Liquid Vitamins And Minerals

Posts Tagged ‘Vitamins And Minerals’

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.

Click here for a great-tasting, easy to swallow, balanced and complete liquid multivitamin…

The Skinny On Weight Loss Vitamins

Some weight loss vitamins, like GBG Energy Matrix, are taken in liquid form.

The dirty little secret about weight loss vitamins that many supplement manufacturers and retailers don’t want you to know is that most weight loss supplements aren’t vitamins at all. Nope – in fact, most of them contain stimulants and not natural vitamins and minerals.

So, what does this mean to you? For starters, that it really pays to read labels when buying supplements. Also, it means that some people should avoid weight loss supplements entirely, since certain stimulants can contribute to high blood pressure and may interact with certain medications.

Having said that, there are some weight loss formulas that are not half bad when taken according to the instructions by healthy adults who are only moderately overweight (Kids: Don’t take this stuff, no matter what those ads say). So, if you just need a little boost to help you lose 10 to 15 pounds, the right weight loss supplement could help you do it.

How Weight Loss Supplements Work

Most weight loss supplements work in one of two ways:

1. They suppress your appetite.

2. They work on the theory of increasing your metabolism.

Appetite suppressants have been around for a long time, and there are several prescription medications that are prescribed as appetite suppressants to patients who are very overweight.

Losing Weight Safely

Weight loss of more than 1 to 2 pounds a week can be unsafe. Set reasonable goals and lose weight at a sensible pace. It seems contradictory, but you MUST eat 5-6 small meals a day to keep your metabolism up while losing weight. Simply NOT eating will actually stunt your weight loss efforts.

As long as you’re eating enough calories, you’ll keep your metabolism up and continue to lose weight. One pound of fat equals 3,500 calories, so if you lower your daily caloric intake by 500 calories a day you’ll lose about a pound a week as your body converts fat to energy to make up the difference.

Use this calorie calculator to find out how many calories your body needs to maintain your current weight based on your weight, age, and activities. Then, simply subtract 500 from that amount to get the number of calories you should be eating daily to sustain continued weight loss.

Also, if you intend to lose more than ten percent of your body weight, or if you have any medical conditions that may affect your ability to exercise, or if you are on any prescription medications, you should consult your physician before starting any weight loss program.

Many stimulants that are supposed to help speed up your metabolism (so you burn more calories) are also appetite suppressants. So, when you take them it seems like you have more energy and your appetite may decrease.

The Problem With Stimulants

The problem with taking stimulants to artificially increase your metabolism is that, over time, your body becomes accustomed to the effect they have on your system. That means you have to take more and more to get the same effect. In my experience, I get the best results by taking a weight loss supplement for two weeks, then taking two weeks off from it, then two weeks on again.

In the mean time, I eat a sensible diet, and the whole time I make sure I get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day that gets my heart rate up to 65 – 85 percent of my target heart rate (220 minus your age). But, I never take a diet supplement for longer than two weeks at a time.

Things You Should Be Aware Of…

We already discussed that you shouldn’t take weight loss vitamins if you have a medical condition or if you are on prescription medication. However, there are a few other things you should be aware of when taking weight loss supplements:

1. Some weight loss supplements can cause difficulty with going to sleep. So, don’t take them after 3 PM in the afternoon.
2. Some weight loss vitamins can have an after-effect that is commonly known as “crashing” – meaning all that energy wears off and you start feeling like you’re dragging. Everything has it’s price, and diet pills are no different. So, plan ahead to make sure you aren’t going to crash at the wrong time.
3. You may forget to eat when you’re taking a diet supplement. So, plan ahead and set your watch to remind you to eat a snack or a small meal every 3 hours. So, you’d eat breakfast within 1 hour of waking up, eat a mid-morning snack (make sure it combines protein and carbs), eat a healthy lunch, eat a mid-afternoon snack, eat a healthy dinner, then if you need a snack before bed limit it to protein only (carbs will store more easily as fat, and protein can help you sleep better).

And there you have it… a simple plan for using a weight loss vitamin supplement to assist you in losing a few unwanted pounds.

Click here for a liquid weight loss vitamin that tastes great…