The Best and Worst Supplements for Men
From herbal extracts to amino acids, there are thousands of supplements promising health in a bottle. This A-to-Z guide separates the cures from the quackery
Stan Jones could have used a supplement guide like this one.
In 1999, Jones, then a Libertarian candidate for a U.S. Senate seat from Montana, began taking colloidal silver. He feared that Y2K would result in a shortage of antibiotics, and he'd apparently heard that colloidal silver has antibacterial and immunity-boosting properties. What he didn't hear was that it also has a possible (and permanent) side effect called argyria. Today, Stan Jones has blue skin.
The lesson: Supplements are serious medicine, and how smart you are about what you swallow will largely determine whether you end up healed or hurt. Or a different hue. But where do you go for that knowledge? To an expert, like a phar-macotherapist, who eats, sleeps, and breathes supplements (often literally). If it comes in a bottle or a blister pack, a tablet or a tincture, their kind would know what to expect after it enters your esophagus. But don't worry, you won't have to go look them up in the yellow pages. We did it for you. So here you go: an A-to-Z guide to the supplement aisle.
One more thing: don't bother looking in the Cs for colloidal silver. This stuff is not a bug killer, but as Jones found out, it sure can give a guy the blues.
A
VITAMIN A
Immunity Enhancer
A is essential for a strong immune system. US researchers found that an increased intake of vitamin A boosted germ-killing cells by 8 percent.
Best dosage for men: 5,000 international units (IU) daily, preferably as beta-carotene
Natural sources: Carrots, sweet potatoes, mangoes
ACETYL L-CARNITINE
Brain Saver
Most amino acids build muscle, but this one buffs the brain—possibly slowing the effects of Alzheimer's. And, in an American study, rats taking acetyl L-carnitine and alpha-lipoic acid did better on memory tests.
Best dosage for men: 250 milligrams (mg) twice a day
ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID
Antioxidant Recharger
When antioxidants in the body run low, a dose of alpha-lipoic acid can restore them. It can also treat diabetes-related nerve damage and may protect against radiation—handy in the event of a dirty bomb.
Best dosage for men: 200 mg twice a day
B
BORON
Memory Maximizer
Rhymes with moron, but it's actually a brain booster. A US study found that boron revs up the memory. Plus, men with the highest boron intakes are 65 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer.
Best dosage for men: 3 mg daily
Natural sources: Nuts, legumes, most dried fruits
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Men's Health Philippines - May 2005 Issue
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The Best & Worst Supplements For Men
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