If you are a regular reader of the blog, you may recall that I turned 40 last September. At the time I shared 40 life lessons for 40 years. For me, 40 was this age that I always anticipated having an issue with. I always thought when it came I’d hate it and that I’d be doing everything to pretend it wasn’t happening.

The reality was quite the opposite. I love 40. I mean, I really love it. I joke a bit about being “really old” but in all honesty I feel more comfortable with myself now at 40 than I’ve felt in a very long time. I think I have a lot more clarity about life in general these days, I know exactly who I am, what I still want to achieve and equally what I don’t want and I’m getting much better at being unapologetic about these choices.

Supplements

I’ve always been a fan of supplements. I know that ideally we’d all love to be eating such a diverse and well thought out diet that supplements aren’t necessary, but in reality, this often is just not possible.

Taking, carefully selected supplements is a way of filling those gaps, which you can now easily get from my chemist online in order to reduce the time and effort.

What about women 40+?

For women over 40, there are a number of recommended supplements. Here are the ones that are most frequently cited, and the ones to think about introducing. You can pick most of these up online at a health food shop or online pharmacy.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is considered to be one of the essential supplements to be added in your list as soon as you turn 40. It plays a major role in maintaining normal blood and brain functioning. Whilst you can get Vitamin B12 from a whole lot of food sources like eggs, lean meat, fish and dairy products, as you age the ability of your body to absorb this decreases, because the stomach acids levels are washed out.

Calcium

Calcium is one of the pivotal supplements as you age. It plays a huge role in maintaining bone health and nerve and heart functioning. As you age, if you are not getting enough calcium, the body starts depleting from your bones and makes it fragile. As women age, the risk of osteoporosis dramatically increases, so taking a calcium supplement may help.

Vitamin D

Severe deficiency in Vitamin D increases the risk of health problems such as diabetes, heart diseases, breast and colorectal cancers all of which are more likely to attack you as you age. In addition, it plays a crucial role in calcium absorption, so the two go hand in hand. Generally speaking it is poorly absorbed from the food we eat, so it is important to include Vitamin D3 supplements in your diet after 40.

Magnesium

The risk of high blood pressure increases with age. Magnesium is a key mineral that stabilises the blood pressure. This mineral also plays a major role in helping the body absorb calcium and promote the muscle, nerve and heart functions. A deficiency in magnesium increases the risk of diabetes, inflammation, and heart disease. So, taking a magnesium supplement can help to improve your health.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Omega 3 fatty acids are often talked about. They come with a myriad of health benefits – several studies have proven that omega supplements are beneficial in lowering cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of stroke, and boosting the memory. As the body can’t produce omega 3 fatty acids on its own it is essential to take them in the form of supplements.

Embrace 40!

We can’t stop ourselves ageing, but we can help our bodies navigate these years in a proactive way.