POWERREPORt5

The BesT Picks

We waded through the scientific research, plucking out the most reliable remedies to ensure they were both proven and safe. To select the best brand in each category, we scoured individual trials, long-term investigations, and head-to-head comparisons of different formulations. The result: our list of the best supplements for men. In all, we pinpointed 16 lifeenhancing products that help counter mans most common health problems. We even found one so good, it should be in our drinking water. (See our pick under High Cholesterol, at right.) Search for your ailment, then seek out our supplement solution at your local vitamin store or an online retailer such as iherb.com.

high chOleSTerOl

The remedy: Plant stanols

Why they Work: Chemical

cousins of

prescription statins, these plant-derived substances block cholesterol from being absorbed by your intestines, keeping it from ever reaching your arteries. Washington University researchers found that people who consumed 2 g of plant stanols daily for 6 weeks cut their LDL cholesterol by 10%.
our pick: Nature

Made Cholest-Off;

naturemade.com

knee pain

The remedy: Glucosamine and chondroitin

Why they Work: Glucosamine

is a build-

ing block of connective tissue, while chondroitin helps cartilage retain water so it stays flexible. Together, they soothe sore joints by keeping cartilage supple and in good supply. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that 79% of men who took 1,500 mg of glucosamine and 1,200 mg of chondroitin daily felt a significant reduction in chronic knee pain.
our pick: Osteo

The 3 OclOck Slump

The remedy: Ginkgo biloba

Why it Works: In

order for your brain to

run smoothly all afternoon, it needs a

5
The besT viTamins, minerals, and herbs you can buy

steady flow of oxygen-rich blood. Ginkgo helps open the vessels that deliver that blood to your brain and breaks up sticky platelets to help it flow more easily. A Purdue University study determined that men who downed 184 mg of ginkgo biloba each day for 3 weeks were 20% more productive in the afternoon than those who werent taking the supplement.
our pick: Herbal

Bi-Flex;

www.osteobiflex.com

The Flu

The remedy: Elderberry extract

Why it Works: The antioxidants in this

Plus Ginkgo Biloba;

herbal cocktail increase your bodys production of cytokines, immune-system

gnc.com

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SUPPLEMENtS FOR MEN

cells that battle viral invaders. In a study of 60 flu sufferers, people taking 15 ml of elderberry extract four times a day felt better an average of 4 days faster than those taking a placebo.
our pick: Sambucol

compounds in ginseng. A study published in the Journal of Urology reported that 60% of men who took 900 mg of Korean red ginseng three times daily for 8 weeks experienced improved erections.
our pick: Natures

cravingS

gave migraine sufferers 6 mg of feverfew daily for 4 months, the frequency of their headaches was cut in half.
our pick: Natures

The remedy: Chromium picolinate

Why it Works: It

improves your bodys

sensitivity to insulin, which helps keep your blood sugar normal and reduces the urge to eat high-sugar foods. In one study, men who regularly supplemented their diets with this mineral for an average of 8 to 12 years gained less weight than their peers taking other weight loss supplements. Previous studies have shown 400 mcg of chromium picolinate daily to be an effective dose.
our pick: Nutrilite

Way Feverfew;

naturesway.com

Elderberry Extract;

Plus Korean Red

sambucol.com

Ginseng; naturesplus.com

SleepleSS nighTS

a Family hiSTOry OF cOlOn cancer

an expanding midSecTiOn

The remedy: Timed-release melatonin

Why it Works: Its

The remedy: Green tea

Why it Works: Green

a synthetic version

The remedy: Vitamin D

Why it Works: To

tea burns fat be-

of melatonin, a hormone that your body naturally produces in response to nightfall, helping induce a sound sleep. Researchers at Rush University Medical Center, in Chicago, gave night-shift workers 3 mg every day before bed and found that they slept 73% more soundly than those taking a placebodespite hitting the hay at daybreak.
our pick: Natrol

digest food, your

cause it contains epigallocatechin gallate, an antioxidant that increases resting metabolism and stimulates thermogenesisthe process by which your body burns fat. In a Dutch study, researchers helped 76 people lose weight and then asked them to consume either a placebo or a 270-mg capsule of green tea daily for the next 3 months. The group who supplemented with green tea continued to lose weight, but the placebo poppers soon regained their flab.
our pick: Natures

bowels produce lithocholic acid, a digestive juice that can be carcinogenic in high amounts. Scientists have learned, however, that vitamin D helps your body detoxify and expel excess lithocholic acid before it can cause colon cancer. And while your body produces vitamin D in response to sun exposure, most men need to pop a supplement to see this benefit. Consuming 1,000 IU per day has been shown to produce a 50% drop in colon cancer risk.
our pick: Carlson

ChromPic Extra;

quixtar.com

FerTiliTy prOblemS

The remedy: L-carnitine

Why it Works: Your

swimmers need this

amino acid in order to grow and mature enough to survive the long journey to fatherhood. Italian researchers found that when men took 3 g of L-carnitine daily for 4 months, their sperm counts and quality improved, and their partners pregnancy rates increased by 20%.
our pick: Proxeed

Melatonin 3mg Time

Release; natrol.com

acne

Bounty Green Tea;

