I'm 42 - what vitamins/supplements/treatments do I need?

[BirdIsland]

I've decided to make some improvements in my life, particularly around my health/appearance. I've suddenly realized that all the things I did in my 20s/30s do not work for me in my 40s 😩 But I'm just so overwhelmed by all the stuff targeted at women that I don't know where to start so would love the collective mind of S&B.

The issues I'm trying to address are:

1. General health - feel like a need some good vitamins? Do I need collagen?
2. Bad sleep - I often wake at 3/4am and struggle to get back to sleep
3. Dry, thinning hair - I get it coloured to hide the greys, but it's definitely much dryer than it used to be
4. Lines around my eyes, both crows feet and crepey skin under my eyes
5. Fetching new moustache
6. Weak nails

God when I start writing it all out I just keep thinking of more and more things, but that's probably enough for now.

Any recommendations to help with any of my extensive list would be most welcome 🙏

What's your diet like?
Water,coffee, alcohol consumption?
Wear sunscreen or not?
Current skin routine ?
Menopausal?

Pretty much everyone in this country should take vitamin d

Nails - find a good salon and get BIAB

Er, none? I'm 59 - never taken anything, and I seem to be OK so far.
Aren't these things a bit of a "con"?

BIAB for weak nails? That won't help, just hides the problem and can make them more sensitive

My sleep has vastly improved since I started taking magnesium supplements.

Agree with the PP about Vitamin D.

I take collagen - it makes my skin and eyes glow, my hair thicker shinier and softer and my nails stronger. It costs about £14 for 60 days supply. I originally took it to help with joints but it didn’t have much impact on them

I wax the moustache,. Use a moisturising conditioner(I have curly hair so it's tends to be dry), switched to Nivea Q10 from normal nivea as it's slightly richer, also drink lots of water.

I bite my nails but bought some nail strengthener from boots just over a month ago and have followed the instruction and my nails are feeling a lot stronger and I actually have nails.

But water, a good diet, and regular exercise makes me feel much better and I then look much better as I'm not stuck in the rut of feeling like shit.

I'm not convinced about the rest but you can test for vitamin D defiency. In this country, especially in winter it is physically very hard to get enough enough vitamin D and a good many people will show a defiency.

Vitamin D has a role in everything from hypermobility to mental health.

It's easy to supplement so it's a bit of a no brainer

I am 43 and I am taking Vitamin D. I took biotin previously but finished the package and don't think I can be bothered as didn't see any difference.

I’m a big fan of evening primrose oil. If I don’t take it, I can tell the difference in my nails and pre-period boob pain.
magnesium has helped my sleep massively.
i take vitamin d and feel it’s helped with getting less colds etc.
ashwaganda feels like it’s helped with brain fog.
its hard to tell what has done what, but I’ve tried the above and notice a difference if I don’t take them regularly.

@Happyher which collagen do you buy and where from?

Possibly none. Have a listen to this before you decide https://www.pcrm.org/news/exam-room-podcast/multivitamins-may-not-be-healthy-you-think-dr-neal-barnard

I am 45 and have similar issues - I have started using collagen and found it helps with the hair & nails - I have the bovine powder from Will Powders which seems to help

TBH I take a ton of supplements but it's kinda built up over the years!
As I'm vegan I take vit b and iodine, turmeric and omega 3 for joints, magnesium for sleep, calcium and allicin (garlic).

Although a healthy diet, exercise, etc is the best thing. But poor sleep at that age (esp waking at that time and not being able to get back to sleep) sounds like it could be a menopause symptom.

That ^^

I'm a redhead so shouldn't be deficient but managed to get a level of 9 over lockdown
After all even in summer I go to work, inside all day and come home so it isn't really surprising
It's taken a high dose course plus 3 years of taking 4000IU to get my level to 66

My friend who works outside all day every day with horses was also deficient

I'm 42 and I take a multivitamin, collagen, vitamin b6, iron, magnesium glycinate and tuermeric tablets. All built up over the years. The collagen I have noticed a difference to my hair as it started falling out and thining. I feel this has helped.

Oh and vitamin D

https://www.healthspan.co.uk/super-strength-marine-collagen-complex/?sc_camp=45D135A7499946FBA2C91577BED7799C&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD6yFHb6QZXPQxAiEn80v14sgRY-3&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlvW2BhDyARIsADnIe-JIVTEOZiECMXlfbwVK6noMpjickXCaibnJTW4KV9unLTaGKVtKc1gaAjVGEALw_wcB
I buy them on subscription

@Happyher thank you ☺️

Thank you so much everyone! I do already take vitamin D, and will think about adding collagen in.

My diet is reasonable, mostly vegetarian and I've been trying to adjust with a few less carbs and more protein. Definitely need to drink more water and I'm starting to do more exercise.

To the PP who mentioned brain fog - yes! I'd forgotten about that one (ironically). I do think some symptoms are probably peri related.

Which one pls?

Well, it’s helped mine loads.

It's difficult because I've also heard about them not necessarily being good for you (will have a listen to the podcast up thread thanks pp).

But once you have to take one supplement, others necessarily follow because the first supplement either depletes, inhibits or requires those other ones. I have to take iron and get increasingly awful symptoms if I don't. But that leads to magnesium, b vitamins and more.

Vitamin d, high strength, totally sorted my nails.

Vitamin D and magnesium.