The Holistic Male

by Eric Munson | November 24, 2025

Natural solutions for men’s health and wellness.

Men may be interested in different issues at different ages. For example, a 20-year-old may want better skin or to lift heavier weights. A 60-year-old may want better sleep at night and a healthier prostate.

However, men want good health, energy, sexual performance, great mood and all the universal aspects of overall well-being that affect everyone.

“I think men want to feel vital and energetic and remain as youthful as possible for as long as possible. Like everyone, they want to preserve vigor and function well into their later decades,” said Cheryl Myers, chief of scientific affairs and education at EuroMedica (Green Bay, WI).

According to Slawek Gromadzki, nutritionist at HealthAid America (Sunnyvale, CA), men face a variety of health concerns throughout life, and many are linked to gut health.

“A balanced microbiome supports normal digestion, immune function, nutrient absorption and even emotional balance through the gut–brain axis. Probiotics can help restore gut balance after stress, travel or antibiotics and may complement urinary and prostate wellness as men age,” he explained.

Some of the common health issues specific to men include those related to aging such as a decline in hormones, low libido, erectile dysfunction (ED), enlargement of the prostate gland and prostate cancer, according to Dayna Dye, education content writer at Florida-based Life Extension.

“Low libido and ED also occur in younger men. And while both men and women are at risk of cardiovascular disease, men are likelier to develop the disease earlier,” she said.

David Kendrick, MS, CNS, clinical education associate at Florida-based Designs for Health said some of the common health issues among men are cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes and low testosterone. He noted that:

• According to a meta-analysis published in the New England Journal of Medicine, men experience CVD at almost double the rate of women—7.8 percent and 4 percent respectively.

• Approximately 17 million more men across the world have type 2 diabetes than women. Men are also typically diagnosed at a younger age—usually earlier in adulthood whereas women are diagnosed after menopause.

• Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a cross-sectional study published in the American Journal of Urology estimated that about 26.6 percent of men in the United States, aged 18 or older have testosterone levels less than 300 ng/dL.

Céline Torres-Moon, senior scientist at Illinois-based Protocol for Life Balance, added that mental health and aging are some other common health issues.

“While aging is not a health issue per se, maintenance of health as we age, also known as healthspan, is an important factor in an aging American male population,” she said. “Men are subjected to the societal pressure of looking and acting young longer. It is said that ‘50 is the new 30’—this includes hair and muscle maintenance, as well as sexual vitality.”

Trends

Myers noted a growing acceptance of supplements with the public in general, which drives more people to seek natural solutions for various health conditions and, ideally, toward the guidance of natural practitioners.

“Additionally, the relationship between a patient and their practitioner can do a lot to build trust in the efficacy of different nutrients for prostate health, sexual vigor, overall well-being, and a host of other conditions,” she said.

Gromadzki observed a growing shift in the probiotics category from general gut support to targeted formulations for mood, metabolism or urinary wellness.

“Interest in the gut–brain connection continues to grow, with evidence suggesting certain strains can help support normal mood and balance as part of a broader wellness approach,” he said.

According to Dye, testosterone replacement therapy is still popular. Men who don’t want to use prescription testosterone can use nutrient formulas that contain ingredients that support testosterone production such as pomegranate, cacao and luteolin.

“Prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing has made a comeback. PSA was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the early 1990s as a first-line screening test for prostate cancer,” Dye explained. “Due to concerns regarding overdiagnosis and overtreatment, the USPSTF (U.S. Preventative Services Task Force) recommended against routine PSA screening for all men in 2012. However, studies that evaluated data through 2015 found that, while the incidence of local prostate cancers confined to the prostate gland declined, diagnoses for prostate cancers that have spread increased.”

The current final recommendation by the USPSTF, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), is that the decision to have a PSA test among men aged 55 to 69 years should be an individual one and that men should discuss the benefits and harms of screening with their health care providers. It is not recommended to get PSA screening for men aged 70 or older.

Products

There are a number of products designed to support men’s health and wellness.

Male Sexual Health from EuroMedica includes HRG80 Red Ginseng and combines it with clinically tested botanicals for outstanding libido support.

According to Myers, HRG80 has been shown to support stamina, mental and physical energy, positive mental outlook and stress management. All these benefits can invigorate daily life, regardless of age, and translate into better performance and libido.

“Male Sexual Health combines this exclusive ginseng with a botanical blend of apple polyphenols, flavonoids from grape seed, and saffron extract. Each of these individual components also stimulate nitric oxide production and are strong male enhancers in their own right, but the combination is especially strong and effective,” she said.

