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Created on Friday, 17 December 2010 04:23

Men's Health magazine just came out with their list of 18 best supplements for men, and I thought it would be interesting to compare their list to mine. Not surprisingly, there is a lot of overlap, but also a few differences. Let's go through them one by one, working off their list:

1. Acetyl l Carnitine: Check. They note the energy support, the brain protection, and that it elevates mood. I consider it the most important brain-protecting nutrient. The Italian research shows a huge protective effect against Alzheimer's. If you're only going to take one brain nutrient, take this one. Yes, it's on my Daily Program list.

2. Korean Red Panax Ginseng: Buzz. They note the benefit for Erectile Dysfunction. but it's not like all men need help with that. It didn't make my list because I don't consider it a universal supplement. I don't have a problem with gingseng. It has been around for a long time, and the safety of it is well established. I am not taking it, although I have tried it, and I am not against taking it. But, it's definitely not something all men need to take.

3. Coenzyme Q10: Check. It's on both our lists, and I consider it a true core supplement for men who are middle-aged or older. Unfortunately, they didn't mention the importance of taking the CoQ10-H2 form of it known as Ubiquinol. Ubiquinol really is superior. It absorbs much better. And it's the only form of CoQ10 that I take and recommend.

4. VItamin D: Check. It is surely a spot-on recommendation, but they should have emphasized the importance of taking Vitamin D3, which is the only natural form of it. Also, they only recommended 1000 IUs, and for many people that is insufficient. This being wintertime, I am taking 5000 IUs daily.

5. Fish Oil: Check. It's interesting that we both recommend fish oil, and they even recommend the same brand that I take, which is Nordic Naturals. NN is unsurpassed in purity and quality. It's a Norwegian company, but we offer their products here on this website. I take the ProOmega softgels.

6: Magnesium: Check. This is a qualified check. They recommend 250 mgs a day besides what you get from your food, and I don't have any problem with it. However, I get just 150 mgs magesium from my Extend Core multi, and I think that's enough for me because I'm very diligent about eating magnesium-rich plant foods. But, in some circumstances, such as high blood pressure, I will recommend a separate magnesium supplement. I'm pro-magnesium, for sure.

7. Psyllium seed husk: Buzz! They recommend it to all men? Unbelievable! I certainly don't take it because I don't need it. Basically, it's Metamucil. What do I need that for? My bowels move fine. And hey, it's just a form of fiber. The way I eat, with all the fruits, nuts, vegetables, whole grains, and beans? I certainly don't need to be taking fiber in pill form. So thanks, but no thanks.

8. Probiotics: Buzz. Well, I'm a believer in probiotics, but I don't say that every man in the world needs to take them. I think probiotics are valuable in some situations, for instance, with antibiotic use. And with some digestive problems, it's worthwhile to take them. But, I don't take them as part of my daily regimen, and I don't think they should be considered a universal supplement for all men.

9. Quercetin: Buzz. This is a flavinoid antioxidant which occurs widely in fruits and vegetables. It's interesting that white foods tend to be high in it, such as apples (whose flesh is white) and white onions. Quercetin also has an anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine effect, which is why we put it into our allergy formulas. I'm not taking it, but I do eat a lot of high-quercetin foods.  I do recognize its value and importance, but as I've said before, you can't take everything.

10. Pycnogenol: Check. This is a qualified check. Pycnogenol is the trade name of the proanthocyanidin derived from pine bark. But, I am getting the same thing by taking grape seed extract. To me, it seems more natural and appropriate for a human to consume a fruit seed rather than pine bark, and that's why I prefer it.

11. Glucosamine: Buzz. I don't take glucosamine because I don't have arthritis, at least not that I know of. I suppose that if I had x-rays taken, it might show some, since I'm 60. But if so, it's not causing me any trouble. And I am not at all interested in taking glucosamine preventively. However, if I had osteoarthritis, I would take it.

12. Vitamin C:  Half-Check. They recommend 1000 mgs/day in supplement form, while I get just 400 mgs from my Extend Core multi. However, I do eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, so my total daily consumption is in excess of 1000 mgs, for sure. I think that's enough for me on a regular basis, but if I were struggling with a cold or flu, I would take more. But so far, I am staying well this winter.

13. EGCG: Check. It is essentially green tea extract, which I do take. They want you to take 340 mg, while I'm getting just 250 mg from VRP's Green Tea Extract. But, I think it's enough. It's potent stuff.

14. Lycopene: Check. They want men to take 15 mgs a day to protect the prostate. I'm getting that much exactly in my ProstaCol formula from VRP. I'm also very keen on eating high-lycopene foods, such as tomatoes, watermelon, and red grapefruit.

15. Red Yeast Extract: Buzz!  I am totally opposed to listing this as a universal supplement for all men. What if your cholesterol is low? Why would you need to take it? My lipids are fine, and I have no need or desire to take it.

16. Resveratrol: Check. I agree with them that resveratrol is a core supplement that all men should be taking. It fights heart disease, cancer, and aging itself. And it's hard to get enough of it  from food alone, and I certainly don't think that men should deliberately drink alcohol, as in red wine, to get it. High-grade, imported Japanese resveratrol extracted from knotwood is the way to go. That's what VRP uses, and that is what I take.

17. SAMe: Half-Check. I am not taking SAMe at this time, but I would never buzz off SAMe.  I don't say that it is a core supplement for everyone, but I think the world of SAMe. It is truly a wonder supplement for depression, for the liver, and for cartilage repair. Plus, it boosts glutathione levels. It's a bit pricey, but the price has come down lately, and it may continue to fall, and I hope so. Keep in mind that SAMe is not a supplement that you should just buy off the shelf anywhere. It's a delicate substance that requires precise manufacturing. VRP imports research-grade SAMe from Italy, which is the finest in the world. Of course, there are other good brands, but be very selective about sourcing SAMe.

18. Saw Palmetto: Check. This is obviously another prostate support supplement, and I get it from our ProstaCol formula, which also has the Pygeum, Beta-sitosterol, and Nettle. These are the heavy hitters in the world of natural prostate care, and every good prostate formula should have them. Of course, young men shouldn't need it.

So that's it, and I have to say that Men's Health did a fairly good job coming up with their list of supplements for men. As you can see, I only took exception with a few of them. However, they overlooked Carnosine, Turmeric, and Lipoic Acid, which are on my list, and for good reasons.