Supplement Reviews

#9 – Nature Made Potassium Gluconate

If you are on the lookout for a potassium supplement that provides the mineral in its simplest form rather than throwing in a bunch of other ingredients then you will definitely want to consider checking out Nature Made Potassium Gluconate. — Lowest Price We Found

Provides 90 mg of Potassium per serving
Potassium is provided in the form of Potassium Gluconate
Gluten free
Available in bottles containing 100 tablets

Nature Made Potassium Gluconate is actually a new entry into this year’s list of the best potassium supplements, nudging its way into ninth position due to growing popularity.

$6.99

#8 – Jarrow Formulas Bone-Up

What we have here is an example of a supplement which contains potassium in combination with a variety of other minerals to offer you a more comprehensive spectrum of nutrients on a daily basis. — Lowest Price We Found

Provides 99 mg of Potassium per serving
Potassium is included in the form of Potassium Citrate
Also includes Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, and other essential minerals
Contains Vitamin C and Vitamin D for added immune benefits
Available in bottles containing 40 servings

You will typically find that a supplement like Jarrow Formulas Bone-Up works out to be a little more expensive than a standalone potassium supplement, but if you do want to add the other included minerals to your diet then this should certainly be a decent option for you.

$26.56

#7 – NOW Foods FULL SPECTRUM MINERAL CAPS

NOW Foods, FULL SPECTRUM MINERAL CAPS has actually been pushed down from its 2014 place in sixth position, but it is still an excellent multi-mineral supplement providing 50 mg of Potassium from Potassium Chloride. — Lowest Price We Found

Provides a 50 mg of Potassium per serving
Potassium is available in the form of Potassium Chloride
Available in bottles containing 120 servings
Also contains minerals such as Zinc, Magnesium, and Calcium
Helps to ensure an optimal electrolyte balance in your body

Just as its name suggests, FULL SPECTRUM MINERAL CAPS by NOW Foods offers a full spectrum of minerals to keep your body running at full capacity every day of the week.

$14.13

#6 – iForce Nutrition Potassium Nitrate

iForce Nutrition is one of the most popular brands of bodybuilding supplements throughout America, and its Potassium Nitrate product is designed specifically to enhance your performance both in the gym and out. — Lowest Price We Found

Includes 300 mg of Potassium Nitrate per serving
Potassium Nitrate is used to enhance muscle nitrogen levels
Also includes Vitamin C to boost immunity and overall performance
Gluten free
Suitable for vegetarians and vegans
Available in packages containing 60 servings

Although this product may have been knocked down from its previous fourth position in our 2014 list of the best potassium supplements it is still a highly worthy contender warranting the attention of any serious athlete or bodybuilder.

$22.43

#5 – Solarray Potassium

The potassium in Solarray Potassium has been reacted with an amino acid complex sourced from rice to provide as much as seven times the amino acid content found in arguably inferior soy products. — Lowest Price We Found

Provides 99 mg of Potassium per serving
Uses a Potassium Amino Acid Complex for enhanced bioavailability
Available in bottles containing 200 servings
Gluten free
Suitable for vegans and vegetarians

When all is said and done this is a relatively simple potassium product but its use of a more comprehensive amino acid complex differently makes it an interesting addition to this year’s potassium supplement rankings.

$10.25

#4 – Twinlab Potassium Caps

Twinlab has always been one of the more reputable supplement brands in the marketplace so it should come as no surprise that its Potassium Caps has jumped up to seventh position compared to our 2014 potassium supplement rankings. — Lowest Price We Found

Provides 99 mg of Potassium per serving
Available in bottles containing 90 and 180 capsules
Capsules are designed to be easy to swallow and digestive
Potassium is provided in the form of Potassium Citrate
Suitable for vegans and vegetarians

Gluten free

This is a relatively straightforward potassium supplement that allows you to read the full benefits of this essential mineral in capsules that can be swallowed and digested very easily.