HealthAid’s Men’s Probio provides 45 billion cultures from 10 targeted probiotic strains and includes a prebiotic to help nourish beneficial bacteria.

“The formula is room temperature-stable, making it easy to take as part of a consistent routine. It complements the gut–brain connection to help maintain normal mood, focus and immune balance, alongside good sleep, movement and nutrition,” Gromadzki said.

Protocol for Life’s Ortho Multi Softgels for Men is a comprehensive multivitamin-multimineral for men that is enriched with saw palmetto, phytosterols, alpha-lipoic acid, grape seed extract, inositol, CoQ10, lycopene and lutein.

“These added ingredients are more specifically targeted to men’s health. Saw palmetto, phytosterols, lycopene for prostate health, alpha-lipoic acid, grape seed extract, CoQ10, lutein also help to quench free radicals,”* Torres-Moon explained. “Overall, this product is the ideal supplement for men looking for a comprehensive formula to support their health in just two capsules per day.*”

Ultra Prostate Formula from Life Extension contains ingredients that support prostate health including healthy urination patterns, hormone metabolism and inflammatory responses. The ingredients include saw palmetto, stinging nettle, pumpkin seed oil, beta-sitosterol, Pygeum africanum, Indian frankincense, flower pollen extract, lignans, lycopene from tomato and boron.

“These ingredients help maintain healthy prostate size and function as well as already healthy prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, support a healthy inflammatory response for healthy urination and encourage healthy hormone metabolism,” Dye said.

Designs for Health provides several men’s health products including Berberine-Evail, a more bioavailable form of berberine that leads to less gastrointestinal stress; Libido Stim-M, a blend of herbal and nutritional compounds that support testosterone production and metabolism; and Vascanox HP, a blend of micronutrients and whole-food derived ingredient to support nitric oxide production, according to Kendrick.

Nutrition and Lifestyle

Some of the most common lifestyle changes include healthier diets, exercise, sleep, stopping smoking and reducing alcohol consumption.

Myers believes changes depend on individual needs and abilities. For example, some men may simply need a bit more exercise to remain fit while others need to rethink whether going out for burgers at lunch with their colleagues is workable long-term.

“Age can definitely play a role here as well. Almost all of us, when we’re younger, tend to ignore the most well-intentioned advice. It’s only as we get older that we realize that staying active, in shape and healthy requires diligence and discipline,” she said.

Gromadzki said it is best to view nutrition and lifestyle as a “long-term playbook for vitality.” It is important to emphasize fiber-rich plant foods and fermented options for gut health, and lean protein and omega-3s for muscle and heart wellness.

He recommended limiting ultra-processed foods, ensure adequate vitamin D and magnesium, and combine regular exercise, quality sleep and stress management with probiotic use.

“In the USA, most men do not consume the recommended daily intake of fiber, especially for men consuming large amounts of protein in the form of protein shakes,” Torres-Moon said. “I would highly recommend that men significantly increase their fiber intake, and to do it incrementally, as added too much fiber too fast may result in unpleasant gastrointestinal manifestations.”

Kendrick said lifestyle interventions continue to demonstrate great efficacy at reducing risk for and helping to treat CVD. Some dietary patterns such as the DASH and Mediterranean diets are particularly effective.

“Precision nutrition is the practice of using individualized data to help form customized care plans and interventions—different data points about an individual’s metabolism, genetic and lifestyle factors can all be used to form personalized interventions. Precision nutrition has emerged as an effective approach for both treatment of and prevention of CVD,” he said.

He added supplementing with berberine may be effective at managing type 2 diabetes and reducing risk of disease development. Aerobic and strength training exercise can also improve insulin sensitivity and glycemic control. Adequate sleep is also critical for sufficient testosterone production.

“Supplementation with micronutrients may be beneficial when deficient. Vitamin D, zinc and magnesium are micronutrients that when deficient can negatively affect testosterone levels. After addressing lifestyle (sleep, stress management and diet) and core nutrient imbalances, herbal supplements to support testosterone levels may be of benefit,” he explained.

Dye recommended men have annual physicals and monitor their PSA. The standard advice to consume a healthy diet, engage in regular physical activity and get seven to eight hours of restful sleep apply to all genders.

“Men’s higher incidence of substance use disorders (tobacco, alcohol, drugs) and suicide point to a silent male mental health crisis. Men are encouraged to seek mental health support when needed despite dysfunctional cultural norms that suggest this is a sign of weakness,” she said.

For Practitioners

Practitioners have an excellent sense of what each of their patients need individually and how to guide them.

