Man up Your Supplement Product Line

June is Mens Health Awareness Month and for supplement business owners,this isthe right time to encourage your male customers to be more proactive about taking care of their health. Albeit, we recognizethis is no mean feat. In anational survey which polled 2,000 men, 52 percent said they would see a doctor only if something needed to be fixed. About 63 percent said they would visit a doctor only if they experienced prolonged, severe pain or if it was a medical emergency. Fever, vomiting or itching were not considered serious enough to warrant a doctors visit.1 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men take less interest in being proactive about annual checkups or preventative healthcare, whereas women are 100 percent more likely to participate in preventative care and sign up for annual checkups,. The Federal Occupational Health (FOH), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) states that men are 24 percent less likely than women to have visited a doctor inthe past year.2 In an effort to get men to become more proactive about their health, several organizations have launched initiatives to raise awareness of mens health concerns. As a result, men are warming up to the idea that proactive healthcare is not an option if they want to remain healthy and enjoy an independent lifestyle well into their senior years. Supplement business owners can provide ample opportunity through strategic, well-formulated supplements that are specifically designed to promote mens health. The Importance of Healthcare for Men Mens health concerns are very similar to womens but nevertheless men face unique challenges, a few of which we have mentioned below. Heart Health More men have heart disease than women, although more women die of heart disease than men. Research has found that men are more likely to excessively smoke and drink and both of these are risk factors of heart disease.3 Heart disease accounts for 25 percent of the deaths in the United States and is the leading cause of disability.4 Maintaining healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels can help promote heart health and there are botanicals and nutrients that can help play a protective role. Antioxidants can help reduce plaque buildup in the arteries caused by free radical activity. In time, plaque builds up and blocks arteries. Antioxidants can help reduce plaque buildup at the cellular level thus promoting heart health. Heart health ingredients include omega 3 fatty acids, homocysteine, B vitamins, Vitamin D, resveratrol, cocoa, grape seeds and green tea.5

Sexual Health As men grow older, age-related changes in sexual health are normal. But stressful lifestyles and poor diets can advance the aging process However, nutritional ingredients such as zinc may increase sperm count and quality and therefore increase fertility.6Herbs and botanicals like fenugreek seed extract and tribulusterristris can help the body naturally increase testosterone levels and bring them to within a healthy range.7 Stress Whether its the pressures at work, financial troubles or struggling relationships, stress is unavoidable. It can impact health in a number of ways. What can supplement business owners offer to bust anxiety? Supplements containing extracts of passionflower or kava and combinations of L-lysine and L-arginine have demonstrated beneficial effects on relieving anxiety.8 Weight problems Being overweight or obese can put men at risk to several leading health concerns. Obesity can damage your ability to respond to insulin, leading to increased risk of diabetes. It can raise your risk of cardiovascular disease, prostate health concerns, kidney stones, and reproductive problems, not to mention the toll obesity puts on the mind.9 Offer your customers weight loss aids such as appetite suppressants, thermogenic ingredients like caffeine or green tea, and fat/carb inhibitors.10-13 Prostate Health After 40, men may notice changes in prostate health, which could gradually lead to problems in urinary flow and function. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), half the men in their 50s will experience prostate problems and this risk increases with age.14 There are several botanicals such as beta-sitosterolthe use of which is supported by a large body of scientific research. Some experts believe that like women, men too, go through a type of menopause called andropause marked by loss of bone health, depression, anxiety, fatigue, declining interest in sex. Multivitamins A multivitamin is essential for both men and women. Men, however, have different nutritional needs. Mens multivitamins may include zinc and several other minerals that support the healthy functions of male organs, increase vitality and support energy.Contact high-quality vitamin manufacturers who can create multivitamin formulations for you that target specific health conditions such as cardiovascular health, anxiety or prostate health. Man Up Your Supplement Product Line As a supplement business owner, you can provide your customers with condition-specific nutritional supplements that address their various health needs. When speaking to a supplement manufacturer, be sure to consider the delivery method in which you would like to use for your product. Convenient and popular systems include capsules, tablet and powders. For products your customers can rely on, contact a nutraceutical manufacturer that completes its manufacturing within a GMP-certified facility.

References: 1. Abbott Press Release, September 12, 2012: According to a New Survey Most Men Are Not Proactive about their Health Despite their Desire to Live Longer. http://www.abbott.com/news-media/pressreleases/according-to-new-survey-most-men-are-not-proactive-about-their-health-despite-the-desireto-live-lo.htm 2. New Study Profiles Womens Use of Healthcare, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/r010725.htm 3. Why do men get more heart disease than women? An international perspective.J Am Coll Health. 2000 May;48(6):291-4.PMID: 10863872http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10863872 4. Heart Disease Facts, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm 5. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition, Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press; 2011. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92767/ 6. Zinc levels in seminal plasma are associated with sperm quality in fertile and infertile men. Nutr Res. 2009 Feb;29(2):82-8. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2008.11.007.PMID: 19285597http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19285597 7. The effects of a commercially available botanical supplement on strength, body composition, power output, and hormonal profiles in resistance-trained males, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Volume 7 http://www.jissn.com/content/7/1/34 8. Nutritional and herbal supplements for anxiety and anxiety-related disorders: a systemic review. Nutritional Journal, 2010 9: 42 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2959081/ 9. Weight Problems Can Take a Hefty Toll on Mind and Body, Harvard School of Public Health. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-consequences/health-effects/ 10. Thermogenic ingredients and body weight regulation, Int J Obes (Lond). 2010 Apr;34(4):659-69. Epub 2010 Feb 9. PMID: 20142827. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20142827 11. The role of lipid and carbohydrate digestive enzyme inhibitors in the management of obesity: a review of current and emerging therapeutic agents, Diabetes MetabSyndrObes. 2010; 3: 125143. PMCID: PMC3047983. http://ukpmc.ac.uk/articles/PMC3047983/ 12. Green tea catechins, caffeine and body-weight regulation, PhysiolBehav. 2010 Apr 26;100(1):42-6. Epub 2010 Feb 13. PMID: 20156466. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20156466 13. Using Herbal Remedies to Maintain Optimal Weight, J Nurse Pract. 2010 February; 6(2): 153-154, PMCID: PMC2927017. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2927017/ 14. Prostate Enlargement: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, National Kidney and Urological Diseases, http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/prostateenlargement/