June Is Men’s Health Month
- General Health • June 1, 2019
Did you know that June is men’s health month?
The goal of men’s health month is to bring awareness to men’s health and disease prevention. General health encompasses several lifestyle factors, including regular physical activity, a healthy diet, adequate sleep, stress management, and social interaction. Dietary supplements can also be used to address nutrient needs and prevent some of the common health issues men encounter, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Men’s nutritional needs change throughout their lifespan, meaning nutritional supplementation should be used based on different age groups.
Below is some useful information about top recommended supplements for men’s health.
✅Serenoa repens (Saw palmetto)
Saw palmetto, also known as the American dwarf palm tree, is a perennial plant from the botanical family Arecaceae. The supplement form, saw palmetto extract, contains fatty acids that are extracted from the saw palmetto berry. Research has shown that saw palmetto may be effective in treating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and sexual dysfunction associated with BPH.
✅Lycopene
Lycopene is a plant pigment found in foods such as tomato, guava, pink grapefruit, apricots, and watermelon. Dietary intake of lycopene in the US is primarily obtained from tomatoes or tomato sauces, soups, and other tomato products. Many of these are processed or commercially made foods such as ketchup and don’t necessarily have high nutritional value overall. Research suggests that dietary intake of lycopene is associated with a lower risk of developing prostate cancer and an improvement of cardiovascular risk factors, such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Lycopene supplements may be considered for prevention of chronic health conditions, including heart disease and certain cancers.
✅Beta-sitosterol
Beta-sitosterol is a plant sterol or phytosterol found commonly in most plants. The FDA has stated that beta-sitosterol may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) by lowering blood cholesterol levels. It has also been shown to improve symptoms of BPH by increasing maximum urinary flow and decreasing residual urine volume.
✅Panax ginseng (Korean Ginseng)
Korean or Panax ginseng is an adaptogenic herb that grows in Korea and northeastern China. Korean ginseng may help improve erectile dysfunction in men. There is also some clinical evidence that shows it enhances cognitive function, such as working memory and attention processes, in healthy adults.
✅Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral involved in numerous physiological processes, including immune health and hormone production. Zinc supplementation is used to treat infections, including the flu, common cold, urinary tract infections, and lower respiratory tract infections. Zinc supplementation has also been found to benefit male fertility by increasing sperm count and testosterone levels. In men, seminal fluid zinc levels are correlated with sperm count and regular sperm structure. Zinc supplementation may show promise for male infertility treatment.
I hope you found this informative and helpful, and am wishing you a very happy and healthy Men’s Health Month!
– Dr. Senyi Ly D.C.
P.S. You can access my dispensary at https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/somachiro.
When “I” is replaced with “We”, even Illness becomes Wellness!
