Teenage to menopause: supplements to support women at every age
Our bodies are amazingly adaptable, yet it’s all too easy to take them for granted. As they transform across a series of distinct life stages, they’re faced with different demands, opportunities and challenges – with female bodies in particular subject to hormonal changes that dramatically affect how we feel and function.
However, knowing which vitamins and minerals support women’s health at different times can help you live life at your best – whatever your age.
Which vitamins and supplements are good for teenage girls?
We might look back on our teenage years thinking they sped by, but the ‘growing up’ years can last longer than you remember. The start of puberty is literally linked to growth spurts in girls, whose spines typically don’t finish growing until they’re about 14-15 years old, while the bones in the female pelvis widen as late as age 18 or even older.
To support good bone health, in the UK it’s recommended that adolescent girls (from ages 11-18) get 800mg of calcium a day.
The best way to get calcium is through a balanced diet, with sources including milk, cheese and other dairy foods, as well as vegan alternatives such as tofu and broccoli.