As a nutritionist- and former editorial advisory board member of Men’s Health magazine—I’m frequently asked about the best supplements for men.
Today I’m going to tell you about five supplements you probably never thought about taking before. If these supplements were movie stars, they’d be the ones that aren’t quite as well-known as the Brad Pitts and Merryl Streeps, but they’re no less talented and will one day be just as famous. And deservedly so.
I’m going to assume you already know the basics: Vitamin D, omega-3’s, a multiple, Coenzyme Q10 (especially if you’re on a statin drug), saw palmetto for the prostate, and zinc and vitamin C for immune health. Those are all great and I recommend them highly.
Now that that’s out of the way, here are five more that can really make a difference to your health, longevity and well-being.
Curcumin
Curcumin is the collective name for a group of active compounds known as curcuminoids. They’re found in the spice turmeric, which is what gives Indian foods and curries they’re yellow color. Curcumin has anti-cancer activity, is highly anti-inflammatory and is great for the liver. It blocks the formation of beta-amyloid (the plaque that clogs the brain and interferes with memory and thinking). Best brand: CuraMed by Terry Naturally. And if you’re a weekend warrior looking for an alternative to over the counter pain killers like NSAIDS, be sure to try their incredible product, Curamin.
Cocoa Flavanols
The research on dark chocolate has reached a tipping point. It’s almost impossible to count the number of studies that have come out in the last few years demonstrating the power of dark chocolate to deliver powerful health benefits. That’s because dark chocolate- especially the kind with a cocoa content of at least 60%– is loaded with cocoa flavanols. These flavanols have been shown to lower blood pressure and to contribute to heart health and longevity in a variety of ways. If you’re not nuts about dark chocolate (it’s an acquired taste), you can get a powerful dose of these blood-pressure-lowering flavanols in a supplement. Best brand: CocoaWell.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol became known as the “anti-aging” nutrient a while ago, and it’s easy to understand why. Resveratrol “turns on” longevity genes known as the SIRT genes, mimicking the effect of a very low calorie diet which has been shown to extend life in every species studied. Resveratrol is technically a “polyphenol”, a plant chemical found in red wine and the seeds of dark grapes. Make sure your supplement tells you how much trans-resveratrol is in it, since that’s the only kind of resveratrol that matters. Best brand: Resveratrol by Reserveage Organics.
Olive Leaf Complex
Long known to have great benefit for the immune system, olive leaf complex has expanded its resume. Two recent studies demonstrated that it can lower blood pressure significantly. In one of the studies, those taking 1000 mg of olive leaf dropped their systolic blood pressure (the top number) by 11 points. Since blood pressure is one of the major risks for heart disease, this is not an insignificant finding. Best brand: Barlean’s Olive Leaf Complex.
Magnesium
I know you’ve heard of magnesium, but I’m betting you don’t take it. Start.
This critically important mineral is involved in over 300 metabolic processes and surveys show that most Americans don’t even get the paltry amount recommended in the RDAs. Magnesium is a natural “relaxer” and it works its magic on the walls of the arteries, helping them to dilate (instead of constrict) and helping to support healthy blood pressure. Athletes note: it’s great for muscle cramps. Best brand: Doesn’t matter. Just get any high quality magnesium supplement from the health food store, preferably of the magnesium-glycinate form.
Jonny Bowden, aka “The Rogue Nutritionist” is the author of The Great Cholesterol Myth, which will be published Nov. 1, 2012.
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