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The Science Behind Menopause Hero
Learn the science behind Menopause Hero, from maitake and DIM to red maca, fennel, and holy basil in Alice’s functional mushroom chocolate.
The Science Behind Menopause Hero
If you’re reading this article, it’s likely you’ve already experienced some of the irritating and uncomfortable symptoms of perimenopause: hot flashes, restless sleep, mood changes, fatigue, and even weight gain. Perimenopause, the period of time noted by irregular menstrual periods until their eventual cessation, can last up to ten years, though most women experience this stage for an average duration of four years. These symptoms ultimately stem from a significant change in hormones, most notably a drastic decline in estrogen, as your body runs out of ovarian follicles. These hormonal fluctuations can affect far more than your menstrual cycle, influencing energy levels, emotional well-being, sleep quality, and the way your body responds to stress and changes in metabolism.
While this hormonal shift is a natural part of aging, that doesn't mean you have to navigate its effects without support. That’s why here at alice, we’ve developed a helpful solution to aid in your menopause journey. Menopause Hero, our latest product, supports overall well-being throughout menopause by supporting immune health, healthy estrogen metabolism, as well as nerve & vascular function. It provides antioxidant support during this time of hormonal aging and helps ease discomfort associated with the menopausal transition, helping you feel supported through the changes your body is experiencing.
What is Menopause Hero?
As we all know, healthy habits are only beneficial when they are repeated day in and day out. Research shows that wellness practices are more sustainable when they are simple and enjoyable. That’s why we make sure all of our products are delicious. Thanks to our not-so-secret ingredient: chocolate. Because healthy habits should feel like a treat, not a chore.
Menopause Hero is our expert-formulated supplement made from organic fair-trade dark chocolate. With 40 calories per square and no sugar-alcohols, artificial sweeteners, or preservatives, you, not only, can easily add this supplement to your daily routine, you’ll look forward to it.
So what makes Menopause Hero so effective? All ingredients are third party tested for purity, potency and safety. Let’s dive into what makes up our Menopause Hero.
Maitake Mushroom
Maitake mushrooms have been known to support hormone balance and immunity. At alice, we make sure to source the highest quality 8:1 extract fruiting body, which is the actual head of the mushroom. This is important as the fruiting body of functional mushrooms are much more potent than the root structure, or mycelium, delivering higher concentrations of the mushrooms’ beneficial compounds.
Maitake mushrooms are rich in antioxidants to support healthy aging throughout the menopausal transition1. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and provide protection against oxidative stress. High consumption of antioxidants has been shown to reduce oxidative stress in the body. Additionally, maitake mushrooms are rich in beta-glucans, a type of polysaccharide found in the cell walls of mushrooms1. Beta-glucans work by interacting with immune cells to support the body’s natural defenses. It's due to these beta-glucans that maitake mushrooms are widely valued for their immune-supporting properties. Additionally, consumption of beta-glucans may support metabolic health, including healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels. This support can be particularly valuable during menopause, when natural hormonal changes can impact metabolic health.
DIM (Diindolylmethane)
Diindolylmethane, or DIM, is a naturally occurring compound derived from cruciferous vegetables, such as brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, etc. Research suggests that it supports healthy estrogen metabolism by encouraging the body to process estrogen through its preferred pathways2. This is especially relevant during perimenopause as estrogen levels are notably decreased. While you could certainly get these benefits from eating cruciferous vegetables alone, you’d have to consume an unrealistically large portion in order to intake the same amount found in a single supplement.
Red Maca, Fennel, & Holy Basil
Both red maca and fennel have been used traditionally for centuries. Red maca, in particular, is an adaptogenic root that is rich in beneficial plant compounds and antioxidants. Historically, it has been used to support vitality and energy, two areas worth addressing during the perimenopause, as it is a stage frequently associated with fatigue and changes to energy levels.
Fennel, or Foeniculum vulgare, has long been used to support women’s reproductive health. At alice, we source the 10:1 extract that is rich in plant compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, and tannins3. These compounds may offer gentle phytoestrogenic support while complementing the body’s natural hormonal transition. Fennel has been clinically studied for improving menopausal comfort, with research suggesting potential benefits for improving menopausal comfort and quality of life4. Together, these two ingredients provide botanical support to women during perimenopause.
Holy basil, also known as tulsi, is an adaptogenic herb traditionally used to help the body adapt to stress5. It supports a healthy cortisol response and promotes a sense of calm. This is important as it can help maintain emotional well being during menopause when stress and mood changes are more common.
How These Ingredients Work Together to Support Menopausal Symptom Relief
Perimenopause can be a roller-coaster of a journey due to the myriad of health symptoms it produces. During this time, the hormones estrogen and progesterone experience a sharp decline, while follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone rapidly rise. As a result, a woman’s body experiences a slew of uncomfortable and even surprising symptoms, from hot flashes and disrupted sleep to mood changes, brain fog, and shifts in metabolism. To support women through the many symptoms that can arise during the perimenopause period, a combination of complementary ingredients can offer a more comprehensive approach than any one nutrient supplement. That’s why at alice, we’ve identified which ingredients will work together to support hormonal balance, menopausal comfort, stress resilience, metabolic health, immune health, and overall well-being. Just one square per day of alice’s clinically-informed Menopause Hero can help support healthy hormonal balance by supporting estrogen metabolism.
