As men age into their 50s, they will notice many changes that proper nutrition can help them manage. As a result, it’s important to understand the best vitamins for men over 50, including multivitamins for men over 50 that can combat things like skin damage, bone-health issues, and more. Proper nutrition can reduce these risks and keep a man healthy.
In this article, we’ll highlight the importance of vitamins in the aging process (particularly how they can slow many aging symptoms) and discuss the vitamins for men over 50. You’ll learn what foods include these items and look at the best men’s supplements over 50 to make your choice easier. Don’t wait any longer: dive right in to learn more!
Vitamins and Supplements for Men’s Health After 50
The best vitamins for men over 50 can enhance your health and improve your aging process by providing important nutrients that balance your health and minimize adverse reactions. Over the years, many multivitamins for men over 50 have been developed to provide vitamins for men over 50 that keep them healthy. While the best men’s supplements over 50 don’t match the benefits of a healthier diet, it’s a good idea for men over 50-55 to take the following vitamins.
Vitamin D: Supporting bone health and immune function
Vitamin D is a critical nutrient that we simply don’t get enough of in modern times because our bodies have evolved to get most of it from exposure to the sun. Sadly, most people (including men in their 50s) spend most of their day indoors, minimizing their production of this nutrient. Unfortunately, this lack of vitamin D is a huge issue because it helps support bone and immune health.
As you age, your bones will likely weaken and your immune system less effective. These changes can make broken bones more common and get you sicker more easily. As a result, you need to find ways to get vitamin D in your life. Supplements, foods, and even UV rays can help, though you must be wary of over-exposure to the sun due to skin cancer risk.
Vitamin B12: Boosting energy levels and brain function
Have you ever noticed that you feel less energetic and more sluggish mentally as you age? That’s a common problem at all ages but becomes particularly pronounced in the 50s. However, you can minimize this problem at this age by taking vitamin B12. It helps boost energy levels and can improve brain function and reduce these age-related symptoms.
The whole vitamin B complex is a critical addition to your diet and should be added at a healthy and safe level. That said, vitamin B12 is particularly important as you age and is one of the most important vitamins for men over 50 and 55. We suggest taking a separate vitamin B12 supplement just for it if you can’t get enough in your diet.
Vitamin C: Strengthening the immune system and collagen production
Most people know that vitamin C is important but probably don’t realize how critical it is for their health. For example, vitamin C is essential for supporting your immune system (which, as we’ve already discussed, may worsen as you age) and collagen production. Collagen is essential for skin and hair health: low levels can cause wrinkles and brittle hair.
As a result, you need to integrate vitamin C into your diet in any way you can. Thankfully, many foods contain this nutrient, particularly fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, you can get vitamin C from various supplements. We’ll discuss a few of these later: just know that vitamin C is critical for your overall health and well-being.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Supporting heart health and brain function
If you don’t eat fish because you’re afraid of mercury (men over 50 may only be able to eat limited amounts of seafood due to this danger), you are probably deficient in omega-3 fatty acids. While there are other sources of this oil beyond fish, most comes from seafood, and it’s hard to get enough without a supplement.
That’s an issue because omega-3 fatty acids can help support heart health and brain function. As you age, your heart will likely experience damage that could affect your overall well-being and quality of life. The same is true of your brain function: it will slowly degrade. Omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce these problems and even reverse them.
Calcium: Maintaining bone density and muscle function
Remember growing up and drinking a few glasses of milk every day? During those early years, milk is a great source of calcium but can become hard for some people to tolerate. For example, you might not drink milk regularly by the time you hit 50. As you might expect, that could leave your bones with a lower calcium level, weakening their structural integrity.
Furthermore, calcium not only helps improve bone density but enhances muscle function. When you hit 50 and age beyond, you’ll need all the help you can get to keep your bones and muscles strong. Thankfully, many foods contain high levels of calcium. You can also try supplements that add extra calcium to your body to improve overall health.
Meeting Nutritional Needs through Diet and Supplements
If you’re interested in the best vitamins for men over 50, it’s critical to know that it’s better to get them through food sources whenever possible. Though multivitamins for men over 50 are beneficial, we’ll discuss some downsides and potential issues later. So before buying the best men’s supplements over 50, make sure to read through this list to find the food sources that you can use to get the vitamins for men over 50 that you need into your diet:
Best Vitamins for Men Over 50
- Vitamin D: Rainbow trout, salmon, tuna, herring, soy milk, milk, yogurt, cheese, mushrooms, orange juice, almond milk, and rice milk.
