Posts Tagged ‘Adequate Amounts’
Best Multivitamin For Men
Information on choosing the best multivitamin for men.
Choosing The Best Multivitamin for Men
Is there a best multivitamin for men? To answer this question, first you have to look at what the unique nutritional needs are for men. Then, you need to evaluate your own unique nutritional needs, based on your health, age, activity level, and any medical issues that need to be addressed in your diet. Once you determine the differences, from there you can look at the choices in men’s multivitamins and decide which one is best for your needs.
Evaluating The Nutritional Needs of Men
The nutritional needs of men do in fact differ from those of women. However, most of the differences are in the amounts of macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) that men need. More specifically men require more calories than women due to their increased muscle mass proportionate to height and weight. In addition, all that extra muscle requires more protein to maintain – that means men need to make sure they’re getting enough protein in their diets. (An oft-used rule of thumb is one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, per day – you can use a quality protein supplement to make this easier to achieve.)
However, neither of those requirements has anything to do with the micronutrients – vitamins and minerals – that are found in multivitamins for men. So what’s the deal with all the multivitamin formulas you find on the shelves of your local health food store? Most of these formulas contain added herbal ingredients that are purported to help men with specific health needs as they age.
Typical Ingredients Added To Mens Multivitamins – Are They Necessary?
For example, some multivitamins for men may contain added saw palmetto, which reportedly offers benefits for prostate health. Another popular added ingredient in men’s multivitamin formulas is tribulus terrestris, an herb that is said to increase testosterone production in the body. The obvious health benefits for men taking these herbs are widely accepted; however, it’s questionable whether you can get adequate amounts of either in a multivitamin, since a pill that contained enough of either combined in a balanced multi vitamin would be large enough to choke a horse.
The Conclusion…
So, the obvious common sense answer to this dilemma is to choose a multivitamin that is balanced and complete, and to take any herbal supplements in a separate supplement to ensure you are getting adequate amounts. This would indicate that, instead of looking for the best multivitamin for men, you should instead look for the best multivitamin overall – that will be your best choice for a mens vitamin.
