Many men desire looking younger and feeling more energetic. Here are some of the best supplements for men over 40 to maintain health and stay youthful.
Is there a fountain of youth for men? The value of the U.S. supplement industry is $37 billion. It seems, then, there’s no single fountain, just a chaotic torrent of choices. To navigate the raging river of marketing hype, here are some of the best supplements for men. These supplements are especially beneficial for men over 40.
Why do some men age 40 and over need supplements?
After age 40, men lose some of their, well, manliness. Testosterone—the “male sex hormone” that’s responsible for strength, sex drive, bone density and other important physiological functions—levels are already in decline. Testosterone levels start to dip by age 30. The dip is far more gradual than the rapid decline in estrogen experienced by women. However, the tiniest dip in testosterone can adversely affect how a man looks and feels.
Besides experiencing low sex drive, lower testosterone levels can also contribute to, among other things:
- Abdominal fat and slower metabolism
- Metabolic disorders such as obesity
- Bone degeneration (osteoporosis)
- Joint pain (arthritis)
- Uncontrollable weeping during romance films (aka “chick flicks”)
Ok, maybe the last one belittles the all-too-serious physiological havoc that plummeting testosterone levels can produce. But it’s actually not that much of an exaggeration. Emotionally rock-steady men can in fact experience mood swings or even depression as a result of low testosterone.
Are testosterone supplements safe?
This begs the question, then … is testosterone one of the best supplements for men over 40 to get ripped? While it is possible for anybody to buy testosterone online, the risk of side effects might not be worth it. There are safer, all-natural solutions as you’ll read about shortly.
Before you buy testosterone online, heed this warning by WebMd. Testosterone supplements are now available in a variety of forms, including injections, patches and gels that patients rub into the skin. The cost can run from $75 to $300 a month. Side effects can include lower levels of healthy HDL cholesterol, increased male pattern baldness and possible harm to prostate health, states the WebMd article. Other side effects, especially from oral testosterone include liver problems, urinary tract infections.
There are alternative supplements said to boost testosterone. And, you can buy a formula that’s designed to do just that! However, you may be better off customizing your own blend using well known medicinal herbs.
Best all-natural supplement for lean muscle: ashwagandha
So, then, what tops the list of best supplements for men over 40 to get ripped? If it’s dangerous to buy testosterone online how can you get leaner?
You could go into a store like GNC where generally safe supplements are sold that enhance male virility and strength. But many of these products were made by a lab. They are synthetic. If you’re looking for an all-natural supplement for men over 40, consider using what ancient, traditional societies used to stay strong.
Adaptogens are a special class of medicinal herbs. They are called adaptogens because they help the body adapt to stress. Stress disrupts the natural role hormones play in the body. Stress is a big factor for the decline in testosterone many men experience.
The great thing about adaptogens is that they help rebalance the body’s hormone levels. While adaptogens don’t contain testosterone per say, they do instruct your cells to make more of it.
Benefits of ashwagandha
One of the best adaptogenic herbs for increasing athletic performance is called “ashwagandha.” Ashwagandha has been traditionally for medicinal purposes for over 5,000 years. And now, there’s evidence to support its use for men.
Clinical studies have demonstrated that Ashwagandha can reduce the stress hormone, cortisol, by 30% within 60 days of use. By cutting down the demand for cortisol hormone, Ashwagandha helps to shift the production of hormones towards more muscle-building hormones like DHEA and Testosterone. (Source)
Researchers have also confirmed this testosterone building effect of Ashwagandha in animal and human studies.
In one study among healthy volunteers, Ashwagandha was given for 30 days to improve total muscle strength. Dosing with ashwagandha also significantly lowered total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in the participants.
In a study involving 111 healthy children, those receiving ashwagandha extract granules had improvement of 50% in muscle strength. Hockey players given the herb in capsule form twice a day for 8 weeks, had improved oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood (known as VO2 max).
Other herbal supplements that are best for men over 40
Ashwagandha, roughly translated from the ancient Indian language, Sanskrit, means “the power of a horse.” If you’re over 40 and have experienced a decline in strength, stamina and libido, ashwagandha may provide you with some lost horsepower.
There are also other herbal ingredients that can help men over 40 rediscover their male vigor. These include, but are not limited to:
- He Shou Wu
- Jiaogulan
- Himalayan Goji
- Acai
- Peruvian Maca
- American Ginseng
- Schisandra Fruit
- Asian Licorice Root
- Rhodiola Rosea
- Astragalus Root
- Reishi Mushroom
- Catuaba
- Guarana
- Tribulus
- Epimedium
The great thing about these herbs is that they can be safely combined without worrying about toxic side effects. To be on the safe side, consult an herbalist or another health professional. Generally speaking, unlike the deadly cocktail effect of pharmaceuticals, all-natural herbal supplements are synergistic. This means the herbs enhance the effect of each other.
