Men’s health is closely associated with stronger male performance – i.e better stamina, energy, libido, cognition, mental health and other anti-aging attributes.
Research from various sources revealed that supplements for men over 40 include vitamin D, vitamin B12, creatine, saw palmetto, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium and zinc.
But which natural supplements should you take if you are over 40?
Tongkat Ali, Ashwagandha, Fadogia Agrestis, Turkesterone and Panax Ginseng are popular herbs for men over 40 and 50s due to growing research studies and clinical trials in recent years.
This article investigates natural plant-based supplements and herbs which are best for men’s health, its benefits and side effects.
As you age, your health extends beyond how you look. Men over 40 often experience rapid decline of key hormones such as testosterone.
Managing men’s health requires addressing core hormones by taking supplements, vitamins, and minerals to achieve balanced nutrition. Supplementation works well with regular 3-day exercise and 8-hour sleep. This approach is vital to ensure your body functions optimally.
The following 3 questions help you decide which natural supplements are best for you.
If you are in your 40s, you may be exposed to premature aging symptoms due to the rapid decline of testosterone and other hormones due to poor nutrition, stressful lifestyle and lack of exercise.
Lack of energy, stamina, reduced sexual desire, rapid weight gains, chronic inflammation, brain god and feeling unmotivated are common problems associated with men’s health and aging symptoms that may be hormone related.
If you are showing any or a combination of those early symptoms, this may be addressed by using supplements.
Choosing the right natural supplements is largely dependent on your health goals and priorities. The best natural supplement for men include:
Let’s deep-dive into the best plant-based natural supplements from herbs that are widely used by men in their 40s to revitalize health.
Our guide will help you choose the best natural supplements to complement your daily health stack.
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) is a Malaysian Ginseng, known for its wide range of benefits to men. This herb is endorsed by the Ministry of Health Malaysia and Singapore Health Authority as traditional medicine. Since its first discovery in 1822 by explorer William Jack, Tongkat Ali (LongJack) is widely used as a testosterone and libido booster for aging men as well as a sports supplement to enhance stamina, strength and promote weight loss.
Tongkat Ali is an active ingredient found in most testosterone boosting supplements sold in the market today. Recent 2022 meta-analysis study showed that Tongkat Ali support healthy testosterone levels, by releasing more free (usable testosterone) by up to 580%.
Our Verdict:
Tongkat Ali may help alleviate premature aging symptoms associated with low-T, or hypogonadism in men over 40. This herb has been extensively tested on adult men and aging men up to 70 years of age.
Tongkat Ali is known for its aphrodisiac properties. Tongkat Ali enhances sexual desire, improve erectile function, and increase semen volume and motility. These effects are backed by clinical trials and various studies, making it particularly beneficial for men experiencing age-related sexual issues.
Our Verdict:
Tongkat Ali is a proven natural libido booster to enhance sexual performance for men over 40 and those seeking for herbal remedies to manage early ED symptoms.
Tongkat Ali has been reported to have energizing effects, which can combat fatigue and improve overall stamina. This can be beneficial for men above 40 who may experience a decrease in energy levels due to age-related factors.
Our Verdict:
Tongkat Ali is widely used as a sports supplement and to boost stamina, strength and endurance, making it an ideal energy boosting supplement for active men in their 40s.
Some research suggests that Tongkat Ali may have cognitive benefits, including improved memory and focus. Tongkat Ali is also reported to improve overall mood profile by reducing cortisol (stress hormone) and boosting dopamine (happy hormone). other hormones in your body.
Our Verdict:
Tongkat Ali supplement may be beneficial for men in their 40s and beyond who may be concerned about age-related cognitive decline. Recent studies on showed Tongkat Ali effects on memory decline, making it a potential herbal remedy for managing Alzheimer’s symptoms.
Side Effects
Tongkat Ali has mild-to-severe side effects at very high doses (> 1,000 mg) such as insomnia, irritability, and restlessness. Men reported minimal to zero side effects from using clinically tested Tongkat Ali supplements that are dosage optimized between 200 mg to 400 mg per day.
