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Essential daily supplements for men

• A GOOD MULTIVITAMIN

  Carl Hangee-Bauer, ND, Lac, founder of San Francisco Natural Medicine, recommends a three-times-a-day, high-potency combination. After all, he points out, “We have to remember that recommended dietary allowances [the recommended amounts of nutrients people should have in their diets] are just the amounts that prevent us from having different diseases” and not necessarily optimum amounts for overall well-being. “If you have a good multivitamin, you are covering things you may be missing in your diet,” he adds. “I see it as health insurance.”

• FISH OIL

  Hangee-Bauer recommends fish oil for its omega-3 fatty acids, which have strong anti-inflammatory effects and may help prevent cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and some cancers.
  Dose: 1,000 mg daily.
  Note: May interact with blood-thinning meds.

• GREEN TEA

  Researchers have found that green tea's key antioxidant ingredient, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), binds to tumor cells and slows their growth. So make sure you're getting enough EGCG, either in brewed or extract form, Hangee-Bauer suggests. Dose: 70-100 mg EGCG daily (1-2 cups of green tea).
  Note: Those with caffeine sensitivities should consider decaffeinated versions, making sure to choose a brand that's decaffeinated using the natural “effervescence” method, a process involving water and carbon dioxide that retains most of the EGCG content.

• VITAMIN D

  For its cancer-prevention properties. “The vast majority of patients I see get less than optimal levels in their daily diet and through sunlight exposure,” says Hangee-Bauer. Dose: 1,000 IU daily.

For more men's health tips, go to deliciousliving.com/health/men.