Best supplements for health for men over 40
Next time you’re at the beach, don’t slather on the sunscreen. At least not right away. Unless you’re extremely fair skinned, try to get at least 10-15 minutes of sun exposure. That’s because most men over 40 (and most people in general) are deficient in vitamin D. Vitamin D is one of the best supplements for health.
Plenty of research links vitamin D deficiency to several physical imbalances. That’s why this is one of the best supplements for men over 40 to take.
These include:
- Osteoporosis
- Weakened immune system
- Mental/cognitive decline
- Metabolic disorders
- Heart disease
Supplementing Vitamin D
Most people aren’t getting enough direct sun exposure on the skin to get enough vitamin D. But if you live in Maine and it’s February, what are you supposed to do? Tanning beds cause cancer so that’s not a solution.
A simple way to get enough vitamin D is to take a supplement. But not any vitamin D supplement will do. The active form of vitamin D your body uses is “D3”. However, some D supplements contain a synthetic version, D2.
Most experts recommend getting 2,000 IUs (international units) of D per day. That level, says researchers, is enough to help you absorb from the food you eat, the calcium your bones need to stay strong.
Some medical experts suggesting getting even more than 2,000 IU per day. The Vitamin D Council recommends 5,000 IUs per day, regardless if you live in Oahu or Ohio. And don’t think that if you eat whole eggs you’ll get enough vitamin D. There simply is not enough vitamin D in food to get as much of this important supplement for men.
Best supplements for men for general health: fish oil
Unless you already have heart disease, fish oil supplements can help your ticker stay healthy. And not just your heart. Fish oil supplements have strong anti-inflammatory properties.
Fish oil supplements can help lower fat in the blood, decrease LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and prevent blood clotting. These are just some of the reasons why one of the best supplements for men over 40 is fish oil.
The two types of fatty acids found in fish oil, EPA and DHA may also help prevent cognitive decline. Some preliminary studies suggest fish oil may, at least in part, help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
And for men who are interested in looking younger, fish oil can help the skin appear more radiant. This is because of the anti-inflammatory properties of fish oil.
To get enough fish oil, simply eat wild salmon a few days a week. You can also supplement with a good quality fish oil.
Vegetarian option
Vegetarians can get some anti-inflammatory benefits of essential fatty acids by eating walnuts and flax seed and other sources. The problem with these vegan-vegetarian sources is that they are not as potent as fish-based EPA and DHA.
If you’re a man over 40 who doesn’t eat fish, you can buy an algae oil supplement. Cold-water oily fish like salmon are rich in anti-inflammatory EPA and DHA because of the algae the eat. So either fish or algae oil is top pick as one of the best supplements for men over 40.
Best supplements for men over 40 for general health: magnesium
Considered one of the most, if not the most important mineral in the body, magnesium is a top supplement for men over 40. The body relies on magnesium for dozens and dozens of functions. Metabolism and blood pressure are just a couple of vital functions impacted by magnesium levels.
Most people are deficient in magnesium. And eating organic leafy greens might not be enough. Many soils from which even healthy organic veggies grow are depleted of this critical mineral.
Stress also robs the body of magnesium. This is another reason why magnesium might be one of the best supplements for men over 40. And it’s also another reason to consider taking adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha to help your body regulate stress.
More supplements for men over 40 for lean muscle
There are three other supplements men over 40 might want to consider taking (or getting enough from food) to get ripped. Creatine is one of them.
Creatine is produced by the liver and helps supply energy to the cells. Especially muscle cells. Creatine is composed of three amino acids and when these acids are abundant, you’ll have more energy to lift weights and bang out a few more reps than normal.
Vitamin E, especially tocotrienol, can help men over 40 with muscle recovery. And nitric oxide (NO2) dilates the blood vessels, allowing for greater blood flow to reach the muscles. Greater blood flow can also give you more energy in the gym for your workouts.
There’s actually one more supplement that’s great for getting lean and ripped. Well, not a supplement, but a drink: coffee. The caffeine in coffee has been clinically proven to boost athletic performance. But beware taking caffeine supplements. They have the potential to cause negative side effects such as heart palpitations.
Best health supplements brands
When looking into the list of best supplements for men over 40, it’s good to consider brand quality. The best health supplement brands control the whole supply chain from seed to shelf. This means that that health superior health supplement brands control the environment of the farm where the medicinal plant was grown.
Not every brand has the capacity to test their own products for quality control. But the top of the line brands undergo extensive in-house testing. This ensures the active constituents in the supplement is 100% pure. And after the testing is done, the best supplement brands will ensure that their product is consistent from batch to batch and won’t spoil in the bottle.