Part 4 of 7 - Is Vitamin Supplementation Necessary for Men?

December 11, 2019 by The Complete Nutra Team

VITAMINS MEN NEED

All people have different nutritional needs. Theseneeds are based on physiology, and are therefore very different between men andwomen. In an attempt to design exactly what is needed for them, some males turnto men’s multivitamins. Others try to take separate supplements of exactly whatthey feel they need. In either scenario, it is important to develop a healthybalance between supplemented vitamins and a healthy diet.

Men’s Multivitamins

If one is not inclined to try to create their owncocktail of vitamins and supplements, there are a number of multivitamins outthere on the market designed specifically for men. These vitamins range in both price and efficiency,however one does not necessarily correlate to the other. In other words, themost expensive products are not always the best.

The best way to determine a good vitamin is to readthe ingredients on the back of the bottles while you are out shopping. Comparewhich packages contain more essential vitamins and nutrients. A word of cautionis necessary here. While cost does not necessarily indicate a good vitamin,exceptionally cheap supplements are generally created from synthetic nutrientsand are therefore not as healthy for you. Synthetic nutrients are not as easilyprocessed by the body, and therefore are less effective.

The most effective way to choose a goodmultivitamin is to speak with your doctor and see what he or she recommends. Some doctors will even direct youtoward prescription vitamins that may be balanced better for you, and couldeven be covered by insurance.

Vitamins And Supplements To Increase Sex Drive

There are many drugs on today’s market to helpincrease a male’s sex drive. However, there are even more products on themarket that consist of natural vitamins and herbal supplements that canaccomplish much the same thing. By taking natural supplements to accomplish an increasein libido instead of artificial products, one is able to achieve the samedesired result without polluting the body with the unnatural substances foundin other drugs.

Vitamin A is one vitamin that helps contribute to aman’s sex drive. Because Vitamin A works with the synthesis of progesterone, itis directly linked to a man’s sex drive. Vitamin A deficiency is actually acommon cause of male impotence.

Vitamin B is as aforementioned not truly a vitamin,but a hormone. This hormone works with the nervous system, and when it is takenin the recommended dosages can actually increase the sensitivity malesencounter.

Vitamin C is not only essential in helping thedevelopment of many hormones that affect the sex drive, but also essential inhelping with fertility. Men who maintain an adequate intake of vitamin C areless likely to have fertility problems than those who do not.

Zinc is one of the key components in testosteroneand sperm production. A man who is lacking in zinc may be experiencing a vastarray of problems in the bedroom. Zinc helps to create sperm and maintain thevolume of semen in the body.

Men’s Herbal Supplements

In addition to vitamins, herbal supplements such asashwagandha, ginger, cloves, gingko, horny goat weed, maura puama, yohimbe, andzallouh root are a very well known to increase a man’s sex drive and spermproduction.

Ashwagandha is an herb similar to ginseng. It is known for helping to cure impotence and infertility. This herbal supplement increases both sexual desire, and the production of sperm.

Ginger/Cloves/Gingko all help fight against impotence. These herbs all act in similar ways. One way is by increasing the blood floor to the extremities of the body, and the other is by acting as a warming agent to the body as well.

Horny goat weed, though interestingly named, has been a celebrated herb of Chinese herbalists since prior to the birth of Christ. This is used in men to treat impotence, increase sperm production, and increase sexual energy.

Maura Puama is another herbal supplement known to help with impotence problems. In addition to this, Maura Puama is an aphrodisiac that works in both men and women alike.

Yohimbe is exceptionally affective for increasing libido and for assisting with erectile problems. However, it does not come without a price. as Yohimbe is also known for causing headaches and dizziness. This is not the case for all men, however, and the positive effects of yohimbe are almost instant, so it may be worth a try.

Zallouh Root is somewhat hard to find and can be moderately expensive because it only grows in very specific mountain regions. For those men that have access to it or don’t mind paying the price, zallouh root has been used for years in treating erectile dysfunction and increasing sexual desire.

VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS MEN SHOULD AVOID

While some vitamins are especially good for men,others are equally as bad. Doctors and experts will recommend certain vitaminsand supplements and will also alternatively recommend avoiding others as well.Some of the vitamins and supplements that should be avoided include liquidcreatine, chitosan, L-carnitine, pyruvate, and ribose. As for herbs, licorice (including the blacklicorice candy), dong quai, fennel, hops, peony, and white willow should all beavoided.

It is important to always properly research anyherbal supplement or vitamin supplement you are thinking of taking beforepurchasing it. Herbal experts are great resources for developing your knowledgeof herbal supplements. Doctors can also be consulted, though knowledge of herbsvaries from doctor to doctor, as does their opinions on herbs vs. medications.When all else fails, books and the Internet are great ways to do your ownresearch on the specific herb you are questioning. No herb should ever be taken without firstdoing the proper research, so do not ever jump right into an herb because youhave “heard good things about it.”

Herbal Supplements to Avoid

Licorice is one herb that should be absolutely avoided by men who are trying to impregnate their partners. Licorice, though known to increase the sex drive, also causes a decrease in sperm count. This does include the candy black licorice!

Dong quai is an herb common to women’s treatments. For every ounce of effectiveness it has for women it has equal parts of problematic effects for men. This herb helps to increase estrogen and can upset the natural balance of a man’s body.

Fennel is another herb that is great for women by counteractive to men. While the herb will increase the sex drive of a woman it will actually decrease libido in a man and should therefore be avoided.

Hops is another herbal supplement that men should avoid. Although helpful for the treatment of minor ailments hops has a nasty side effective of decreased libido and even impotence.

Peony is taken usually in root form. It’s one more herb that’s greatly helpful for regulating women’s menstrual symptoms but devastating to the male libido. In addition, peony can be quite toxic if not taken correctly and in proper dosages, so should always be avoided unless an herbal expert has been consulted.

White willow is the natural basis for the synthetic base to aspirin. This gift from nature has wonderful aspirin like effects such as decreasing pain and reducing fever. It also raises estrogen levels and can cause sexual dysfunction in men.

Other Substances to Avoid

Some doctors will advise that creatine is a great substance for assisting in muscle development, while other doctors disagree and state that it is unnatural and unhealthy for the body. For those that do desire to take this supplement, the liquid form is one that should be avoided. Liquid creatine in studies has shown that they have no greater affect than a placebo. Some claim that the liquid form is more readily accepted into the body, but there is nothing scientific to back up these claims.

Chitosan is a supplement that claims to work as a fat blocker. There are no proven scientific studies that have shown this to be the case. What studies have shown, however is that chitosan can cause gastric disturbances and other unpleasant health problems. This supplement should just be generally avoided.

L-Carnitine is claimed by some to give increased energy and foster weight loss. In regards to claims of increased energy, there is simply no scientific research to back up these claims. As far as the weight loss is concerned, some studies have shown L-Carnitine to promote weight loss; however there are significantly more studies that have shown that it does not.

Pyruvate is supposed to cause weight loss by increasing ones metabolism. While this is the case, it is only true when you are taking a massive dose of pyruvate (approximately 350 pills a week). In order to have pyruvate stimulate weight loss, you would be required to take what is a potentially toxic dose of the substance.

Ribose is sold with claims of increasing energy. No studies have ever been conducted to back this claim up. This is yet another supplemental product that probably has no positive effects in the area it claims to.

Stay Tuned For Part 4 Where You Will Learn About Vitamins & Women

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. CompleteNutra products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please discuss all specific medical conditions and advice with your healthcare provider.