Beware of Health Scams and Products Targeting Men

Many men want to optimize their health and there are a lot of products, pills, and creams that claim to make them younger, stronger, and last longer in bed. But many unregulated products do not contain the ingredients listed on the label, or worse, contain ingredients you shouldn’t take. We break down the myths and truths of some of these products and services on the market.

Gas Station ED Pills

With names like Rhino69, Horny Goat Weed, or VITALITY, you may be tempted to try them to extend your erections, but there’s a lot to know about these Viagra “alternatives.” These are not FDA-regulated or tested for safety. Although they may contain some of the key ingredients of pills you can get a prescription for, sildenafil or tadalafil, the amounts are unknown, according to the Urology Specialists of Austin. In fact, the FDA issued a warning about the Rhino line of products. Too little and you get no effect. Too much and you may have an erection for much longer than you want, which can be very painful and may send you to the emergency department of your local hospital.

Before starting a new drug for ED, it’s best to get checked out by a doctor to get baseline information and make sure you don’t have any conditions, especially heart-related ones because sometimes ED drugs can increase your heart rate. A doctor can give you personalized care and make sure the dose is right for you. If you don’t have a regular doctor, there are telehealth platforms like GoodRx and Hims to connect with a doctor who can write you a prescription.

Testosterone Products

Products to increase your vitality, increase muscle mass, or boost your testosterone are unproven. They can make misleading claims because they’re not FDA-regulated and high doses of vitamins and supplements can harm your health. Researchers study 50 “T booster” supplements to evaluate for active ingredients and product claims.

Ninety percent of these supplements claimed to boost testosterone, but only a quarter of them had data to support the claim. Some exceeded the safe amount of zinc, vitamin B3, and magnesium. One side effect of too much magnesium is severe diarrhea and that will really ruin your date night. This date was published in the World Journal of Men’s Health.

You can get your testosterone tested with a simple blood test to get a baseline before trying to increase your levels for whatever reason. Then you can re-test a few months later, so you have data to show your results.

What’s the Deal with Fibermaxxing?

TikTok influencers are touting ways to boost your fiber intake by adding seeds to your smoothies or veggies to your eggs to optimize workouts and recovery. That’s fine, to a certain degree, and it’s not for everybody.

Some men on a keto or other low-fiber diet may need to take a fiber supplement to keep things moving along in their digestive tract. That’s legit. But be careful. If you introduce a high amount of fiber too fast, you will end up bloated, gassy, and uncomfortable. If you’re not on a low-fiber diet, there’s probably no need for a supplement. With any change to your diet, make sure you increase your water intake to maintain your gut health.

Here’s what the Mayo Clinic recommends.