Men's Supplements: What To Look For (Part One)

In this article (part one of a series), we will focus on the male specific ingredients that should be a part of any quality men's health supplement.

Basic nutritional supplements are designed to fill the gaps between recommended daily nutrient intake levels and what we are actually able to absorb in our diet. Basic vitamins fall into this category, as well as vitamins sold with added substances such as amino acids, herb extracts, and other chemical compounds.

High quality supplements provide all this nutritional value plus add in other specialized, and frequently expensive, ingredients designed to address or prevent other conditions including degenerative disease, premature aging, cardiac disorders, and sexual dysfunction.

Supplements advertised to provide anti-aging benefits are especially popular. These nutritional packages typically supply specific chemical compounds designed to slow down and even reverse the physical and mental degeneration associated with normal aging.

There are many products lining the shelves of drug stores, health food shops, and online supplement sites that make claims to do all of the above. But most can't. So, how do you tell the good from the not as good?

You must first learn what components are critical in the support of men's health.

You'll notice that I specified "men's health". High quality comprehensive health supplements should be gender specific. Men and women have very different needs when it comes to supporting some key body functions.

In addition to the support of base nutritional deficiencies, a quality men's supplement will also focus on ingredients designed to support key male conditions.

Prostate health

Specific supplement ingredients can protect against prostate-related conditions such as enlargement of the prostate (BHP) and prostate cancer.

Healthy testosterone levels

In addition to supplementing the body's own natural production of testosterone (which decreases as we age), the right ingredients can also inhibit the conversion of testosterone into estrogen, a trend that leads to the development of "man boobs" and a decrease in masculine traits. Healthy levels of testosterone are also critical in the support of men's weight loss and maintenance.

Sexual vigor and vitality

Scientific evidence has proven that certain natural substances will increase sexual vigor by working in conjunction with testosterone production, enhancing erection capacity and heightening mental focus and mood.

To be considered a high quality men's nutritional supplement, the product must contain most, if not all, of the following ingredients to support the specialized needs of the male body:

In our next article, we will discuss other factors that dictate the quality of a nutritional supplement including ingredient quality, potency, and efficacy.