1. Creatine Monohydrate
The science:
Creatine helps your muscles and brain rapidly produce energy. Research in women shows benefits for strength and lean mass, particularly when combined with resistance training.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
Muscle and strength become increasingly important as women move through midlife and menopause. Creatine can help support strength, physical performance and maintaining lean muscle as you age.
2. Citicoline
The science:
Citicoline provides choline used in brain-cell membranes and neurotransmitter pathways. Human research suggests potential benefits for memory and attention, although the evidence is still developing.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
It can help support the focus, memory and mental sharpness you want to maintain through busy days and healthy aging.
3. L-Theanine
The science:
L-Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea that has been studied for attention, stress and relaxation, especially when paired with caffeine.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
Helps promote calm, controlled focus so you can stay mentally sharp without relying on increasingly high amounts of caffeine.
4. Caffeine
The science:
Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, helping reduce feelings of tiredness and improve alertness, attention and reaction time.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
For women who tolerate caffeine well, it can provide a noticeable boost in morning energy, alertness and focus without needing multiple cups of coffee.
5. Vitamin D3
The science:
Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and plays important roles in bone mineralization, muscle function and immune health.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
Bone health becomes increasingly important around and after menopause, making adequate vitamin D especially important for maintaining strong bones and muscles.
6. Vitamin K2
The science:
Vitamin K activates proteins involved in bone metabolism, including osteocalcin, which plays a role in incorporating minerals into bone.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
Works alongside vitamin D to support healthy calcium metabolism and maintain strong bones as women get older.
7. Magnesium
The science:
Magnesium is involved in more than 300 enzyme systems affecting energy production, muscle function, nerves, blood pressure and bone health.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
Supports everyday energy, muscle function, relaxation and bone health—all areas that become increasingly important through midlife.
8. Vitamin B12
The science:
Vitamin B12 is essential for healthy red blood cells, DNA production and normal brain and nervous-system function.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
Helps support normal energy production and neurological health while maintaining healthy B12 status becomes increasingly important with age.
9. Vitamin B6
The science:
Vitamin B6 is involved in more than 100 enzyme reactions related to metabolism and also plays important roles in brain and immune function.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
Supports normal energy metabolism, brain function and immune health to help your body continue performing at its best.
10. Vitamin B2
The science:
Vitamin B2, or riboflavin, helps your cells convert carbohydrates, fats and proteins into usable energy.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
Helps support efficient cellular energy production so your body can make better use of the nutrients you eat.
11. Zinc
The science:
Zinc is required by hundreds of enzymes and plays important roles in immune function, protein synthesis, DNA production and cellular repair.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
Supports immune defenses, healthy tissue repair and normal cellular function as your body continues to age.
12. Selenium
The science:
Selenium is used to produce important antioxidant proteins and is involved in the production and metabolism of thyroid hormones.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
Helps support thyroid health and your body's natural antioxidant defenses—both important parts of maintaining overall health.
13. Iodine
The science:
Your thyroid requires iodine to produce thyroid hormones, which help regulate metabolism and many other processes throughout the body.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
Adequate iodine helps maintain normal thyroid function and supports the metabolic processes your body relies on every day.
14. Copper
The science:
Copper is needed by enzymes involved in energy production, iron metabolism, connective-tissue formation and nervous-system function.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
Supports healthy energy production, connective tissue and normal iron metabolism as part of maintaining whole-body health.
15. Potassium
The science:
Potassium is an essential electrolyte required for proper nerve transmission, muscle contraction, fluid balance and healthy blood-pressure regulation.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
Helps support muscles, hydration and cardiovascular function while contributing to healthy electrolyte balance.
16. Sodium
The science:
Sodium is an essential electrolyte your body uses to regulate fluid balance and support normal nerve and muscle function.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
It helps maintain hydration and normal muscle and nerve function, particularly when you're active or losing electrolytes through sweat. Most women already consume plenty through food, so more is not always better.
17. Boron
The science:
Boron is a trace element being studied for its role in mineral metabolism and its interactions with nutrients involved in bone health, including calcium, magnesium and vitamin D.
Why Women Over 40 should take it:
May help support bone and mineral health—an especially relevant area for women as bone density becomes more important with age.