cells. When you're not getting enough you'll soon know about it, with symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, headaches and brain fog.
The good news? It's easily remedied by taking an iron supplement, but there's a catch…. oral supplements can trigger some seriously unpleasant digestive side effects like constipation and diarrhoea. Don't worry though, there IS a solution, our handy Iron Plus patches! Pop one on each day to top up your iron levels and because the iron is delivered via the skin and bypasses your gut you won't need to worry about an upset tummy.
Really want to bump up your iron? Eat plenty of red meat, beans, lentils and leafy green vegetables, alongside wearing your Iron Plus patch to really turbocharge your intake. Having optimum iron levels means you'll feel more energised and will help prevent common iron deficiency symptoms like dizziness, palpitations, and hair loss.
​Vitamin B12:
Vitamin B12 is often included among the best vitamin supplements for women because it plays a crucial part in both energy production and nervous system health and women are more likely to run low, especially during and after pregnancy.
As well as helping your body produce red blood cells, it also supports the healthy functioning of your brain and nerves. If you're low on B12, you might feel tired, weak, experience tingling in your hands and feet, and find even the simplest tasks difficult to concentrate on.
Want to top up? Our B12 Plus patch is the ideal choice because Vitamin B12 is water-soluble (read more on the best way to take B12 here), which means the body can't store large excess amounts in the bloodstream and will eliminate what it doesn’t need. Patches deliver a steady dose over the 8 hours you wear them, so unlike the 'all in one go' megadose you get from an oral supplement, you'll get a gradual drip feed throughout the day, which is much easier for your body to hang on to. Our customers report the B12 patch works super quick and love the energy boost it delivers. Just don't wear it at night, unless you want to be dancing on the ceiling….
​Vitamin D:
​Another one of your must-have vitamin supplements for women is vitamin D, especially if you live in the UK where sunlight exposure can be limited for much of the year. Your skin can make it when exposed to the sun, but there isn't much sunshine to be had from October – March and when the sun has got his hat on, you're probably slathering on the the sun cream…
Vitamin D is particularly important for women because it plays a vital role in helping the body absorb calcium, essential for maintaining strong bones and teeth. Unfortunately for women, during peri-menopause and after the menopuse delcining oestrogen levesl increase the risk of developing osteoporosis – where bones become weak and prone to fracture.
Topping up your levels with a supplement all year round will help keep your levels tip top and help to protect your teeth and bones. Our handy D3 & Calcium patch can help to boost your calcium intake too – a double whammy of healthy bone support.
​Magnesium:
Now one of our most popular vitamin supplements for women, this miracle mineral is incredibly valuable if you want to help support relaxation, better sleep and stress management. All things lots of women struggle with on a daily basis! If this sounds good to you, we'd recommend the Magnacalm patch, which contains magnesium threonate alongside calming goodies like ashwagandha and L-theanine – aaaand breathe!
Obviously these are things men experience too, but for women, magnesium can also play a role in helping to balance your hormones and may even help to ease PMS symptoms such as cramps, headaches and mood changes. And what's more topping your magnesium can also support your bone health, helping regulate calcium levels, contributing to bone formation, and activating vitamin D so the body can properly absorb and use calcium. Is there anything magnesium can't do?
​Omega-3: top vitamin supplements for women & heart health
Naturally found in oily fish like salmon and mackerel, omega-3s are another of the best vitamin supplements for women. Real all rounders that can support your brain and joints, reduce inflammation and protect your cardiovascular health. Something that's particularly important for women after menopause when the protective effects of oestrogen begin to decline. Research also suggests omega-3s may help support your hormones, improving mood and reducing symptoms during your period and menopause.
So why supplement? Well, most of us simply don’t eat enough oily fish, and traditional supplements aren't always ideal ad they can leave you with unpleasant fishy aftertaste.
Our Omega-3 Plus patch is a fab alternative, with no huge, yucky-tasting capsules to swallow, but all the benefits. Get yours here.
Collagen:
Now one of the bestselling vitamin supplements for women worldwide, collagen has gained a lot of attention for the anti-ageing benefits it can provide. Think glowing, plumper, firmer and more hydrated skin.
​There are lots of bold claims around what collagen can do, but new research suggests that while it can’t turn back time, it may help support skin hydration and elasticity, while also contributing to joint comfort and mobility. This becomes particularly relevant for women as we age, because the body naturally produces less collagen over time, and around menopause, this decline accelerates even further, with studies suggesting the skin can lose up to a third of its collagen.
Our Collagen Plus patch can help you top up, and if you want to find out out more about the best way to supplement read: Which Collagen Supplement is Best.
