Vitality Boosting Herbs for Women
When it comes to women’s health, maintaining a well-balanced lifestyle is important so you can be happy and healthy, live a full life and support your body the best you can. But as women, our health sometimes takes a back seat to busy schedules, work, family and other obligations, leading to elevated stress levels that may result in fatigue and tension.
Thankfully, with the help of just a few herbal ingredients, you can give your body support in three fundamental areas of women’s health—stress support, sexual health and urinary health.
Keep reading to learn about the best science-backed herbal ingredients for women and how they work.
Herbs for Women’s Health
You know taking care of yourself is important, and we’re helping make it easier with simple, science-backed herbal ingredients sourced straight from nature.
Maca Root Benefits
Native to the Peruvian Andes, the maca plant has been cultivated for thousands of years as a vegetable because the roots contain beneficial essential fatty acids, amino acids and other nutrients.1
Experts have reported the use of maca to support hormonal balance in women and men, and research indicates that it may also support women during menopause.2
But the benefits don’t stop there! Women also use maca supplements to boost sexual health and promote reproductive health, as well as to support physical stamina.1 The flavonoids in the plant are thought to improve mood and reduce anxiousness—a study in 14 postmenopausal women found that it may reduce anxiousness and improve mood.3
Cranberry Benefits
Cranberries are high in antioxidant proanthocyanidins and polyphenols which may promote better urinary health, and research indicates that cranberries support healthy urinary tract function and bladder health.4,5
A review of 13 clinical trials showed that people who use cranberry-containing products more than twice daily have fewer urinary tract issues. And cranberry may also play a role in healthy aging—a 2016 study showed that 147 women living in nursing homes who took daily cranberry capsules had decreased bacteria levels in their urine in the first 6 months of the study. Cranberry supplements generally provide more concentrated amounts of proanthocyanidins than a serving of cranberry juice.
Read Benefits of Cranberries: Raw, Juice, Pills, Tea & Extract to learn more about the benefits of cranberry.
Ashwagandha Benefits
The adaptogenic herb ashwagandha is used in traditional Ayurvedic, Indian, Unami and African practices because of its numerous benefits, including its ability to promote a sense of calmness and relaxation.7
Ashwagandha has gained popularity recently for helping support a healthy response to daily stress, a use that’s backed by science—studies have shown that ashwagandha may help reduce stress and anxiousness while decreasing the stress hormone cortisol.8 One study group saw cortisol levels drop by as much as 30%.10 Reduced stress levels are a plus after an intense day, especially if you want to relax and connect with a partner.10,11
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About Lindsey Toth, MS, RD
Lindsey is a nationally recognized registered dietitian and nutritionist with a soft spot for pie. She empowers people to take charge of their health by finding the balance between the pleasure and nourishment in food. Her philosophy is that you should take care of your body because it’s the only permanent home you have. It’s what inspired her to pursue a career in nutrition.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Sources
1 Maca. WebMD. https://www.m.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-555/maca
2 The Truth About Maca and Your Libido. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/features/the-truth-about-maca#1
3 Kandola, Aaaron. What are the benefits of maca root? Last reviewed Wed 18 July 2018. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322511.php
4 Everything you need to know about cranberries. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/269142.php
5 Cranberry. https://www.drugs.com/mtm/cranberry.html
6 Cranberry. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/cranberry
7 Ashwagandha. WebMD. https://www.m.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-953/ashwagandha
8 Chandrasekhar K, et. al. Indian J Psychol Med. 2012 Jul;34(3):255-62. doi: 10.4103/0253-7176.106022. National Institutes of Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23439798
9 Biswajit, et al. JANA Vol 11, No I. 2008. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242151370
10 Ashwagandha root extract may improve sexual function & satisfaction in women. NutraIngredients USA. Nutra Ingredients.com. https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2016/02/11/Ashwagandha-root-extract-may-improve-sexual-function-satisfaction-in-women#
11 Ahmad, MK, et. al. Fertil Steril. 2010 Aug;94(3):989-96. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.04. 046. Epub 2009 Jun 6. US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19501822
