For men, getting older does have its advantages: maturity, experience, and maybe even sex appeal. After all, Sean Connery was nearly 60 years old when he was voted People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive." But as men age, problems pop up, including cardiovascular disease, enlarged prostate, and hair loss. The good news is that natural solutions can make men feel more golden and less olden.
Heart Health
In 2004, cardiovascular disease (CVD) caused the deaths of 410,365 males, soundly beating cancer. It's a cloudy situation with a rainbow in sight: Exercise and a proper diet can go a long way toward preventing heart disease. Combined with a healthy diet and exercise, a variety of supplements can support heart health.
According to naturopathic cardiologist Decker Weiss, NMD, FASA, heart attacks occur because of inflammation and oxidation, or cellular damage. Unfortunately, there's no single cause. "Heart attacks are like a rock band, not like a solo act," he says.
Vitamin E
Dr. Weiss recommends vitamin E for heart health. It may delay coronary heart disease by preventing the formation of blood clots that could lead to a heart attack and by preventing damage to healthy cholesterol and the formation of LDL ("lousy") cholesterol. There are eight forms of vitamin E (known as tocopherols and tocotrienols), and Dr. Weiss recommends taking a natural mix. There has been an overwhelming emphasis on studying the tocopherol form, but "tocotrientols possess powerful neuroprotective, anticancer, and cholesterol-lowering properties that are often not exhibited by tocopherols," say authors of a recent Life Science article.
When choosing a supplement, opt for the d-alpha form of E, rather than synthetic dl-alpha, which is less potent. Since E has blood-thinning properties, consult your practitioner before taking this vitamin if you're on blood-thinning medications.
CoQ10
"Heart attacks [occur] when CoQ10 states are low, B vitamins [are] low, and magnesium [is] low," says Dr. Weiss. Also known as coenzyme Q10, CoQ10 is a vitamin-like substance found in all parts of the body. Simply put, it protects the heart. A six-year study at the University of Texas found that people being treated for congestive heart failure who took CoQ10 with conventional therapy had a 75 percent chance of survival after three years, compared to a 25 percent survival rate for those opting for conventional therapy alone.
One study of 50 cardiology patients who discontinued statin (cholesterol-lowering) drugs and began taking CoQ10 found that statin-related side effects are reversible when statin use is discontinued and CoQ10 is implemented. Because statins inhibit cholesterol synthesis in the liver, they also interfere with CoQ10 production-and many experts believe CoQ10 deficiencies and heart failure go hand in hand. If you're on statin drugs, talk to your practitioner about supplementing with this coenzyme.
B Vitamins
British scientists have concluded that there are enough benefits of the B vitamin folic acid to recommend it for heart health. B vitamins are helpful for lowering elevated homocysteine levels, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Studies show that vitamin B6 may help prevent hardening of the arteries, and low levels of this vitamin may increase the risk of heart attack.
Magnesium
A diet low in magnesium has been linked to greater risk for heart disease and diabetes risk factors. "Magnesium-along with sodium, potassium, and calcium-appears to affect the muscle tone of the blood vessels, which may explain why magnesium supplementation has been shown to help control cardiovascular disease," says Shari Lieberman, PhD, CNS, FACN. Research shows this mineral helps lower blood pressure in magnesium-deficient people, and it has also been shown to improve the balance of fats in the blood.
Helpful Herbs and More
Dr. Weiss recommends three substances that do "everything for the heart." A solid body of research supports garlic's beneficial effects on blood pressure and cholesterol. He also recommends ginger (Zingiber officinale), an anti-inflammatory that makes blood "slippery," preventing clotting that could lead to a heart attack. Fiber is also important. In one study, people who ate a diet high in fiber had significantly lower levels of C-reactive protein, which is associated with heart disease.
Prostate Problems
About half of American men over 50 have an enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Though the condition doesn't necessarily lead to prostate cancer-which is most common among men over the age of 65-it can make a tumor harder to spot. At the very least, an enlarged prostate can lead to frequent urination, leakage, and less forceful urination.
Produced from the berry of the saw palm tree, saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) has long been regarded as a top natural option for prostate inflammation. Clinical trials show that men who took saw palmetto were twice as likely to experience improvement in prostate symptoms as men who took a placebo. It's just as effective as conventional medicine for mild to moderate problems and has fewer side effects.
