Nutrients that All Men Need

Diet fads for men (and women) come and go, but they all stress two things - moderations and balance. Whether a man has an active or sedentary lifestyle, diet plays a major factor in each. While diet is often stressed, nutrients derived from food eaten is sometimes overlooked. Ten nutrients in this article should be included within a healthy diet to help maintain a healthy body both inside and out.

Zinc is an antioxidant that helps with the repair of body cells and is found in DNA, thus it is an important nutrient and can be found in such foods as shellfish, lean beef and pork as well legumes.

Potassium helps control blood pressure as well as help regulate heartbeat and maintain nerve health. Foods such as orange juice, bananas and tomatoes are high in potassium.

Magnesium in conjunction with potassium helps lower the risk of stroke as well as maintaining blood pressure. Magnesium can also be found in the same foods as potassium.

Vitamin B-6 helps the immune system while repairing red blood cells. Further, it can help lower bad cholesterol. B-6 can be found in bananas, orange juice, tomatoes and beans.

Omega-3 is a polyunsaturated fat that has been shown to help protect the heart and circulation as well as help lower the risk of prostate cancer. Omega-3 can be found in fatty fish, such as salmon and tuna, but this nutrient can also be found in such products as flaxseed, walnuts and soy products.

Vitamin C helps lower the risk of bladder cancer as well as lowering the risk of heart disease. Vitamin C can be found in broccoli, cabbage, bok choy and cauliflower.

Selenium is an important nutrient to help guard against prostate cancer. Selenium is also an antioxidant. It can also reduce bad cholesterol and reduce blood clots. Selenium can be found in abundance in Brazilian nuts as well as dry roasted nuts, turkey and tuna.

Fiber while often overlooked as a nutrient, it is an essential to heart health and building muscles. In addition, fiber helps in prostate health and lowering bad cholesterol. Fiber can be found in any whole grain such as oatmeal, barley, quinoa and whole-wheat pasta.

Stanol is found in all fruits and vegetables naturally in small quantities, which are safe if a person is using a cholesterol lower medication. This nutrient helps lower blood cholesterol.

Isoflavones are found in all soy products, including nuts, milk, veggie burgers and tofu, and has been known to help maintain both prostate and hearth health.