“Some patients are going to be reluctant to schedule in exercise or make changes to their diets, so it’s probably best to introduce those recommendations in—if you’ll excuse the pun—small doses,” Myers said. “Aiming for small, yet significant changes can yield success when it comes to weight, energy and overall well-being. It keeps the goals attainable and helps build momentum for the patient to continue building on that success.”

According to Kendrick, it is important to advise patients to purchase supplements directly from the manufacturer’s website or from reputable third-party marketplaces, such as iHerb and Fullscript.

“Products ordered off of Amazon have less strict standards for quality, resulting in higher risk for inaccurate product labels, mislabeling of ingredients, and inclusion of ingredients that are not contained on the product label,” he said.

It is important for practitioners to take a whole-person approach and recognize the gut’s role in digestion, immunity and mood. Strain-specific probiotics can support digestive comfort, immune balance and post-antibiotic recovery especially when paired with a fiber-rich diet, regular exercise, quality sleep and stress management, according to Gromadzki.

“Men may not always ‘open up’ concerning their physical, emotional or sexual health. Ask questions. Suggestions for improvements in men’s health and well-being should be uncomplicated, ‘doable’ and based on sound research. Small steps should be encouraged,” Dye said.

“Optimal health cannot be attained without strong mental health,” Torres-Moon concluded. “This means that practitioners really need to gain the trust of their male patients so they can open up and succeed in addressing mental health, which may be especially difficult for men who may not be comfortable discussing mental health challenges.”

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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Understanding Male Fertility Issues

According to Dr. Rosia Parrish, a naturopathic doctor and fertility specialist at Naturopathic Wellness Center of Boulder (Colorado), there are several unaddressed health issues that impact men.

One of the most common is male factor infertility, which accounts for about 50 percent of fertility cases. It is often linked to sperm quality, sperm count, motility and morphology. Factors such as stress, poor diet, alcohol consumption, environmental toxins and hormonal imbalances can negatively impact sperm health.

“Improving fertility for men often involves not only addressing these lifestyle factors but also optimizing their overall health, sometimes through nutrition, supplements and reducing toxin exposure,” Dr. Parrish said.

Another issue is ejaculatory disorders such as premature ejaculation and delayed ejaculation. Premature ejaculation can cause emotional stress and relationship strain, and delayed ejaculation can lead to frustration and anxiety, according to Dr. Parrish.

“Both conditions can be caused by a variety of factors, such as stress, psychological factors, hormonal imbalances, or even nerve dysfunction. Natural treatments for ejaculatory issues often include a combination of therapy, lifestyle adjustments and targeted nutritional support,” she said.

There is also erectile dysfunction (ED), which becomes more common as men age, but it can affect younger men as well.

“ED can be caused by a range of factors, including poor circulation, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or even psychological factors like stress and anxiety. Addressing ED naturally often includes lifestyle changes such as improving circulation through exercise, adopting a balanced diet, reducing stress and using specific supplements,” Dr. Parrish said.

Lastly, high DNA fragmentation in sperm is a crucial factor in male fertility. Elevated sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) can have a profound impact on fertility including miscarriages, failed IVF (in-vitro fertilization) attempts, preeclampsia and hyperemesis gravidarum. This has also been linked to long-term health of the child, increasing the risk of pediatric cancer, neurological disorders and development challenges, Dr. Parrish explained.

“This damage is primarily caused by oxidative stress, which can be exacerbated by environmental factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, substance use and poor diet,” she said. “To combat this, supporting sperm quality to protect sperm DNA to preserve fertility outcomes is super important. Retesting is absolutely necessary to ensure that DNA fragmentation is being treated and reversing.”

Beyond supplements and nutrition, lifestyle changes, such as reducing exposure to environmental toxins, managing stress and incorporating regular physical activity, are just as important in optimizing male fertility.

It is also important to know that fertility issues are multifactorial and are influenced by many variables including age, genetics and health conditions. Dr. Parrish recommended patients undergo testing to ensure all aspects of health are addressed.

“Ultimately, by taking a holistic approach and addressing each patient’s unique needs, we can improve fertility outcomes and overall reproductive health, giving men the best chance for success on their fertility journeys,” she said.

For more information, visit www.nawellness-boulder.com.

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Healthy Take Aways

• Some of the common health issues among men are cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes and low testosterone.
• Men experience CVD at almost double the rate of women—7.8 percent and 4 percent respectively.
• Approximately 17 million more men across the world have type 2 diabetes than women.
• Men are also typically diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at a younger age—usually earlier in adulthood.
• Approximately 26.6 percent of men in the United States, aged 18 or older have testosterone levels less than 300 ng/dL.