An extract from the bark of an African prune tree, pygeum (P. africanum) also shows promise. In 12 out of 13 trials, pygeum produced improvements in BPH symptoms such as urine flow, the urge to urinate at night, and the amount of urine left behind in the bladder. However, this herb has yet to be compared to its conventional counterparts.
Plant-based compounds with estrogen-like effects, isoflavones are found in beans and soy. Men in Hong Kong (where soy products reign) tend to have lower rates of enlarged prostate than Western men.
A handful of substances have been shown to lower the risk for prostate cancer, including carotenoids, which include lycopene, alpha carotene, beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Intake of carotenoid-rich foods like tomatoes, pumpkins, spinach, watermelons, and citrus fruits, is also inversely associated with prostate cancer risk. In addition to consuming a healthy diet full of colorful fruits and veggies, look for lycopene and other carotenoids in supplement form.
Hair Loss
While not a life-threatening concern, hair loss can be a significant quality-of-life issue for many men. In addition to heredity, a variety of other factors (including poor circulation, illness, sudden weight loss, poor diet, vitamin deficiencies, and stress) can promote hair loss. While there's no "cure" for hereditary male-pattern baldness, a variety of natural options show promise for the millions of men whose hair has gone from a mane to on the wane. Please note that seeing a few hairs in the shower drain is no cause for alarm-losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal.
Essential fatty acids, which improve hair texture and prevent dry, brittle hair, may be helpful. Zinc stimulates hair growth by enhancing immune function, and vitamin E improves circulation to the scalp by increasing oxygen uptake, improving the health and growth of hair.
Soy may also help curb hair loss. One animal study shows that equol (a molecule created in the intestine when soy is digested) completely stops dihydrotestosterone (DHT) production, which not only stimulates male-pattern baldness but also prostate growth. The Chinese botanical fo-ti (Polygonum multiflorum) has shown promise in restoring hair and its color and is capable of inducing terminal hair growth rather than the fine hair growth associated with using the pharmaceutical minoxidil. Fo-ti may adversely interact with the liver, so avoid this herb if you've had previous liver complaints. As with all herbs, talk to your practitioner before taking fo-ti.
Diet can make a difference, too. Sulfur-rich foods, such as eggs, fish, and garlic, are believed beneficial for hair growth. Practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine, an ancient art of healing, suggest that bodily weakness may be a possible cause of hair loss and recommend a diet of meat, fish, milk, and other high-protein foods. Neglecting food groups or going on crash diets may cause damaging nutrient deficiencies for the hair. This happens in the case of protein deficiency, where the body will reserve protein by shifting growing hairs into a resting phase. Massive hair shedding can occur as a result two to three months later.
American Heart Association, www.americanheart.org "Flavonoid and Botanical Approaches to Prostate Health" by A. E. Katz, J Altern Complement Med, 12/02 "Folic Acid, Homocysteine, and Cardiovascular Disease . . ." by D. S. Wald et al., BMJ, 11/06 "Hair Loss," www.mayoclinic.com "Intake of Fish Oil, Oleic Acid, Folic Acid, and Vitamins B-6 and E for 1 Year Decreases Plasma C-Reactive Protein and Reduces Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors in Male Patients . . ." by J. J. Carrero et al., J Nutr, 2/07 Personal communication: Decker Weiss, NMD, FASA, and Ray Sahelian, MD, 2/07 "Practitioner's Guide to Hair Loss" by Shari Henson, HerbClip, 1/05 "Vitamin E in the Prevention of Ischemic Heart Disease" by A. Chattopadhyay and D. Bandyopadhyay, Pharmacol Rep, 3-4/06
 | Men's health and fitness at age 40 is good indicator of how well they'll age. Eat a balanced diet that gives you enough protein and fiber, and work your abs so you can get fit now, and stay healthy later. |
 | Prostate cancer researchers are particularly interested in tomatoes because lycopene and its related compounds tend to concentrate in tissues of the prostate, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). |
Humans are designed with a capacity for a highly versatile diet. Amongst the many dietary alternatives is the common omnivorous diet in which animal and non-animal products are consumed equally, as well as a variety of vegetarian diets in which some or all animal products are excluded from the diet. |
Chile peppers, aka cayenne, are full of contradictions. They're hot enough to hurt, yet they can relieve pain, improve circulation, stimulate the appetite, and actually cool you down in hot weather. |
Although antioxidants get a lot of attention for their role in disease prevention, there's another shining-star category among plant-derived compounds: phytosterols. |