$17.70

#3 – Emergen-C Supplement

Emergen-C Supplement has been increasing in popularity over the past few years, and it comprehensive spectrum of vitamins and minerals has earned it a solid third position in this year’s potassium supplement rankings. — Lowest Price We Found

Provides 200 mg of Potassium per serving
Available in a wide range of delicious flavours
Provided inconvenient sachets to mix into water
Provides 1000 mg of Vitamin C per serving
Includes a whole host of other vitamins and minerals for everyday health and well-being

This excellent product has actually managed to retain third position for a second consecutive year, and we won’t be at all surprised if it manages to stick around for the foreseeable future.

$21.15

#2 – Metagenics UltraClear PLUS pH

Metagenics, UltraClear PLUS pH secured the top spot as our 2016 Best potassium supplement, and although it has been knocked down to second position it is still easily one of the best products of its kind that money can buy. — Lowest Price We Found

Provides a 750 mg dose of Potassium in each serving
Includes a wide range of essential vitamins and minerals
Provides essential amino acids from rice protein
Also contains Green Tea Extract for fat burning benefits
Available in a delicious Natural Pineapple Banana Flavour
Winner of our 2014 Best Potassium Supplement award

Comprehensive, effective, and absolutely delicious; Metagenics, UltraClear PLUS pH allows you to add a large amount of extra potassium to your diet while also reaping the benefits of additional amino acids, vitamins, and thermogenics.

$69.26

#1 – Now Foods Potassium Citrate Caps

You came here looking for the best potassium supplement and in terms of overall value for money and quality you really aren’t going to do any better than Now Foods Potassium Citrate Caps. — Lowest Price We Found

Provides 99 mg of Potassium per serving
Potassium is provided in the highly bioavailable form of Potassium Citrate
Brought to you by one of the world’s most popular supplement manufacturers
Suitable for vegans and vegetarians
Gluten free
Available in bottles containing 180 capsules

Now Foods Potassium Citrate Caps is a no-nonsense product which delivers nothing but the best most bioavailable form of potassium in a cost-effective manner that just about anyone can afford, easily earning it the title of the best potassium supplement of 2016.

$5.99

>> Check out our list of the Top 10 BCAA Supplements

Wrapping Things Up

When it comes to potassium supplements you should keep a close eye on the form of potassium that you are actually receiving.

Certain forms of potassium offer a lower level of bio-availability than others, but when you opt for a long-standing reputable brand such as NOW Foods you can enjoy the peace of mind that you are receiving a high quality, high purity product that will give you a great return on investment.

The post Best Potassium Supplements – Top 10 Products for 2016 appeared first on Supplement Hound - Supplement Reviews for 2016.

from Supplement Hound – Supplement Reviews for 2016 http://supplementhound.com/best-potassium-supplements/

Best Beta-Alanine Supplements

Last Updated: Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Looking for 2017’s Best Beta Alanine Supplements?

Beta Alanine is an incredibly useful amino acid in the context of bodybuilding and athleticism in general because of its ability to act as a buffer against lactic acid accumulation.

Why is Beta-Alanine Important in Fitness?

Many of us are overly familiar with “the burn” experienced during intense workouts and longer, higher repetition sets of resistance training, and this is caused by an increase in acidity due to the production of by-products in glucose metabolism.

Beta Alanine acts to reduce acidity by essentially keeping the pH level higher within your muscle tissues, thereby keeping lactic acid at bay and helping you to crank out rep after rep, set after set.

This is particularly useful for those of us who are really looking to take our training to the next level with intense or high-volume programs, and this is exactly why Beta Alanine has become an increasingly popular bodybuilding supplement in recent years.

Top 10 Beta Alanine Products for 2016

With this in mind we have compiled a list of the 10 best Beta Alanine products on the market so you can figure out which one is going to be the best option for you.

You will notice that some of these products are stand-alone Beta Alanine powders while others include the amino acid as part of a more comprehensive pre-workout blend.

These rankings have been determined based on factors such as popularity, feedback and reviews received by athletes and bodybuilders, and value for money.

