How Men Over 40 Can Boost Energy

How Men over 40 can Boost Energy

Metabolism begins to slow at age 40, according to "USC Health" magazine. Muscle actually starts to break down in your 30s, and the body doesn't absorb nutrients as efficiently as it once did. Metabolism slows down beginning at about 40, and the march to old age truly begins. At 40, you should start reducing the number of calories you eat each day to prevent weight gain and consider taking a multivitamin for optimal health. Talk to your doctor to make sure supplements won't interfere with any ongoing treatments and won't interact negatively with any of your medications.

Lycopene

Lycopene is the nutrient in tomatoes that makes them red. The deeper the red, the higher the lycopene content. While eating red fruits and vegetables is one way to add lycopene to your diet, vitamin supplements can help increase your energy levels and reduce your risk of prostate cancer. Lycopene often is included in high-quality multivitamins or can be taken separately. Men with high doses of lycopene in their system also reduce their risk of developing macular degeneration, an age-related eye disease that leads to blindness. It also can protect you from heart disease.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are important for men over 40 to ensure proper digestion and to compensate for decreased levels of certain enzymes in the body. Antioxidants are the enemies of free radicals, which can make you feel sluggish when your body uses oxygen for energy. Green tea vitamin supplements are powerful antioxidants that can help prevent prostate cancer while increasing your energy levels. Older men in China and Japan drink green tea as part of their daily life and exhibit remarkably low instances of prostate problems.

B-12

You might have a vitamin B-12 deficiency if you're feeling fatigued and weak. Those are not normal signs of aging that you should simply accept. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms to see if you need B-12 supplements or a stronger approach in the form of B-12 injections. It is reported that between 10 and 30 percent of all older adults suffer from atrophic gastritis, a condition that reduces the absorption of vitamin B-12 and could be causing your lack of energy.

DIM

A natural chemical found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts and cauliflower helps men over 40 increase testosterone and estrogen production. Low hormone levels that naturally occur with age are one of the most common causes of reduced energy levels in older men. Because it's difficult to eat enough of the vegetables to make a difference in your hormone levels, you can take a vitamin supplement that contains DIM, or dindolylmethane. The supplement also might improve your sexual function and help strengthen weak bones. It helps you lose weight more quickly and feel leaner and stronger.  If you are a guy with an usually low level of testosterone then your physician can prescribe a topical treatment to correct this.  This will be the subject of a future post, covered in more detail.

Warning

A multivitamin that contains high doses of both vitamins and minerals is ideal for men over 40, but men over 40 should avoid vitamins that contain iron. You'll get sufficient amounts in your diet, and excessive iron can cause health problems in older men. Iron overload can lead to heart failure and cirrhosis of the liver.