If you’re looking for the best red clover extract supplements to buy this year, then you’ve come to the right place.
You can also get more info by jumping to our Red Clover Extract Supplements Guide.
Top 10 Red Clover Extract Supplements
| #1 |  |
Nature’s Way Red Clover Blossom | More Info |
| #2 |  |
Source Naturals Red Clover Extract | More Info |
| #3 |  |
Nature’s Answer Red Clover Top Vegetarian Capsules | More Info |
| #4 |  |
Bulksupplements Pure Red Clover Extract Powder | More Info |
| #5 |  |
Solaray Red Clover Phytoestrogen Supplement | More Info |
| #6 |  |
Oregon’s Wild Harvest Red Clover Organic Capsules | More Info |
| #7 |  |
Herb Pharm Certified Organic Red Clover Extract | More Info |
| #8 |  |
HawaiiPharm Red Clover | More Info |
| #9 |  |
NOW Foods Red Clover | More Info |
| #10 |  |
Planetary Herbals Red Clover Cleanser Tablets | More Info |
Red Clover Extract Supplements Guide
When medication is too expensive or doesn’t do enough to alleviate your symptoms, or whether you don’t want medication to be your first line of treatment, certain supplements from natural remedies can help. Red clover extract is one such supplement that has the potential to treat common ailments, especially those experienced by women.
To help you make an informed decision on if red clover extract is the right supplement for your needs, below is information on what it is, possible benefits and side effects, options on how you can incorporate it into your lifestyle, and how you can find a good red clover extract.
What is Red Clover Extract?
Red clover extract comes from the red clover plant, which belongs to the legume family (along with beans, lentils, and peas). This plant has a long history of being used as a natural remedy for a number of conditions such as whooping cough, childhood colds, gout, asthma, and even cancer.
Unfortunately, as with many ancient traditional medicines, its effectiveness in treating these particular conditions has not been verified in modern research at this time. However, that doesn’t mean that red clover isn’t a useful treatment for other conditions, and researchers are actively studying alternative uses of this plant as a natural remedy.
These days, the red clover plant still enjoys a measure of popularity as a natural remedy, though these days the fascination comes from the presence of isoflavone. Isoflavone is an ingredient which in the human body functions similarly to estrogen—this class of plant-based hormones is known as a phytoestrogen.
The isoflavone can be extracted directly from the red clover flower and made into capsules, tablets, liquid extracts, or topical creams depending on your particular symptoms that you want to treat and preferences. This extract can be used in a variety of ways and shows the potential to be able to treat a number of conditions, particularly those that afflict menopausal and post-menopausal women.
Benefits of Red Clover Extract
Studies show some benefits to incorporating red clover extract into your daily routine. The benefits most strongly backed by research include:
- Treating Symptoms of Menopause: Since the isoflavone in red clover is chemically similar to estrogen, red clover extract’s primary use and benefit is in treating the symptoms of menopause by making up for the lost estrogen. Many studies bear out the fact that this extract can particularly reduce the occurrence of hot flashes and night sweats, though more research will have to be done to verify if this supplement can also treat other symptoms of menopause.
- Preventing Osteoporosis: Lower levels of estrogen is also what causes osteoporosis in menopausal and post-menopausal women. When pre- and peri-menopausal women take red clover extract, they can increase their bone density and prevent bone loss upon the onset of menopause.
- Lowering Cholesterol: Red clover extract doesn’t just benefit women—it also has benefits for both genders. One such gender-neutral health benefit is red clover’s potential to reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and raise HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol).
- Relieving Skin Conditions: When applied topically as an ointment or a cream, red clover extract can also soothe rashes caused by eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions.
As far as far as if red clover extract is effective at preventing or treating cancer, thus far the research is mixed. For now, the current recommendation is that women with a history of breast cancer avoid this supplement.
Are There any Side Effects?
While red clover extract is considered to be a safe supplement for most adults, it can have some side effects and interactions. These are the most well-known side effects of red clover extract:
- Hormone Imbalance During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Red clover extract is not recommended for women who are pregnant and breastfeeding due to the estrogen-like effects, which can cause a hormone imbalance. While normal dietary amounts might be safe, higher doses are not recommended.
- Slow Blood Clotting: While this side effect can be attractive for people who need blood thinners, this extract should not be taken for up to 2 weeks before surgery because it interferes with blood clotting (and therefore the post-surgery healing process). It also shouldn’t be taken in conjunction with anticoagulant medications, as this increases your risk of excessive bruising and bleeding.
- Makes Birth Control Less Effective: Red clover extract interacts with birth control methods containing estrogen, making it less effective. When taking red clover, either switch to a hormonal birth control that doesn’t contain estrogen or use a backup method such as a condom.
- Medication Interactions: Red clover extract can also interact with medications that are broken down by the liver, making them less effective. If you are unsure if any of your prescription medications are broken down by the liver, check with your medical provider.
How to Take Red Clover Extract
Since red clover extract can be used to treat a variety of conditions, you also have a variety of options as to how you decide to take it every day. Some of the most common options include:
- As a Capsule or Tablet: When you take red clover extract as a pill, you can safely stay within the range of 40-160 mg a day. You should try to only take 40 mg at a time, so if you need a higher dose, you can spread it throughout the day.
- As a Liquid Extract: Another popular option is to add the fluid extract into hot water to make a tea. Add one ml of liquid extract to hot water and drink the tea up to three times a day.
- As a Topical Cream or Oil: To treat symptoms of psoriasis or eczema, you can make your own topical ointment from the fluid extract or you can purchase a cream which contains the red clover extract. Apply as needed, but never apply over an open sore or wound.
On a side note, red clover has also traditionally been used as a cough remedy for children, but as with any supplement, check with your child’s pediatrician to make sure it is safe for children before administering any to your child.
What to Look for in a Good Red Clover Extract Product
As with any supplement, you shouldn’t just walk into a pharmacy and grab the first red clover extract supplement that you can find. Instead, you should assess your physical needs, do your research, and pay close attention to the labels.
When reading the label, pay attention to if the red clover extract is an extract from the entire plant or isoflavone specifically, as the second will have more concentrated doses of the hormone and probably won’t confer all of the same health benefits of the whole plant. Your particular needs will dictate which option you decide to choose. You should also pay attention to the dosage—you don’t want to end up taking too much at a time by accident.
Finally, you want to look for a quality brand. Less reputable makers can add filler ingredients, rendering the extract useless at best and dangerous to your health at worst. Look for a brand that has a commitment to purity and good quality natural ingredients and also has plenty of positive reviews from satisfied customers.
In short, red clover extract can be a useful supplement in treating symptoms of menopause in women as well as lowering cholesterol and alleviating skin conditions. When used correctly, it is also very safe—the highest risk is that it can reduce the effectiveness of certain medications, though pregnant or breastfeeding women or women with a history of breast cancer should avoid high doses of this supplement for the time being. Do your research to find a good supplement, and take it as a pill, tea, or cream, and you can find the supplement that is right for you.
The post 10 Best Red Clover Extract Supplements – Reviewed & Ranked for 2017 appeared first on Supplement Hound - Supplement Reviews for 2017.
from Supplement Hound – Supplement Reviews for 2017 http://supplementhound.com/best-red-clover-extract-supplements/
