What supplements really can help meet a man’s particular needs?
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Many guys probably feel sometimes like they are swimming in a sea of supplements, many of which have fantastic claims for everything from thicker, fuller hair to larger muscles and endless sexual stamina. The truth is though that, as supplements, none of these claims have been evaluated by the FDA or verified by independent sources. The result is that it is easy to get confused about what supplements really can help meet a man’s particular medical needs.
Below are a list of some of the general problems which many men can experience as they get older – as well as herbs and supplements that some research has shown can help to treat specific conditions.
Erectile Dysfunction
The inability to achieve or maintain an erection is a problem which many men worry about developing as they get older – and the reasons for this problem are many, including poorly controlled stress, psychological or relationship issues and lower levels of testosterone. While this is not a fatal condition, it can greatly affect quality of life and put stresses on marriage or other relationships.
However, some studies have shown that supplementation with Korean red ginseng, a plant native to Asia and long used there as a folk remedy, actually can help alleviated this problem. In one study, where men took 900mg of this supplement 3 times a day for 10 weeks, the majority of them reported improvements in the ability to maintain an erection and an earlier study in Korea showed that supplementation helped around 60% of participants with erectile dysfunction.
Prostate Enlargement
Prostate enlargement – also called benign prostatic hypertrophy or BPH – refers to the non-cancerous growth of the prostate gland, which lies at the neck of the bladder and can cause a variety of urinary symptoms for men as they get older. These problems can include difficulty getting the stream started, dribbling of urine and even urinary tract infections due to an inability to fully empty the bladder. What’s worse is that by age 75, over 50% of men will have this condition and while it does not turn into prostate cancer, it can still negatively impact quality of life.
Supplementation with saw palmetto, however, can help men combat this condition naturally. This plant, native to the United States, has a long history of medicinal use, first among Native American tribes and then among European settlers. How this herb works is not exactly clear, but it has been shown to effect testosterone levels and may also act upon certain chemicals in the body that allow for the growth of prostate cells. Taking this, along with certain dietary and lifestyle choice, can also help prevent prostate cancer. It is believed that the active ingredients in this plant includes selenium and compounds known as flavonoids are what is responsible for this effect on prostate health.
Heart Disease
The threat of heart disease to men’s health cannot be overstated: it is the number one leading cause of death in American men and each year, one out of four deaths can be traced back to heart problems. In over half of men who die of heart attacks, there were no early warning symptoms – but the risk factors themselves at least are known and include high blood pressure and cholesterol levels and conditions like diabetes or obesity.
The supplement Co-Q 10, however, has been shown to help promote the health of the heart. In acts in many ways, including treating chest pains that come with exertion, lowering high cholesterol and blood pressure levels and helping to treat heart failure as well. The good news, too, is that this supplement does not just have heart health benefits: other studies have shown that it can also help with sperm quality and the amount of fat men burn while working out.
Mental Decline
The mind is an amazing thing, and the number of skills that it needs just to perform everyday tasks is astounding. Reasoning, short- and long-term memory, decision-making and awareness are all example of the functions that the brain needs in order to meet the demands of daily life. However, as men (and women, too) get older, there can be a decline in these mental functions and for some unlucky people, this can even blossom into dementia or other serious disorder.
However, there are supplements that can help prevent this decline and keep skills like memory and reasoning sharp well into those older years. One of these is acetyl-L carnitine, an amino acid found in sources like red meat which, when taken as a supplement, has been shown to possess strong antioxidant properties and protect the brain from the stresses of age as well as unhealthy lifestyle choices like overuse of alcohol. And as an added benefit, according to a 2006 study where men took this supplement at a dose of 1,000mg a day, it was also shown to help reduce depression.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is perceived to be something that concerns older women, but men can suffer from it, too, and it can raise the risk of weakened ones or fractures to people of either sex. And while this might come as a surprise, it is estimated that by age 65-70, men begin to lose bone density at the same rate a women. If they have certain risk factors for the disease – such as smoking, a sedentary lifestyle or conditions like COPD or rheumatoid arthritis, this process can begin to happen even sooner.
Calcium, however, can help to prevent or treat this disorder and help men gain back some of the minerals they have lost from their bones – and this, in turn, can make it less likely that a man will develop this disease. Studies have shown that calcium supplementation can, in fact, increase bone density, essentially reversing this disease process. Unfortunately, most men do not get enough calcium in their diet, which is why taking extra in pill form is so important.
Men’s health is important, particularly as the reach middle age when health problems like heart disease, BPH and osteoporosis appear to become a more immediate threat. Fortunately, there are at least some supplements out there which appear to be able to help treat or better these conditions naturally. Even so, it is vital that you consult with your doctor or other healthcare provider before beginning any vitamin, mineral or herbal supplement as there is a possibility of it interacting with medications you are already taking. Be safe and ask first if any of the supplements above would be right for your specific healthcare needs.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
I recommend alpharise health for the prostate.
I’ve tried just about everything over the past 10 years. Prescription and supplement. What works best for me ?
Walnuts
1/3 CUP every night.
There is a new dietary supplement on the market that may be very valuable to men as they age. It is called FormiCal Bone and Heart (www.formical.com), and it contains many ingredients that could prove helpful to men in particular. It has calcium, magnesium, vitamins D and K2, zinc, and Omega 3’s DHA and EPA. A number of the items you discuss in your article would seem to benefit from such a supplement. Your thoughts?