#10 – AllMax Beta-Alanine

AllMax Beta-Alanine is a newcomer to this year’s list of the best beta alanine supplements, offering a convenient and cost-effective way of reducing lactic acid in your muscles through the use of a bulk powder. — Lowest Price We Found

Provides 3.2 g of Beta Alanine per serving
Formulated using the patented Carnosyn form of Beta Alanine
Available as a cost-effective bulk unflavored powder
Available in packages containing 100 g and 400 g of Beta Alanine
Easy to dose with just a teaspoon

The fact that this product is available as a simple stand-alone beta alanine powder means that it can easily be added to water, protein shakes, or your workout drink with just a single teaspoon per dose.

$26.97

#9 – Controlled Labs Purple Wraath

Purple Wraath by Controlled Labs has been formulated to act more as a pre-workout or intra-workout supplement, containing a blend of amino acids and other ergogenic aids to enhance your performance in the gym. — Lowest Price We Found

Uses the Carnosyn form of Beta Alanine
Provides 7 g of BCAA and EAA per serving
Contains Citrulline Malate to act as a nitric oxide precursor
Also contains B Vitamins and Potassium
Available in three fantastic flavors
Available in packages containing 45 servings and 90 servings

The fact that the Beta Alanine in this supplement forms part of a proprietary blend means that you can’t tell exactly how much of this active ingredient you are receiving, so if you are set on using a specific amount of Beta Alanine then you may want to opt for a stand-alone powder.

$42.27

#8 – ProMera Sports BETA-CRET

Managing to retain its place in a position for a second consecutive year is ProMera Sports BETA-CRET, a world-class pre-workout supplement that should give you everything you need to unleash hell in the weights room. — Lowest Price We Found

Contains the Carnosyn form of Beta Alanine
Available in two tasty flavors
Includes Caffeine and Choline to give you more of a mental edge
Provides B Vitamins to stimulate your nervous system
Includes Creatine HCl to stimulate intra-cellular ATP production
Available in packages containing 30 servings

ProMera Sports BETA-CRET is an excellent performance-enhancing product contains a high quality form of beta alanine in addition to a whole host of other awesome ingredients.

$39.99

#7 – MuscleTech NeuroCore

Due to recent enhancements in manufacturing processes and an overall shift in the popularity of beta alanine supplements, MuscleTech NeuroCore has moved down from its fourth place ranking compared to our 2014 beta alanine list. — Lowest Price We Found

Available in two fruity flavors
Brought to you by one of the world’s leading bodybuilding supplement manufacturers
Provides 1067 mg of Beta Alanine per serving
Includes 120 mg of Caffeine per serving
Also includes Creatine to maximize ATP production
Available in packages containing 45 servings

If you are on the lookout for a pre-workout supplement that contains the majority of the staple bodybuilding ingredients that you can typically hope for then you really can’t go too far astray with MuscleTech NeuroCore.

$24.99

#6 – NOW Beta-Alanine Powder

Another high quality cost-effective beta alanine supplement NOW Beta-Alanine Powder, which provides 2 g of beta alanine per serving in a simple unflavored powder that you can add to your favorite drinks. — Lowest Price We Found

Provides 2 g of Beta Alanine per serving
Adjust your serving size based on your own personal needs and preferences
Available in packages containing 500 g of Beta Alanine powder
Brought to you by one of the world’s most popular supplement manufacturers
Well received and highly praised by athletes and bodybuilders online

Believe it or not, NOW Beta-Alanine Powder had been knocked down from third position compared to last year’s list of the best beta alanine powders, but it is still an excellent choice for those of you operating on a tight budget.

$21.67

#5 – Betancourt Nutrition Beta Alanine

Betancourt Nutrition Beta Alanine is a new entry into our 2016 beta alanine rankings, smashing its way into a highly respectable fifth position due to an explosion in popularity around the world. — Lowest Price We Found

Provides 2 g of Carnosyn Beta Alanine per serving
Available in packages containing 300 g of powder
Manufactured as a cost-effective unflavoured powder
Can easily be added to all of your favourite drinks and protein shakes

You will find approximately 150 servings of Betancourt Nutrition Beta Alanine in each package, giving you a long-lasting supply of lactate-buffering goodness!

