The Midlife Nurse

I have had a couple of rants over the past few days on my Instagram page (Themenopausalnurse) about over the counter supplements . We have a fast-food time saving-culture, whereby we may not be getting the nutrients our bodies need to function effectively. We are all very aware of this but what many people are not aware of is supplementing our diet with otc medication isn’t necessary the answer …

Let’s face it, it’s easier to pop a pill and have a grab and go lunch than try to balance every meal with the eat well plate isn’t it? But let’s really look at this properly. Take calcium for example. When you’re menopausal your body needs almost double the amount of calcium in your diet than before peri menopause. So, you buy a multivitamin with it in. It says 2000mg calcium on the side woo hoo, you’re getting a good old boost.

However, do you know how much your body actually needs? Do you know “if” you are deficient? Do you know that your little bod is going to maximise that calcium? If you haven’t been to see your healthcare professional or a registered nutritionist (neither of which I am) you will have absolutely no idea.

So let me pose another question:

Do you know how calcium works in your body? If not, why not? Why would you put something in you when you have now idea what it does and how it metabolises?

There is about 45mg of calcium in a handful of cooked broccoli (about 10% more than in a glass of milk) of that, your body will absorb in one sitting, about 2/3 of that amount.

In addition, you have to have enough vitamin D on your body to be able to allow the calcium to do it’s job.

For instance imagine your body is a locked door. Calcium needs to get in through that locked door to do its job. Vitamin D is the key to unlock the door. If your vitamin D is deficient, no matter how many times calcium knocks on the door – it isn’t getting in!

So therefore, why use is 30000mgs of calcium in a tablet, if it can’t be metabolised effectively and absorbed?

Trust me, you have enough unwanted calcium in your body over a long period of time you’ll end up with a whole set of other problems!

If you check the back of the box in your multivitamin does it tell you how long that amount takes to be absorbed, and indeed, how much of that amount is going to be useful to your sweating, flushing, aching, anxious and menopausal little self?

I’m no doctor or registered nutritionist. I just do my research on what goes in my body, and what I pay for.

Except wine. And gin. And cocktails. I don’t research them first – they go straight in because I am exactly aware of what it’s going to do to my body 😂😂😂

So seriously though, my point is, go see a healthcare professional and find out what you need and if you need it. Then go look it up yourself, know your own body and own your own health. If a gp says you need a particular vitamin or mineral they will tell you what to buy or prescribe it for you. The clues are there. If they don’t. You don’t need it.

Pop to the supermarket, and get yourself some green leafy veg, milk and tinned fish.