I’m grateful to have been featured in Women's Health as a medical expert in the article The Best Supplements for Women Over 50.
In my practice, I encourage all of my patients to be advocates for their own health. This includes mindful eating and considering supplements, when appropriate. When contributing to this article, I made it clear that it’s always better to get vitamins and minerals through whole foods, rather than supplements. I love how the beginning of the article also stresses this. But for women who are concerned about not getting enough in their diets, taking vitamins is a good option. Ideally, this should be discussed with one’s doctors to come up with a comprehensive game plan with a balanced diet as the foundation.
For starters, when considering supplements for women over 50, I would consider a general multivitamin with lutein.
Why lutein? Two nutrients, lutein and zeaxanthin, are called carotenoids and are found in high concentrations in the part of the eye called the macula. They are thought to have an important role in protecting the eyes from sun damage. Some studies suggest that they have a role in reducing the risk of developing macular degeneration.
In addition to lutein, for women over 50 I would also consider vitamins containing omega 3. For that age group, dry eye is an increasingly common problem. Some studies have shown that this may reduce the symptoms of dry eye.
Check out the actual article to see specific vitamins that I recommended!
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