$32.99

#4 – BSN Hyper FX

BSN Hyper FX is a highly comprehensive pre-workout blend contains all manner of essential and non-essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, stimulants, and other performance-enhancing ingredients to help you take your workouts to the next level. — Lowest Price We Found

Winner of our 2014 Best Beta Alanine Supplement award
Available in four fantastic flavours
Available in packages containing 30 servings
Also available in packages containing five servings for first-time users
Contains a blend of essential vitamins and minerals
Includes Carnosyn Beta Alanine

The sheer variety of ingredients included in BSN Hyper FX is nothing short of staggering, and although it has been knocked down a few places from its top spot in our 2014 beta alanine rankings it is still easily one of the best products of its kind on the market.

$21.58

#3 – PrimaForce Beta-Alanine

Sometimes when a supplement enters the market it quickly proved itself to be one of the best, and that is exactly what PrimaForce Beta-Alanine has done, launching straight in to this year’s beta alanine rankings in third position. — Lowest Price We Found

Contains 2 g of Beta Alanine per serving
Made using the high quality Carnosyn form of Beta Alanine
Available in packages containing 200 g or 100 servings
Can easily be added to your existing workout formula or protein shakes

PrimaForce Beta-Alanine is definitely one of the better options available to you if you are trying to keep your supplement costs down but still want to take advantage of the benefits of beta alanine.

$17.85

#2 – Optimum Nutrition Beta-Alanine

Optimum Nutrition almost always features highly in our top 10 supplement lists, so it should come as no surprise that its Beta-Alanine Powder has retained its second-place position for two years in a row now. — Lowest Price We Found

Provides 1.6 g of Carnosyn Beta Alanine per serving
Also contains 550 mg of L-Histidine per serving
Includes Phosphorus, Potassium, and Magnesium
Available in packages containing 75 servings
Available in a delicious Fruit Fusion flavour
Also available in unflavoured form to add to your favourite drinks

By now most of us are more than aware that Optimum Nutrition is one of the best supplement brands on the market, so if you are looking for a relatively simple beta alanine supplement that offers a few added extras then this is definitely the one for you.

$19.66

#1 – Cellucor Cor-Performance Beta-BCAA

Cellucor Cor-Performance Beta-BCAA has beaten the odds and managed to smash its way to the top of our 2016 list of the best beta alanine supplements as a newcomer and top contender. — Lowest Price We Found

Available in three fantastic flavours
Available in packages containing 30 servings
Provides 1.6 g of Beta Alanine per serving
Includes 5 g of BCAA to stimulate muscle protein synthesis
Contains 2 g of Citrulline Malate per serving

The sheer amount of positive user feedback this product has been receiving from athletes and bodybuilders around the world speaks volumes to the overall quality and effectiveness but you can expect.

$42.48

>> Check out our list of the Top 10 Best Whey Protein Powders for 2017

Wrapping Things Up

Whether you choose a simple beta alanine powder or beta alanine as one of the active ingredients in a pre-workout supplement is up to you, but we have covered both options across a variety of price points so you should now have everything you need to make an informed decision.

The post Best Beta-Alanine Supplements appeared first on Supplement Hound - Supplement Reviews for 2016.

from Supplement Hound – Supplement Reviews for 2016 http://supplementhound.com/best-beta-alanine-supplements/

What is Whey Protein?

Last Updated: Tuesday, January 24, 2017

The Basics of Whey Protein

As someone who is health conscious and always looking for new ways to improve your lifestyle in easy to achieve manners, it’s quite likely that at some point you’ve heard of whey protein. Of course, our first instinct is to hone on the second word – protein.

We need protein, and the easiest way to get it is by consuming meat, nuts, and legumes.

If you’re more of a vegetarian than a meat eater, you know very well that it can be incredibly difficult to get enough protein in your day to day life. It takes a whole new perspective on meal management to know that you can’t just buy a steak and be set. And even then, you might have found out the hard way that a legume/nut heavy diet is still making you miss some things that are necessary for your body.

So What Exactly Is Whey Protein?

whey
[hwey, wey] noun
a milk serum, separating as liquid from the curd after coagulation, as in cheesemaking
source

Although the topic is controversial, the question of, “what is whey protein?” can be most easily answered by referring to the complete vs. incomplete protein debate. The specifics of it are never really fully agreed upon, and chances are if you’re looking for a precise explanation of what falls into complete and incomplete you’re better off heading to a licensed dietician.