The remedy: Zinc gluconate

Why it Works: Because

Vitamin D;

www.naturesbounty.com

its both anti-

carlsonlabs.com

inflammatory and antimicrobial, it fights both existing acne and acne that has yet to appear. And while some acne-causing bacteria are resistant to traditional oral treatments, such as antibiotics, a French study shows that theyre not immune to zinc. When 30 acne sufferers supplemented their diets with 30 mg of zinc gluconate daily for 2 months, they had fewer breakouts and no sign of resistant bacteria on their faces.
our pick: Nature

erecTile dySFuncTiOn

elevaTed riSk OF prOSTaTe cancer

L-Carnitine;

proxeed.com believe this

The remedy: Korean red panax ginseng

Why it Works: Ginseng

The remedy: Selenium

Why it Works: Researchers

migraineS

increases

mineral destroys cancer-causing free radicals before they have a chance to attack prostate cells. In multiple studies, scientists have determined that taking 200 mcg of selenium every day lowers the risk of prostate cancer by 49%.
our pick: Schiff

The remedy: Feverfew

Why it Works: Migraines

testosterone levels, which suppresses the production of prolactin, a hormone that can cause impotence. Whats more, the Asian herb has also been shown to lift a guys libido. This ginseng variety beats out other versions because of its high concentration of ginsenosides, the active

are often the

result of blood vessel spasms in the brain that block oxygen flow. Feverfew, an herb grown in Europe, reduces these spasms by slowing the production of inflammatory compounds called prostaglandins. When German scientists

Selenium;

Made Zinc;

schiffvitamins.com

naturemade.com

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SUPPLEMENtS FOR MEN

back pain

chronic fatigue syndrome, those who took 100 mg of CoQ10 every day for 3 months eradicated 90% of their symptoms and doubled their energy levels.
our pick: Solanova

dOnT ignOre SympTOmS

Even too much vitamin C can cause diarrhea, says Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D., director of nutrition for the American Council of Science and Health. If you reduce the dosage and the problem goes away, youre in the clear. Doesnt help? Stop using it. Upset stomach and skin rashes are the most common complaints; glucosamine and saw palmetto are two likely culprits.

The remedy: White willow bark

Why it Works: This

German herb re-

lieves aching backs in the same way more conventional cures doby reducing inflammation. A review of 10 studies published in the Cochrane Review revealed that people who took a daily dose of white willow bark for 6 weeks experienced the same level of pain relief as those taking the prescription painkiller Vioxx. The natural remedy also produced fewer side effects.
our pick: Asalixx;

Fish for a Longer, happier, and, yes, smoother Life

To drastically reduce your risk of future health problems, you need 3.5 g of omega-3 fatty acids daily, according to scientists at the National Institutes of Health. The researchers made this determination when they calculated that 40% of mortality from heart disease and 95% of depression could be attributed to deficiencies in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the omega-3 fatty acids primarily found in seafood. These healthy fats reduce the inflammation associated with heart disease and may also cultivate the production of serotonin and dopamine, feelgood neurotransmitters that can relieve and prevent depression, says study author Joseph Hibbeln, M.D. Fish oil may also prevent wrinkles. When South Korean scientists treated skin with EPA and then exposed the epidermis to light, the number of collagendestroying proteins dropped by 75%. EPA also raised levels of transforming growth factor beta, a hormone that boosts collagen and elastin formation.
our pick: Nordic Naturals

Q-Gel CoQ10;

solanova.com

allergieS

The remedy: Butterbur

Why it Works: If

youve ever seen an

allergy-medicine ad on television, youve probably heard the word leukotriene. Leukotrienes are chemicalssimilar to histaminesthat your body produces during an allergic reaction. Butterbur extract, made from the leaves of the herb, blocks leukotrienes from doing their job. When Scottish researchers treated allergy sufferers with either 50 mg of butterbur extract or a prescription allergy medicine, the herb cleared peoples stuffy noses and stopped their sneezing just as well as the drug did.
our pick: Enzymatic Therapies Petadolex

avOid an OverdOSe
Large amounts of water-soluble vitamins, such as B12, are seldom harmful, because your body can easily excrete any excess. But high doses of fat-soluble vitaminsspecifically, vitamins A, D, and Eare stored in organs and tissues and can cause dry skin, nausea, joint pain, and depression. The safe limit for men is 3,000 mcg of vitamin A, 2,000 IU of vitamin D, and 1,000 mg of vitamin E per day.

bionoricausa.com

FaTigue

The remedy: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Why it Works: This compoundwhich

is naturally produced by your body improves the ability of your muscle cells to convert the oxygen in your bloodstream into usable energy. In a University of Iowa study of 20 people with

Proceed wiTh cauTion

Supplements and prescription drugs have a lot in common. Both can help you feel better and avoid common ailments, and theyre readily available at the local CVS. But natural remedies are missing something that their Rx counterparts come with: a Patient Package Insert. This FDA-approved document provides vital information on how to take a drug safely, identify its negative side effects, and avoid potentially dangerous interactions with other drugs. However, because the FDA doesnt regulate supplements under the same guidelines as prescription medications, the only watchdog over your intake is you. So follow these three rules to make sure you do the job right. After all, you cant improve your health if youre compromising it.

mix Well
If youre being treated for heart disease, youre crazy if you dont talk with your doctor before starting a supplement, Kava says. For instance, ginkgo biloba and ginseng both thin your blood. As a result, they can exacerbate the effects of some heart medications and cause dangerously low blood pressure. To be safe, always read product labels and double-check with your pharmacist.

Ultimate Omega; nordicnaturals.com

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