Disclaimer: This blog contains promotional content about our products. The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This content is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your wellness routine, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.
References:
1. Wu JY, Siu KC, Geng P. Bioactive Ingredients and Medicinal Values of Grifola frondosa (Maitake). Foods. 2021;10(1):95. Published 2021 Jan 5. doi:10.3390/foods10010095
2. Newman MS, Smeaton J. The impact of 3,3'-diindolylmethane on estradiol and estrogen metabolism in postmenopausal women using a transdermal estradiol patch. Menopause. 2025;32(7):630-639. Published 2025 Jul 1. doi:10.1097/GME.000000000000254
3. Rahimi R, Ardekani MR. Medicinal properties of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. in traditional Iranian medicine and modern phytotherapy. Chin J Integr Med. 2013;19(1):73-79. doi:10.1007/s11655-013-1327-0
4. Khadivzadeh T, Najafi MN, Kargarfard L, Ghazanfarpour M, Dizavandi FR, Khorsand I. Effect of Fennel on the Health Status of Menopausal Women: A Systematic and Meta-analysis. J Menopausal Med. 2018;24(1):67-74. doi:10.6118/jmm.2018.24.1.67
5. Jamshidi N, Cohen MM. The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Tulsi in Humans: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:9217567. doi:10.1155/2017/9217567
By Kristen Carli, MS, RD
Kristen Carli is the owner of Camelback Nutrition & Wellness, a private nutrition practice and consulting firm. She graduated from University of Arizona with a BA in psychology and then received a BS in dietetics from Arizona State University. After completion of the dietetic internship, she continued her education by receiving a MS in Human Nutrition from University of Western States. Having a passion for nutrition communication, she writes for many food and nutrition outlets as well as regularly develops recipes for food brands and media companies. Her nutrition expertise has been featured in InStyle, Bustle, Livestrong, The List, MyFitnessPal and many others. Additionally, Kristen is often featured via local TV segments sharing nutrition tips and tricks. She was selected to act as a Produce for Better Health Foundation Fruit and Vegetable Ambassador in Action, helping to promote the health benefits and importance of consuming fruits and vegetables, as well as a FoodMinds upwaRD winner for 2022, honoring up and coming media dietitians. You can find her reading, running, and exploring new restaurants with her husband and baby boy.
Menopause Hero
Menopause Hero
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Brainstorm contains fairly traded organic dark chocolate, organic Lion’s Mane and organic Cordyceps from 100% fruiting body mushrooms, guarana and phosphatidylserine. Each square contains 66mg of natural caffeine which is equivalent to ⅔ cup of coffee.
Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and OU-D kosher certified.
Other ingredients: organic semi-sweet 72% dark chocolate (organic unsweetened chocolate, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter), coconut oil, cocoa butter
Allergens: Coconut, Soy
Processed on shared equipment and may contain peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, or soy.
Each bite of Brainstorm is formulated to boost cognitive function while also delivering an immediate boost to productivity and energy levels.
The long term benefits come from our functional mushrooms. Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps are felt over time — not instantly. When incorporated into a daily routine, the mushrooms’ nutrients compound in your body and become more effective (and noticeable) with sustained use.
Cordyceps works to boost blood oxygen levels to increase full body stamina, vitality, and energy. Lion’s Mane directly stimulates the nerve growth factor to improve memory, cognition, neuroplasticity, and brain health.
We also know that nothing beats instant gratification. That’s why we’ve added Guarana and Phosphaditylserine to our formula. Guarana is a caffeinated Brazilian berry that provides a smooth flow of energy, and Phosphaditylserine is a fatty acid that improves alertness, reaction time, thinking speed, and productivity throughout the day. Each square contains 66mg of natural caffeine which is equivalent to ⅔ cup of coffee.
The result: an indulgent daily routine that’s good for you and only gets better with time.
What to expect:
- In 30 minutes, feel productive and energized
- In 30 days, notice daily flow states, sustained energy and mental clarity
- After 3 months, enjoy memory support, brain health, and daily energy
One square suits most.
Enjoy one dose of Brainstorm when you’re in need of a clean boost of energy. Those looking for a stronger, more prolonged sensation may enjoy a double dose.
With daily use, Brainstorm supports neural connections in your brain for better productivity over time.
We exclusively use organic, fruiting body Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps mushrooms that are hand-harvested when their medicinal compounds are at peak concentration. Our mushrooms are dried in the sun to soak up Vitamin D before undergoing a pure, starch-free extraction process.
All ingredients are third-party lab tested for safety and stability, and mushrooms are third-party lab tested for potency.