With that said, a complete protein is something that contains a healthy amount of all essential amino acids. This is pretty strict, as anything that doesn’t have just that is thus considered to be incomplete. Much like how if you’re missing the rudder on the plane, it’s not quite a finished product and it increases risk to you.

The reason vegetarians and vegans run into so many protein issues is simply because their protein alternatives are usually not complete proteins.

The Complete and Incomplete Guide

Meat, fish, poultry, and dairy products typically have complete proteins, while foods such as grains, nuts, beans, seeds, and more have some amino acids but not all of them. It’s a legitimate problem for our personal health, especially if you’re trying to move away from meat eating.

If you don’t have access to the options available to the non-meat crowd for filling your protein needs, whey protein is a reasonable alternative that is safe for the cow through a process that is already committed to in our society. Milk will be harvested, cheese will be made, and butter will be churned. Utilizing whey if you aren’t a vegan makes sense, especially if you avoid meat.

Sources of Complete Proteins

Poultry, meat, and fish
Eggs and dairy-based foods
Quinoa
Whole grain
Most soy and soy-related foods (such as fresh soybeans, soy milk, tempeh, miso, and tofu)

(For Both the Meat Eaters and Vegetable Eaters)

The Benefits of This Health Supplement

Consuming whey protein has been making the rounds around alternative medicine, fitness, and personal health websites around the world. Perhaps the biggest drawing point of this protein is that it takes the meat out of the equation while still providing you all the amino acids you could ever need in protein supplementation.

You can easily get complete proteins while taking whey supplements and you won’t run into any of the messy problems that folks with protein deficiency end up with. While the health issues are no bogey monster under the bed, they can significantly impact how you live your life every single day.

What If I’m Not into Fitness?

It’s a big deal, and it should be taken seriously even if you’re not into major fitness and health management. With a small change you can remove several issues from your life that you might originally have complained about several times to friends and family. Even for the biggest couch potato among us, that is surely a worthwhile change to make.

Where Does Whey Protein Come From?

It is important to remember, however, that whey is still technically an animal product. It can only be extracted during cheese production from cow’s milk. See, whey is what you get when the milk is coagulated and the leftovers remain.

We can get into the nitty gritty details about the production of it, but I think you’re likely more interested in what benefits you can expect from ingesting this relatively unknown protein supplement.

If you’d like to read about the production of whey, I won’t stop you. The rest of this article will be waiting for you when you’re sufficiently satisfied with the knowledge you’ve acquired.

is whey protein safe

What Can Whey Do for You?

So you’ve either kept reading or you’ve just come back from reading some fancy details about the production of whey protein. In any case, it’s time to move on to what whey can do for you besides making sure you’re not neglecting your general protein needs.

This really depends on who you ask and which websites you look at, but there is genuine medical interest in the protein and how it can affect a human body. It is often touted as a dietary supplement and weight lifters often use it to build lean muscle better than if they would simply eat a lot of red meat.

The studies on this have been mostly inconclusive because of missed details, restricted study parameters, and a general bias towards supplementing diet with anything other than natural foods.

For example, a study that looked at how whey protein improves a weight lifter’s muscle growth determined that it didn’t, but they also did not check what other protein sources the weight lifters were consuming at the same time. It is undeniable that although it’s popular to assume whey protein is a direct source of improvement for muscle growth, more studies are needed to make a definitive assertion.

This is the story of anything suspected to be positive (or negative!) for the human body. It is equally undeniable that taking whey protein supplements is good for you if you’re not reaching the necessary amount of complete proteins you need, and that this will inevitably have positive results for your health in the long term.

One of the biggest mysteries of whey protein is mostly how it can influence disease in humans, either preemptively or after diagnosis. In fact, this is actually what most teams of scientists are interested in learning more about.

While muscle growth and reaching optimal protein levels is important, whey protein would have an even stronger case for consumer consumption if it were proven to positively impact humans who are prone to diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

If you’re interested in reading about more potential health benefits of ingesting whey protein, you can find several links to studies here for your own reading.

