Supporting Men's Health Through the Lifecycle

Most guys know it’s generally a good idea to eat healthy—even if they don’t always want to. But the fact is men have different nutritional needs depending on their age. Let’s dive into the key nutrition that guys should be getting at every age as well as some healthy tips to consider.

In The Teenage Years

Honestly, growing boys who are becoming young men are generally more concerned about the quantity of food than the nutritional value. It can seem like they are always hungry! This is a great time to provide the young men in your life the good things like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean meat. It is impossible to control all the choices they will make at this age, but providing healthy food at home and teaching them how to cook will serve them well in the future. Adding a multivitamin and healthy beverage choices will also give some great support. Youth active in sports need even more calories, healthy food, and sleep.

In Your 20s

Your 20s are an important time to develop healthy eating habits that’ll last for a lifetime, like limiting processed foods and eating balanced meals of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and lean proteins. Some key nutrients for men in their 20s are protein for developing muscle mass, calcium and vitamin D to help bones reach their peak strength, and iron to support energy and metabolism.

In Your 30s

Life gets busier in your 30s, and it’s an important time to think about your energy, metabolism, and blood pressure. You should continue to eat healthy meals and cut back on starchy food, sweets, and sugary beverages. Potassium-rich foods such as bananas, avocados, and sweet potatoes can help lower the risk of high blood pressure. Men at this age also need more magnesium, a mineral that helps generate more energy and helps regulate blood pressure.

In Your 40s

Nutrient-dense and antioxidant-rich foods should be a top priority at this age. It’s important to get vitamins C and E to help defend against harmful free radicals. Make sure to eat plenty of colorful vegetables like spinach, peppers, and sweet potatoes that have high concentrations of antioxidants. This is also an important stage for addressing stress relief with healthy habits such as exercise, meditation and sleep.

50s and Up

After age 50, it’s important for men to support their bone health. As we age, we start to lose bone mass, and bones are crucial for protecting our organs from injury. Focus on calcium-rich foods like milk, yogurt, salmon, and leafy greens. It’s also important to get vitamin D since your body can’t absorb calcium without it. Dietary fiber and probiotics are also crucial nutrients that help support digestive health and the survival of good bacteria in the gut. So eat fiber-rich foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, and lentils. Finally, it is also smart to be proactive about prostate health and Saw Palmetto can be a great support.

Wishing all of the men in our lives good health at every age and stage. The earlier you start these good habits, the easier they’ll be to maintain.