Even though most of the health and wellbeing I write and talk about is for everyone, my focus is mostly on women. So, here is one specifically for the men. Written by pharmacist Shabir Daya, he looks at the supplements that could be of benefit to men as they age.
Personally, I’m a big fan of supplementation
However, it’s not to replace a bad diet, but rather to enhance and optimise a good one. If you have never taken supplementation before, you may want to start with just the multivitamin. If you are well past 40, I would highly recommend also taking the supplement for prostate health as well. And I’m a HUGE fan of the incredible benefits of Vitamin D.
Once again, most of these could actually apply to anyone, except for the ones aimed at specific male only issues.
Vitamins for men are very important to ensure the optimal function of the body especially as our bodies begin to find it more difficult to absorb essential vitamins as we age to stay healthy.
Along with a good and balanced diet, vitamins for men will help to support the immune system and to protect the body against oxidative damage, a process that ages our bodies quicker than normal.
I have put together a short list of vitamins for men in their 40s and beyond which may prove to be useful.
Multivitamins for men over 40
In order to ensure that the body is not deficient below suboptimal levels at all times, a multivitamin for men over 40 is a good starting point. A good vitamin for men over 40 should include zinc, selenium, vitamin C as well as fruit and vegetable extracts. I tend to recommend food state multivitamins since the nutrients are in their natural form for the body to utilise these effectively. Alive Once Daily MultIvitamin Ultra Potency is a food state multivitamin which provides vitamins, minerals, green foods, enzymes and more in an easy to take once daily dosage.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is the only vitamin that the body does not produce itself and needs to be obtained from one’s diet and it is one of the most important vitamins for men, being involved in the production of red blood cells, haemoglobin, energy production, enhanced metabolism, sleep hormone production and numerous other processes.
Whilst a multivitamin such as Alive Once Daily MultIvitamin provides good amounts of vitamin B12 than many other multivitamin supplements, it would nevertheless be prudent to use a sublingual form of vitamin B12 as we lose an enzyme as we age that transports vitamin B12 from the intestines into the bloodstream.
One of the best vitamin B12 supplements for men over 40 is B-12 Elite. This supplement provides the most active form of vitamin B12, methylcobalamin, in a lozenge form for absorption from the myriad of blood vessels under the tongue and inside the cheeks.
Vitamin D for men over 40
Often referred to as the ‘sunshine vitamin’, vitamin D helps maintain a healthy immune system as well as strong bones. It is important to take vitamin D through the winter when skin is less exposed to the sun but equally important during the summer months to enhance calcium absorption and so maintain healthy bones. I normally tend to recommend 3000iu during autumn and winter months and 1000iu during spring and summer months. The supplement that I recommend is Well. Actually Vitamin D3 + K2 Liposomal Oral Spray which provides 1000iu of vitamin D3 in each spray.
Omega 3 for men
Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for maintaining brain, eye and heart health. They can be obtained from one’s diet however most men simply do not eat sufficient oily fish such as tuna, mackerel and sardines.
Omega 3 may be benefits for men over 40 by also reducing inflammation in the body which is the key to preventing many health concerns. I recommend Neubria Krill Oil Capsules on a daily basis.
Prostate health
Prostate enlargement affects nearly half of all men aged 40 and above and yet most men, for whatever reason, simply do not take this into account even after experiencing symptoms of frequent urination, weak flow and/or a sensation that the bladder is not empty.
I believe that prevention is the best step for anyone to take and so always recommend men in their 40s and above to take a supplement such as PalmettoGuard by Life Extension. Over a decade of research has found that compounds within saw palmetto berry may help to reduce DHT, a metabolite closely link to prostate enlargement.
Our bodies require vitamins and nutrients to function at the optimal levels regardless of age. As we begin to age, the need is even more important.
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