A man’s good health is only achieved through a combination of mans health supplements, a healthy lifestyle, and good nutrition. In an age where a mans’ health is judged by physical appearance, it’s important to realize that it’s ‘what’s on the inside’ and what you’re consuming that most men should be more concerned about.
Men’s health or lack of health starts on the inside and works its way out. For example, here are some external, physical indicators that let you know all is not well on the inside; these include:
• White, gray or silver hair, varicose veins (which can be indicators of copper deficiency and an early warning signal for cardiovascular disease and stroke).
• Dry skin and cravings for fatty food (which can be sign of an essential fatty acid deficiency).
• Hair loss (can be a sign of a mineral deficiency such as tin).
• Age and liver spots (can indicate a selenium deficiency and mean that your body is under attack from ‘free radicals’ which damage cells – this can increase your risk of cancer and heart disease).
• Noisy, cracking, grinding joints and high blood pressure (can indicate a calcium and mineral deficiency) and are an early warning signal for arthritis and osteoporosis.
And being young and fit doesn’t offer any protection unless you change your lifestyle, eat a healthy diet and use health supplements.
The good news is that the majority of a man’s health problems can be prevented and in many cases reversed through simple and inexpensive health supplements like vitamins and minerals, and some changes to our lifestyle and diets.
For example, did you know that a compound called ‘Lycopene’ found in raw tomatoes can dramatically lower your risk of prostate cancer and a number of other cancers? And did you know that simply eating more omega 3 fatty acids (like those in fish oils and good health supplements) can help unclog your arteries and reduce your risk of coronary heart disease by more than 50%? And that essential fatty acids also make your skin look better and healthier? Did you know there are health supplements out there that can prevent and reverse arthritis and osteoporosis as well as managing your pain whilst rebuilding the bone structure?
In terms of general health, most scientists now agree that a multi-vitamin (and mineral) supplement is useful for the prevention of chronic disease. Recently, even the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published an article linking the inadequate intake of vitamins to chronic diseases.
Your aim should be to maximize your nutrient intake, minimize your loss of nutrients and totally reduce your intake of the things that are bad for you.
Here’s a summary of the some of the major men's health challenges and which health supplements offer support:
• Prostate – Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death in men with over 80% of men over the age of 50 experiencing some form of prostate problem. For general prostate support, look for mans health supplements containing: zinc (also found in pumpkin seeds), essential fatty acids (Omegas 3, 6 & 9), Vitamin A, Vitamin C, amino acids; also unsweetened cranberry juice, selenium and herbs including Saw Palmetto. Recent studies on the nutrient Lycopene, found in tomatoes, show that it may reduce your risk of getting prostate cancer.
• Cancer – use a combination of the all the essential nutrients (minerals, vitamins, amino acids and essential fatty acids) and antioxidants like selenium and vitamin C and E. Tomatoes are rich in Lycopene and offer protection against many types of cancer - especially prostate cancer.
• High Cholesterol – High cholesterol itself does not cause any known diseases but deficiencies of cholesterol can lead to a number of diseases and health problems. To reduce cholesterol, eliminate bad fats from your diet and consume essential fatty acids (good fats). An EFA supplement, rich in Omega 3 oil, is particularly successful at reducing cholesterol. Antioxidant supplements (selenium and Vitamins A and C) and plant derived colloidal minerals are also useful.
• Fatigue – Man’s health supplements should include all the essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids – ensuring that you have no nutritional deficiencies will help with fatigue. Health supplements with chromium and vanadium can help regulate low blood sugar which can make you feel tired.
• High Blood Pressure – Supplement with all the essential nutrients including the plant derived colloidal calcium and other minerals, liquid calcium, Coenzyme Q-10, essential fatty acids and lecithin. Herbs such as European Hawthorn also help men’s health.
• Heart Disease – take in all of the essential nutrients, paying particular attention to a good source of essential fatty acids (flaxseed oil, and/or fish oil), selenium and Vitamin E.
• Macular degeneration – Supplement with 90 essential nutrients including plant derived colloidal minerals, selenium, Vitamin E. Recent research indicates that the antioxidant Lutein - found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale – also has a role to play in reducing macular degeneration and improving eyesight.
• Weight Loss – Supplements play a key role as your regular dietary habits usually change if you are dieting. You need to take in all 90 essential nutrients to make sure your body is receiving all the nutrition it needs. Supplementing with plant derived colloidal minerals and supplements with extra chromium and vanadium can help control cravings.
Taking digestive enzymes before you eat will help your body absorb more nutrients.
Whey protein in the form of shakes and food nutrition bars with extra vitamins and minerals can be a good way of filling you up without carbohydrates and giving you the nutrition you need.
• Sportsmen – If you train or exercise frequently and you sweat then you need to supplement with a good liquid mineral and multivitamin product to replace everything you're sweating out. If you don't then you're setting yourself up for serious health problems such as heart disease, joint problems, low energy and chronic aches and pains. You have to replace all those vital minerals you are sweating out while exercise. According to the Center for Disease Control, over 100,000 men, women and children die every year (in the US alone) during and immediately after exercise. Almost without doubt because they never replaced all the minerals, trace minerals, electrolytes and vitamins lost through strenuous activity.
• Healthy Bones and Joints – Man’s health supplements with calcium and other minerals (plant derived colloidal minerals and liquid calcium are best), vitamins and essential fatty acids (e.g. omega oils) are all important for the prevention and reversal of debilitating arthritis and osteoporosis. In other words, all 90 essential nutrients. Also health supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin and Cetyl Myristoleate, a recently discovered essential fatty acid compound that is scientifically proven to relieve pain & improve mobility - can help relieve your pain, reduce inflammation and assist with rebuild the bone and joint.
• Healthy Hair –Supplementing with zinc, copper and tin from a highly absorbable plant derived colloidal source can help some men with re-growth and return of hair colour.
• Healthy Skin – To maintain your skin in its best condition, use health supplements with vitamin A (as beta carotene), zinc (in colloidal minerals) and essential fatty acids. Taking digestive enzymes before you eat will help you absorb the nutrients your skin and whole body needs.
Lifestyle & Diet
The common sense rules apply – about 20 to 30 minutes of exercise every second day is adequate to keep you healthy and help keep your weight under control. As you grow older, include more weight-bearing exercises and tone down the hard aerobic workouts.
Plenty of fresh vegetables (about 5 servings per day) and fruit (about 2 to 3 servings per day - less than vegetables because of the sugar content of fruit), more protein and less refined carbohydrates (in the form of sugar, cakes, biscuits etc) and avoid fried foods and margarine. At least 8 – 10 glasses of fresh filtered water per day (more if you exercise and live in a hot/humid climate) will keep your liver and kidneys in great condition and help the body eliminate wastes and convert fat into energy.