The Wheres, Hows, and Whens of Ingesting Whey

is whey protein good for you

Convinced yet? Great! You have just one more step before actually investing in this. It’s important to note that a lot of people who are allergic to milk are sometimes allergic to specifically whey, as whey makes up about 20% of the milk we drink. If you’re positive you’re not allergic or lactose intolerant, then it’s more of a ‘health risk’ warning you need to be made aware of.

Being safe and cautious with taking whey protein supplements is completely fine, but taking too much can result in a few annoying things such as stomach pain, cramping, nausea, headaches, fatigue, and a reduced appetite. Like with any other supplement, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re taking the right amount.

You can acquire whey protein bottles at just about any health store, on the internet, and possibly even at locations such as Walmart. If you live near a Costco, chances are they have it too. It’s rather easy to find whey protein powder once you know what you’re looking for, which is fantastic.

It’s too often that you might hear about something great and then begin scratching your head because only obscure websites seem to carry it. Protein a highly commercialized product and that’s a good thing.

>>Be sure to check out our whey protein powder reviews

When to Take It?

The question of when to take your whey protein is open for personal preference and debate. Everyone’s body is a little different and responds to these things differently, and you can probably get a good idea by looking on the bottle. They typically offer some type of basic schedule for ingestion.

If you’re particularly interested in using whey protein supplements for your post-workout, many people attest that a 15-20 minute window after finishing is when it’s most beneficial. Your mileage may vary, and it might be a good idea to consult with a dietitian just in case!

There are some people who take it after waking up, some people who take it in the middle of the night, and some people who take it right before bed. There are several options for taking the supplement, and there is no one more qualified to make that decision than you and those you’ve trusted with taking care of your nutritional health.

Overview

As you’ve noticed, a common theme throughout this article is that you should consult with a licensed dietician and your doctor. As with all supplements, it’s a fantastic idea to ensure that not only are you being safe, but you are also taking the steps necessary to maximize your health.

The famous cliché that you’ve heard since childhood that there is such a thing as too much of a good thing holds true, and everything is held to this. Heck, just have a look at the people who eat way too many carrots.

Be safe, be educated, and ensure that you are meeting all your needs. Whey protein has the ability to either fill the gaps in your diet or improve your workout routine, allowing us to confidently label this supplement as doing exactly what it’s advertised to. There are no tricks to be found here.

The post What is Whey Protein? appeared first on Supplement Hound - Supplement Reviews for 2016.

from Supplement Hound – Supplement Reviews for 2016 http://supplementhound.com/what-is-whey-protein/

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

10 Best Supplements for Men – Top Products for Men’s Health

Last Updated: Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Supplements for Men’s Health and Wellness

Like any other “machine,” the human body requires the right fuel and proper maintenance in order to keep working at optimum levels. Fundamentally, this requires a healthy diet and regular exercise, both of which work together to maintain one’s recommended weight, boost cardiovascular health, reduce depression, and provide a variety of other health benefits. Yet many studies have proven that supplementing one’s diet with additional vitamins, minerals and so forth is an even greater boon to one’s health.

How Supplements Can Help Boost Men’s Health

Supplements make up for any deficiencies that might be in one’s diet, and they also increase levels of other vitamins and minerals that can drastically improve one’s health and well-being. As one’s health improves, so does one’s lifespan lengthen. Healthy people live longer, on average, than those who pay little attention to their health, and the quality of life that healthy people enjoy at older ages is better than the quality of life others experience as they get older.

Not everyone needs the same levels of the various proteins, minerals, vitamins and other substances that keep the human body functioning well. What the body needs and can benefit from varies according to gender and age, with adult men needing levels of these substances that are not equivalent to women’s needs.

Should You Include Them in Your Diet?

That is why it so important, when designing a personal health and fitness regimen, that men take into account the actual dietary requirements and suggestions for men and not the average nutritional needs for the entire adult population. Dig a little deeper into the data and figure out what your segment, that is the demographic/segment you belong in, and get the numbers applicable to you.

