Have you ever felt tired at the gym, like you just weren't able to complete those reps like you used to, even though you vary your routines and consume the proper amount of carbs? Maybe you simply feel drained for an extended period of time at school or work for no apparent reason.

If you're a young guy trying to max yourself out in an ever-competitive world, you have to "cheat" a little sometimes, and all-in-one multi-nutrient supplements may be just what you need. But are they any good?

Many brands claim they can boost energy and mental acuity, induce weight loss and extend life. But in an industry filled with low-grade products, one needs to be a savvy consumer and know when to spot an inferior product. Here are a few things you will have to keep in mind when choosing a good supplement.


what do you need it for?

First off, supplements do indeed help boost energy and improve general health, if one is lacking such nutrients. Oftentimes, adult males don't consume enough essential vitamins (A, B, D, E, B6, B12) and minerals (magnesium, chromium, calcium, iron, zinc, and fiber).

Remember that vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients are important because they help the body run smoothly, just like engine oil in your car.

A vitamin D deficiency, for instance, lowers calcium absorption, increasing the risk of bone fractures, while a lack of vitamin B12 increases risk of heart attacks. But a lack of vitamins and minerals is only the tip of the nutrient deficiency iceberg. There are many other nutrients that are lacking in a "normal" diet: amino acids, enzymes and certain other active ingredients which are derived from plant and herb sources.

Poor diets, be it due to lack of time or overly specific diets (i.e. high protein diets), are usually to blame for such deficiencies. It's not really a matter of not knowing what to eat, since today's average male is usually well informed on the matter, but rather a vicious circle some of us end up in. supplements

Multi-vitamin supplements can help considerably, but there are thousands of brands to choose from nowadays. Americans spend an average of $6 billion on supplements each year, among which many only focus on a single nutrient, like the popular vitamin C or iron, for example.

Unfortunately, vitamin deficiencies usually come in clusters and certain minerals and vitamins complement each other. Vitamin C needs antioxidants to be beneficial, and calcium goes great with vitamin E, so in order for a person to feel better, one has to be taken with the other in order to reap its full effect.

Furthermore, vitamins and minerals alone do not offer the full benefits of supplements. Many other types of nutrients (food extracts, amino acids, bioflavonoids, and high-potency enzymes) have been shown to increase health, strength, mental acuity, sex drive, and life expectancy more effectively than vitamins on their own.

Ginkgo biloba (a tree derivative), for instance, is a known natural ingredient that can increase mental acuity while certain amino acids naturally stimulate HGH (Human Growth Hormone) -- an important hormone for overall growth and wellness.

The dilemma of choosing the right nutrients is not easily resolved because of the difficulty in finding a scientifically designed multi-nutrient supplement -- a product that, unlike multi-vitamins, contains an array of vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients.

The only one that I have been able to find is a product called "Total Balance," manufactured by Xtend-Life Nutraceuticals Inc. However, there are probably similar products on the market, and I suggest you shop around if you're looking for a wider selection.

You may have heard of all-in-one supplement brands likeextend-life or Centrum, but you have to choose the one that best suits your needs.

Use multi-nutrients and you'll be sharper than ever

multi-nutrient supplements


Before you decide to purchase your supplement, watch out for the following:

Ingredients
Many supplements claim to have it all, simply by enumerating each ingredient -- like on a product label -- without including their respective quantity. This is a perfect tip-off that the brand in question has something to hide. Check out what a supplement ingredients list should look like by

If it doesn't look like something a chemist would find interesting, chances are you won't get your money's worth. But don't use this as a rule of thumb; do your own comparative research. Certain products will boast the amount of Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) they include, and claim percentages that look impressive on paper, but mean little in actuality.

Taking supplements that meet the Recommended Dietary Allowance of key nutrients can give consumers a false sense of security. Dr. Michael Janson explains in his book The Vitamin Revolution in Health Care that "RDAs are not useful in establishing optimal health. These nutrient levels are supposed to prevent deficiency diseases in most healthy people. Unfortunately, the values have been influenced by the food industry, economic considerations, and politics -- not just by science."

Money-Back Policy
Another very good indication of whether a supplement is effective is its money-back policy. Products like Xtend-Life have a full money-back guarantee policy, and customers can keep the initial product even after receiving a refund.

This sort of policy shows that the company has confidence in its product. If a brand of supplements doesn't offer this, you should probably keep shopping around.

Natural vs. Synthetic
Now comes the big debate... Some claim that natural supplements are better than synthetic brands and conversely, many experts try to convince the public that synthetic supplements are as effective as natural ones. Seasoned consumers, though, like bodybuilders taking protein shakes, will attest that artificial substances are usually harder to digest.

Another example are tests on rats with tumors, where synthetic beta-carotene had no beneficial effect on the tumors whereas natural beta-carotene did.

Nutrient absorption is determined by its bio-availability. In the case of Xtend-Life, it enables 90% of the nutrients to be absorbed because of a proprietary delivery system, which is about ten times greater than most other multi-nutrient supplements.

You can usually detect the absorption potential of a product by taking it on an empty stomach. Most products will upset your stomach -- take it from a guy with a sensitive one.

Synergy
Synergy is crucial. If a multi-nutrient product is not scientifically formulated, various nutrients can cancel each other out or even worse -- create a new substance that can be detrimental to your overall health. If the formula is prepared scientifically, then the benefit of the individual nutrients can be increased fifteen times over.

Unfortunately, many manufacturers put different nutrients together and expect them to work. However, this is simply not how it works.

Potency
Smart consumers should understand that the quality of the ingredients largely determines how effective the product is. For example, most brands of multi-nutrients use beta-carotene that is only 3% pure. The Xtend-Life brand I referred to earlier uses only a pure and natural 98% beta-carotene, which is virtually unheard of in the dietary supplement industry. Don't settle for subpar supplements. take your multi-nutrients

Once a company supports its claims in a professional manner and shows confidence in its own product, only then can you believe its claims of boosting energy and mental acuity, inducing weight loss and enriching life