This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
Interesting fact: only five species are known to go through the menopause – humans and four different kinds of whale. Most women experience the start of their menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. In the UK the average age is 51. If you haven’t been through the menopause yet, I’d like to cheer you up by saying it isn’t always a difficult time. Like many other women, I sailed through mine – barely noticed it was happening apart from a few hot flushes.
However, you may be going through yours now and are finding it isn’t that positive an experience. Good news is we’ve found a supplement that may prove helpful.
What exactly are hot flushes?
Vasomotor symptoms, commonly known as hot flushes or hot flashes, are reported by up to 85% of women going through the menopause, making them the most common symptom. Nobody is sure what causes them, though it may be because changes to oestrogen production affect the system in the body that regulates heat.
Hot flushes are a sensation of being very hot that can come on at any time, affecting the whole body and lasting for several minutes. They can make your face flush and cause palpitations and increased sweating – waking up with these symptoms is sometimes called night sweats.
They usually go on for about five years, although less intense versions may continue afterwards and 25% of women continue to have them for five or more years after menopause has ended.
What can you do about them?
Many women turn to the use of herbal remedies such as black cohosh and St. John’s Wort for symptom relief, usually due to concerns about Hormone Replacement Therapy.
One of the most interesting of these remedies is Red Clover. It’s a flowering plant and, like chickpeas and beans, a legume. Red clover contains isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogen. Phytoestrogens have a similar chemical makeup to estrogen, the female hormone that declines with menopause.
When taken regularly, Red Clover has been shown to have a positive effect on menopausal symptoms – including hot flushes, sleep quality, bone density loss, night sweats, and high cholesterol.
Studies in menopausal women using 80mg of Red Clover isoflavones have reported statistically significant differences in the number of hot flushes per day in comparison with those taking a placebo. Interestingly, the effect seems to be more noticeable in women that suffer at least five hot flushes per day.
Is Red Clover suitable for everyone?
Due to its estrogenic activity, Red Clover should not be taken by those using contraceptive drugs, taking HRT, or if they are pregnant or breastfeeding. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Red Clover supplements, particularly if you are taking Warfarin (or similar anticoagulants) or medications metabolised by the liver such as omeprazole or diazepam.
Where to find top quality supplements
When looking for an effective red clover supplement you should always look carefully at the amount of isoflavones, as these are the active components in the supplement.
We have reviewed several supplements from a company called FutureYou Cambridge including their Turmeric and Magnesium. All their products are supported by scientific research from world-leading academic institutions and their formulations. You can phone them for honest advice and they offer a full refund if you are not happy with their products for any reason.
As supplements need to be taken on a regular basis, they also offer cost savings when you buy on subscription. So, for Red Clover+ you pay £13.50 per month, instead of the regular price of £18.50. MORE INFO
All content on the Annabel & Grace website is provided for general information and should not be treated as a substitute for medical, financial, legal or any other professional advice.