Nutritional supplements are particularly important for men’s health. Some of them act as boosters to the male immune system, while others assist with losing fat and building lean muscle mass. Some may prevent cancer, reduce depression, or provide other benefits. All of them are found naturally in the foods that men eat, or they are produced by the body, but men do not typically receive the optimum levels of these vitamins, minerals and so on just from their diet or from their bodies’ natural processes.

These ten supplements, in particular, have shown great promise in promoting health and longevity for adult males:

Top 10 Supplements for Men’s General Health and Fitness

10. Vitamin C

What Is It:

Vitamin C has long been prized for helping the body’s immune system to stay strong and to fight off viruses and diseases more efficiently. Studies have shown that those who get enough vitamin C suffer from the common cold over a time span that is up to ten percent shorter than the time spent by who get a cold but do not have an adequate amount of the vitamin in their diet. Vitamin C also plays an important role in preventing bruising and healing cuts and scrapes. It is also one of the most effective antioxidants in nature.

How to Get It:

The best way to get more vitamin C in one’s diet is by eating foods that are rich in the vitamin. Men should have about 90mg a day of vitamin C, which they can obtain via foods such as citrus fruits, bell peppers, tomatoes, and strawberries. There are also numerous vitamin C supplements available that can boost one’s vitamin C levels considerably.

Recommended Vitamin C Product

vitamin-c-stress-fighting-supplement-viva

Buy Viva Vitamin C– $13.66

9. Vitamin E

What Is It:

The role and effectiveness of vitamin E as a supplement continues to be debated. Researchers agree that this vitamin has helpful antioxidant properties, and several studies have pointed to vitamin E as helping to prevent things such as cataracts and some forms of heart disease.

More research is needed for vitamin E and heart disease prevention, but the fact that vitamin E has antioxidant properties indicates that it may play a vital role in preventing certain types of cancers. Men should take note, however, that too much vitamin E can have the opposite effect and increase one’s risk of prostate cancer.

Seattle researchers recently found that men who have high levels of selenium can increase their risk of aggressive prostate cancer dramatically if they consume too much vitamin E.

How to Get It:

Men only need about 20mg of vitamin E a day. In addition to sunflower seeds, almonds, and other seeds and nuts, the best sources of moderate amounts of vitamin E are multivitamins.

Recommended Vitamin E Product

Buy Sundown Vitamin E – $5.98

8. Green Tea

What Is It:

For centuries, men have benefitted from the antioxidant properties of green tea. Green tea is merely a less processed form of the same plant that provides the world with black tea, and it has been especially popular in China, Japan, and other Asian nations.

Several studies have indicated that green tea can play an important role in helping men lose weight and maintain a healthy overall weight profile. Used in conjunction with exercise, green tea and green tea extract seem to reduce the chances that men will put weight back on after they lose it. Green tea also seems to boost the immune systems of those who take it regularly.

How to Get It:

There is no recommended amount of green tea for men, but most studies suggest that one cup of warm green tea a day is a good way to get the most from this supplement. Green tea extract is also available in the form of pills.

Recommended Green Tea Extract

green-tea-extract-zhou-nutrition-for-prostate-health

Buy Zhou Nutrition – $16.81

7. Chromium

What Is It:

The mineral chromium plays an important role in metabolism and insuring that the body’s cells process insulin correctly. Several studies have demonstrated that the mineral assists in maintaining the correct level of glucose in the bloodstream, and it is also possible that it has other salutary effects in adult males.

Some studies suggest that chromium is especially helpful in managing type 2 diabetes, but more research is needed to confirm this.

How to Get It:

Men over age 50 should have about 30mcg of chromium a day, while men younger than 50 need 35mcg. There are many chromium supplements on the market that can help ensure that men receive the appropriate amount of chromium, but high levels of chromium are also present in broccoli and red wine. Common chromium supplements include chromium picolinate and chromium nicotinate.

Recommended Chromium Product

now-foods-chromium-picolinate-200mcg-supplement-for-men

Buy Chromium Picolinate – $9.29

6. Calcium w/ Magnesium

What Is It:

Although calcium is widely known for promoting healthy bones, individuals are less commonly aware that magnesium serves a similarly important role. In fact, some experts believe that magnesium deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the Western world.