Ashwagandha, also known as Withania somnifera, is an ancient Ayurvedic herb from India that is also known as Indian Ginseng. It has gained recent popularity amongst men above 40 looking for herbal remedy to manage stress, mood and to boost overall stamina and energy.
Ashwagandha’s primary use as a mood enhancer to reduce stress has made it popular amongst adult men. Ashwagandha has been shown to lower cortisol levels (i.e a stress hormone), and its core bioactive compound is known for reducing anxiety and stress.
Our Verdict:
Ashwagandha is effective but prolonged or incorrect dosage of Ashwagandha may cause side effects such as emotional blunt, or emotional numbness. Men, including doctors reported feeling detached or reduced depth of feeling after consuming Ashwagandha for 30 days.
Ashwagandha may potentially increase testosterone levels for men above 40, which can help alleviate low-T symptoms and improve overall vitality. However, research on Ashwagandha’s effectiveness on testosterone is limited and still in the early stages.
Our Verdict:
Men using Ashwagandha reported a marginal and inconsistent increase in testosterone levels compared to a substantial increase offered by Tongkat Ali. Ashwagandha remains a less popular natural supplement if you are seeking to boost your testosterone levels.
Ashwagandha has been studied for its potential benefits in improving physical performance, endurance and increasing muscle strength. It may enhance endurance, reduce exercise-induced muscle damage, and improve recovery time.
Our Verdict:
Ashwagandha offers benefits for men above 40 who may be experiencing an age-related decline in physical performance, and those who looking for post-exercise recovery / post-workout supplements to combat muscle fatigue.
Side Effects
Taking ashwagandha in small doses between 200 mg to 400 mg for up to 3 months seems to be safe. However, taking large doses may cause side effects such as upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, and, liver problems. Other adverse but rare side effects my include skin rashes, itchiness, inflammation, chest pain, dizziness, headache, and difficulty in breathing.
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Fadogia agrestis is a plant native to Africa that has gained men’s attention to boost male performance, stamina and popular amongst male sports community. While research on Fadogia Agrestis is limited compared to Tongkat Ali and Ashwagandha, Fadogia contains adaptogen properties that may be beneficial for men over 40.
Early studies on Fadogia agrestis showed that it may boost testosterone although studies were limited to a small group of men. There are no studies to show it can boost free usable testosterone in men with low-T.
Our Verdict:
Fadogia Agrestis is made popular by celebrity doctors such as Dr. Andrew Huberman and Joe Rogan. The extent of testosterone benefits to men is not supported by clinical trials, but merely by anecdotal evidence.
Some anecdotal evidence suggests that Fadogia agrestis may have positive effects on sexual health. It is believed that Fadogia may enhance erectile function and improve sexual performance in men.
Our Verdict
There are limited studies or clinical trials to support such health claims on Fadogia. However, the Fadogia-Tongkat Ali supplement combo is marketed to enhance male sexual health, but most benefits are derived from Tongkat Ali’s bioactive ingredients.
Fadogia agrestis has been associated with increased energy levels and enhanced stamina. Whilst this is not backed by scientific studies, anecdotally men over 40 reported increased stamina when pairing Fadogia with Tongkat Ali.
Our Verdict:
Combining Fadogia and Tongkat Ali as daily supplement is a proven combo for men. For men in their 40s, Fadogia-Tongkat Ali supplement may improve your energy, stamina and endurance significantly.
Side Effects:
Men should be aware on major side effects of Fadogia that include liver disease, acne, and increase of aggressive behaviour. Consuming high doses of Fadogia Agrestis may damage kidney and affects your vocal chords.
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Turkesterone is used as a natural supplement for men to build muscles and strength. It contains ecdysteroid, a type of steroid hormone found in some insects and plants. While research on Turkesterone is limited, it is popular amongst male bodybuilders and male athletes to improve muscle growth, lean muscle mass and sports performance.
Turkesterone is marketed as a sports supplement for enhancing muscle growth and strength for men. Some studies conducted on animals and in vitro have suggested that Turkesterone may have anabolic effects by stimulating protein synthesis and increasing muscle fiber size.
