Thanks to (natural) food supplementation, today you can stock up on energy and vitality! But which supplements should you choose? And which supplements are recommended for women? Is it better to buy them at the pharmacy or at a herbalist’s? Here you’ll find plenty of answers; here’s a preview of the ones you may need:
Omega 3 supplements
Omega 3s are “good” fats, essential for the health of the body: they can only be obtained through diet and you’ll find them mainly in fish and nuts. Useful for people with excess cholesterol, they are essential for protecting the heart and arteries and the central nervous system, for supporting the immune system and also for eye function. Omega 3 supplements are especially recommended for pregnant women and for the development of the foetus, for protecting older people, for those prone to recurrent or chronic inflammation, and in cases of metabolic disorders or malabsorption (due, for example, to food allergies and intolerances).
The Western diet is rather low in this important nutrient, which is why you might benefit from taking it as a supplement in periodic courses. Omega 3 supplements can be obtained from various natural sources (products made with fish oil, molluscs or krill).
We recommend one made from Krill oil, as it is more easily and quickly absorbed by the human body and therefore more effective.
In addition, Krill oil naturally contains
- Astaxanthin, a natural antioxidant that preserves the product without the need to add synthetic preservatives and additives to your Omega 3 supplement.
- Choline, a substance that is useful for counteracting inflammatory processes, delaying cognitive and neuronal ageing, regulating the levels of fats circulating in the blood and preventing an excess of them in the liver (fatty liver).
If, on the other hand, you are vegan or vegetarian, a superfruit that is naturally rich in omega 3 is Acai, a berry native to the Amazon and the quintessential fruit for the heart. Take one measuring cup a day of pure, organic Acai juice (always stored in pharmaceutical-grade dark glass) in three-month courses to stock up on Omega 3, 6 and 9.
The most useful vitamin and mineral supplements for women
Not just pharmacy shelves but even supermarket shelves are crammed with multivitamins containing all the vitamins – and we mean all of them. But be careful: synthetic vitamins (the ones produced in a laboratory) are not absorbed as quickly, reliably and effectively as natural ones. You heard that right: if you buy a synthetic-based product, you’re throwing your money away.
There is, in fact, a big difference in quality between synthetic and natural vitamins: always ask your pharmacist, or read here to learn how to tell them apart yourself.
Superfruits are a good way to take in natural nutrients: fruits that are particularly rich in active ingredients and come from all kinds of different parts of the world. Try Tibetan Goji juice (a liquid food supplement), which strengthens the immune system, or organic Pomegranate juice, rich in selenium and with a regenerating effect, or pure organic Acerola juice, a real treasure trove of natural Vitamin C.
Natural antioxidant supplements
Antioxidants counteract the harmful activity of free radicals, the main culprits behind the ageing of tissues. By taking natural antioxidants, you not only prevent premature ageing but also protect all your cells from degeneration. Put simply, you keep them strong and young! Yes, including the ones in your face ;)
Did you know? The fruit richest in antioxidants in the world is Maqui, a berry that grows only in Patagonia. Maqui is a true natural wonder: celebrities love it as the anti-ageing fruit par excellence. It is also much sought after by athletes, as it delays muscle fatigue and promotes recovery.
Why do we always talk to you about fruits and plants? Because vitamins, antioxidants and all nutrients are more effective and more quickly absorbed by your body when they are natural, that is, when they come from plants, seeds, flowers and fruits.
Supplements for menopausal women
Are you over 45 and suffering from hot flushes, low mood, blood pressure swings and insomnia? If the menopause is making life difficult for you, it’s because at this stage you are producing less oestrogen and progesterone, two classes of hormones. The good news is that there are plants containing phytoestrogens and phytoprogestins, plant molecules that behave like these two hormones inside the human body. Which plants?
Choose a supplement based on Kudzu and Red Clover (rich in phytoestrogens) and Dioscorea (rich in a phytoprogestin) for a complete hormonal rebalance. One example is Pausanorm Forte by Salugea, the soya-free menopause supplement (60 capsules). It also contains Angelica sinensis and Vervain to support your emotional calm.
We advise against menopause supplements containing soya: its phytoestrogens (also called isoflavones) are few and less easily absorbed than those of the plants we have suggested.
Supplements for women’s mental wellbeing
Nature offers a wide range of plants that are very effective for the mind, precious allies in cases of insomnia, anxiety and stress, and memory and concentration problems. Here are the most recommended:
- Hops, California Poppy and Valerian are the most effective herbs for the quality and length of your sleep. You’ll find these standardised plant extracts in Serena Notte, the supplement for a good night’s sleep.
- Together, Bacopa, Schisandra, Reishi, Rhodiola and Centella asiatica work wonders for mental clarity, alertness, memory and concentration. You can find them as highly standardised dry extracts in the Memosan supplement.
- Griffonia, Jujube, Lemon Balm and Hawthorn, on the other hand, are the friends of mental calm. They are plant extracts that are useful in cases of anxiety, irritability and nervous tension, depression and mental fatigue. You can find them in the Rilassa Mente relaxing supplement (60 vegetable capsules).
Bone supplements for women
If you are a woman over 40/45 and approaching menopausal age, or if you get little exposure to sunlight (whatever your age), we recommend taking Vitamin D to improve calcium absorption and keep your bones strong and sturdy.
As well as being a precious ally in preventing osteoporosis, Vitamin D is also very important for supporting your immune defences. Remember to take Vitamin D of natural origin (most over-the-counter supplements contain it in synthetic form, so always read the label carefully!) and always together with vitamin K, so as to avoid unwanted calcification in other parts of the body.
In this case, we recommend the 100% natural supplement DKE + Magnesio, which, as well as vitamins D3 and K2 (the most easily absorbed forms of vitamins D and K), also contains vitamin E (with an antioxidant and anti-ageing effect) and Magnesium, which counteracts tiredness and supports good mood.
Hair supplements for women and men
If you’re looking for a good hair supplement, you should know that it ought to contain:
- Vitamins, minerals and above all amino acids in a highly absorbable form that can help give structure to the hair;
- Iron: essential for the keratinisation and mineralisation of the hair;
- Natural antioxidants to protect the hair from premature ageing;
- Natural extracts, such as Nettle, that promote the purification of the scalp and counteract excess sebum, two factors that can compromise hair growth.
- Natural extracts, such as Quercetin from capers, that can modulate the action of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, the main culprit behind male pattern baldness and some cases of female hair loss, without affecting testosterone levels
- Natural extracts that can improve microcirculation to prevent thinning or premature hair loss, such as unripe Mango extract;
- Natural extracts that promote hair growth, such as Bamboo Silica.
You’ll find all the natural ingredients we have mentioned, some of them in patented forms with clinically tested effectiveness, in Kiomasal by Salugea. As well as preventing and counteracting hair thinning and hair loss, its plant extracts deeply nourish the hair bulb, promoting the growth of thick, strong hair.