- Vitamin B12: Animal liver, kidney, clams, sardines, beef, fortified cereal, tuna, trout, salmon, fortified non-dairy milk, milk, cheese, yogurt, and eggs.
- Vitamin C: Guava, sweet red pepper, tomato juice, orange juice, orange, strawberries, broccoli, pineapple, potatoes, Brussels sprouts, kiwi, cantaloupe, and white grapefruit.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Mackerel, salmon, seabass, oysters, shrimp, seaweed, algae, chia seeds, hemp seeds, flaxseeds, walnuts, kidney beans, soybean oil, and cod liver oil.
- Calcium: Poppy seeds, chia seeds, sesame seeds, milk, cheese, yogurt, sardines, tinned salmon, beans, lentils, almonds, whey protein, leafy greens, rhubarb, amaranth, edamame, and tofu.
It’s important to note that these are not the only food sources with these vitamins: just some of them. If, for any reason, you can’t eat these foods or don’t enjoy them, consider supplements. Vitamin supplements are a healthy way for men over 50 to get these nutrients. In some cases (specifically B12), it’s recommended for men of this age. Your daily intake levels of these vitamins include:
- Vitamin D: 15 mcg (600 IU) or 20 mcg when you reach 71 years and over
- Vitamin B12: 500 mcg
- Vitamin C: 90 mg
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 250–500 mg
- Calcium: Upper limit of 2,000 mg
Please talk with your doctor about adding any dietary supplements to your life. Studies show that up to 23,000 emergency room visits occur yearly due to improper supplement use. Does that mean men over 50 should avoid them? No, as long as you follow the guidelines and work with your doctor, you’ll likely be okay and safe. Just as importantly, use the very best supplements for men over 50, including:
- Ritual Essential for Men 50+
- Care/of Men’s Care Pack
- Amazon Elements Men’s One Daily Multivitamin
- Persona Men’s Essentials + Stress Support
- Centrum Multivitamin for Men
- SmartyPants Men’s Formula Daily Gummy Multivitamin
- Nature Made Men’s Multivitamin Tablets
- Thorne Men 50+
- Klean Multivitamin
Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle in Your 50s and Beyond
As you age, you must take other steps beyond taking the best vitamins for men over 50. While multivitamins for men over 50 will do a lot to help you stay healthy, they’re not magical. Vitamins for men over 50 can only do much, and other steps can do a lot to keep you healthy. For example, combining exercise with the best men’s supplements over 50 can keep you strong.
Regular exercise helps keep your muscles strong, minimizes late-age weight gain, improves mood, and even fights heart disease. Talk with your doctor to develop an exercise plan that feels comfortable for you. They can help you stay safe and avoid strain, which can occur in older muscles and tendons and cause severe long-term health concerns.
Take Care of Mental Health
Are you noticing emotional health concerns, like anxiety and depression, creeping into your life as you age? Unfortunately, that’s all too common and may occur for many reasons. First, you might be in more pain as you age and even have health issues that affect your mood. Stress, anxiety, and other issues may worsen your life and cause heart problems.
As a result, you need to do what you can to minimize your stress. Talk with your doctor to learn about things like cognitive-behavioral therapy and meditation. Try to take calming walks regularly that get you outside to breathe fresh air. Sometimes, all you need to do is step back, take a moment to collect your thoughts, and come back to things with a clearer mind.
Schedule Regular Checkups
It’s not uncommon for men in their 50s to visit their doctor more than once a year: in fact, it’s recommended! As you age, you’ll need to visit your physician far more than you might want. We understand that it can be annoying to visit them regularly, but these checkups ensure your health is strong. They can even gauge your vitamin levels to ensure you’re healthy.
Additional Considerations for Men’s Health
Do you suffer from a lot of inflammation and swelling that affects your overall health? Try to integrate healthy antioxidants into your diet, as they can help minimize inflammation. Common antioxidants include:
- Dark chocolate
- Pecans
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Artichokes
- Kale
- Red cabbage
Furthermore, you should be doing what you can to sleep properly. Sleep is almost magical in the way that it can heal the body and mind. Just a few steps that you can take to sleep more effectively as you age (when sleep can seem so elusive) include the following:
- Keep a regular sleep schedule
- Take a warm bath just before bed
- Turn off all your electronic devices an hour before bed
- Try to avoid napping during the day
- Exercise regularly to wear yourself out
- Get out into the sun to burn some energy
These simple steps can ensure that you take care of common health issues that may not always be discussed with older adults. It can also help your body rest properly and recover from injuries.