Our Verdict:
Whilst it may benefit men over 40 who are actively building muscles, most research has been conducted on animals. Therefore, the effects on humans are not well established due to a lack of research studies.
Turkesterone has been promoted as a supplement to improve exercise performance and enhance recovery. There are few animal studies showing that ecdysteroids in Turkesterone may enhance endurance, increase exercise capacity, and reduce markers of muscle damage. However, human studies are needed to confirm these effects and determine the appropriate dosage and duration of supplementation.
Our Verdict:
Turkesterone’s primary use as a post-workout supplement for men may work in small doses and should not be used regularly due to its unknown side effects on liver and kidney.
Side Effects
Relative mild and infrequent side effects of Turkesterone are reported by users which include headaches, fatigue, and stomach upset. There is no study on the effects of liver or kidney and users are cautioned to take Turkesterone in small doses to avoid further complications on the kidney.
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Panax ginseng, commonly known as Asian ginseng or Korean ginseng, is a popular herbal supplement that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Panax Ginseng are taken by men in their 40s to improve mental health, to boost overall energy and with some reported improvement in libido.
Panax ginseng has been studied for its potential effects on cognitive function and mental health. Several studies have suggested that Panax ginseng may improve cognitive performance, including memory, attention, and overall mental processing speed. A review published in the Journal of Ginseng Research in 2018 found evidence supporting the cognitive-enhancing effects of Panax ginseng, although further research is needed to establish its precise mechanisms and benefits.
Our Verdict:
Men looking for natural supplements to improve cognitive function and mental health should consider taking Tongkat Ali or Ashwagandha.
Ginseng has been traditionally used as an adaptogen, a substance that helps the body adapt to stress and promotes overall vitality. It may help reduce feelings of fatigue and improve energy levels. A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 2013 reported that Panax ginseng supplementation improved physical endurance and reduced fatigue in middle-aged men.
Our Verdict:
Panax Ginseng may improve men’s energy levels, but be prepared to live with the side effects such as mild nausea and feeling “heaty”.
Some studies have suggested that Panax ginseng may have positive effects on sexual function and libido. A systematic review published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology in 2008 analyzed multiple studies and found that Panax ginseng had potential benefits for erectile dysfunction in men.
Our Verdict:
Panax Ginseng can be used short term to promote a healthy libido in men over 40, but its long-term effect on testosterone is not well studied. Some men reported dwindling testosterone levels after taking Panax Ginseng for more than 2 months.
Side Effects
Associated adverse effects include nausea, diarrhea, euphoria, insomnia, headaches, hypertension, hypotension, mastalgia, and vaginal bleeding. Panax ginseng may interact with caffeine to cause hypertension, and it may lower blood alcohol concentration.
Ask our experts on natural supplements that are suited for men based on studies, clinical trials and research studies.
Naressa Khan contributes regularly on AKARALI and is part of the global Tongkat Ali research team. As a writer and journalist, Naressa specializes in nutrition, health supplements, and natural wellness. With this approach always in mind, she explores fact-based and scientific evidence of topics related to health, herbs and natural wellness.
Our articles are third party reviewed by our panel of experts and medical advisors to ensure the facts are accurate and credible. These are validated against multiple source references which include but not limited to research studies, peer-reviewed journals, pre-clinical studies, clinical tests and other credible publications.
Our panel of medical advisors and experts are highly experienced in their individual fields. However, they do not provide any medical advice or recommendations arising from content published in this article.
Disclaimer: The content published in this article is for educational purposes and not intended to provide any form of recommendations, directly or indirectly to purchase or consume herbal supplements, drugs, medications, alternative remedies and practices or any brands mentioned in this article. By reading this, the sole responsibility and decision lies on the reader to make an informed decision based on publicly available information published on the internet. Any herbal supplements can be used as a health supplement, dietary plan or to treat illnesses. However, we encourage you to consult your nearest doctor before making any purchase from this website or any other websites or social platforms after reading this article. We do not hold any responsibility or accountability for any products purchased from this website or any third-party websites that are linked to this articles, sales channels or social platforms.