In addition to strengthening bones, magnesium is used in more than three hundred chemical reactions that occur in the human body, and it is proven for its ability to improve the health of the heart and circulatory system. Additionally, magnesium is a natural blood thinner, which means that it has heart-attack- and stroke-preventing applications.

How to Get It:

Men can get the benefits of both calcium and magnesium when they take calcium supplements that also include magnesium. These are commonly found at any grocery, drug and health food store. Dairy products and dark green leafy vegetables are also rich in calcium, and whole grains, soy beans, dark chocolate, and several different kinds of nuts are great sources of magnesium.

Adult men should get approximately 1000mg of calcium and 420mg of magnesium each day.

Recommended Calcium + Magnesium

natures-bounty-calcium-magnesiuim-zinc-for-men

Buy Natures Bounty – $4.99

5. Vitamin D

What Is It:

Commonly found in fortified milk, vitamin D performs a variety of useful functions in the body. Without enough vitamin D, the body cannot properly absorb calcium, and it will have difficulty repairing bone mass and maintaining overall bone health.

See Also: WebMD – Benefits of Vitamin D

There is also good evidence that vitamin D helps to prevent heart attacks and strokes, and individuals with low levels of the vitamin seem to be at greater risk of colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer. Finally, studies have shown that men who consume adequate amounts of vitamin D have a lower amount of fat on their abdominal region.

How to Get It:

When exposed to sunlight, the human body will produce vitamin D on its own, but most men do not spend enough time in the sun for this to meet their vitamin D needs. Fortified milk and fish such as tuna and salmon are also good sources of vitamin D, but even men who have a diet rich in these foods can benefit from vitamin D supplements in the form of pills or drops. Men should consume at least 1,000mg of vitamin D every day.

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4. Creatine

What Is It:

For men who want to gain muscle mass, creatine is a great way to increase muscle weight. Used in conjunction with weightlifting, men who take creatine supplements build muscle tissue more quickly than those who do not consume them.

Creatine is also used to treat certain medical conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, congestive heart failure and various diseases that afflict muscle composition and function.

How to Get It:

Creatine is naturally created in the body’s muscular system, but animal proteins are also a good source of the chemical. Various creatine powders and drinks are now available to help men who want to supplement the amount of creatine their bodies produce. Typically, men who are exercising and lifting weights should take 5-10g per day. Before or after a workout, it makes no difference.

When creatine is used to treat various diseases, the amount that is prescribed varies according to the disease the chemical is being used to treat. When taking creatine supplements, it is also important to drink enough water—64oz a day.

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3. Omega 3

What Is It:

Most people today know that a diet high in saturated fats is not good for the human body. However, that does not mean all fats are bad. In fact, omega-3 fatty acids are essential to maintaining one’s overall health.

Found naturally in many fishes, omega-3 is best known for its ability to slow the growth of plaque on artery walls and other benefits that maintain the long-term health of the heart. Omega-3 also increases the levels of HDL cholesterol—which is the cholesterol that is beneficial to human beings—and it keeps a variety of bodily systems working well, including joints, retinas, and more.

How to Get It:

Various fishes such as salmon, sardines, and anchovies are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, but they are also readily available in supplement form as fish oil capsules. Many of these supplements also include vitamin E. Because too much fish oil can increase one’s risk of bleeding, most experts recommend that men consume no more than 3g of omega-3 fish oil a day.

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2. Multivitamin

What Is It:

Multivitamins are perhaps the most well-known and widely used dietary supplements on the market today. As their name suggest, multivitamin supplements combine a wide spectrum of vitamins in one dose.

There are a variety of choices on the market today, but they all combine minerals such as zinc and chromium with the B-complex vitamins as well as vitamins A, C, D, and other vitamins and minerals. Typically found in pill form, multivitamins are easy to take, and they are widely available at grocery stores, drug stores, health food stores, and online.

How to Get It:

Taking multivitamins at mealtimes will increase their effectiveness, as the body processes them better when it is also processing food. The type of multivitamin supplement that men should choose depends on their particular needs and the relative concentrations of the different nutrients found in each multivitamin.

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