The recipe for awesome aging?
Healthy whole foods and enough exercise, of course, but a few strategically selected supplements can help keep that youthful pep in your step too, says Prevention advisor Andrew Weil, MD,director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.
Here are his recommendations for six age-related maladies. Just be sure to get the green light from your doctor before adding anything new to your current supplement lineup. —Stephanie Eckelkamp
Heart Disease
SUPPLEMENT: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
This powerful antioxidant helps maintain healthy blood vessels, support optimal functioning of the heart muscle, and prevent LDL cholesterol from accumulating on artery walls.
Dosage: 120 mg a day, taken with a meal
SUPPLEMENT: Magnesium
Magnesium helps regulate blood pressure and is linked to decreased risk of death from heart disease.
Dosage: 250–400 mg of magnesium citrate, chelate, or glycinate a day
Weak Bones
SUPPLEMENTS: Vitamin D and calcium
If you don’t have osteoporosis, you can meet your calcium needs by eating high-quality dairy, dark green vegetables, and fortified foods. But you need adequate vitamin D levels to absorb calcium, so supplementing will help. If you can’t get enough calcium from food, take calcium citrate with meals.
Dosage: 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and 500–700 mg of calcium citrate a day in divided doses (if food sources are inadequate)
Varicose Veins
SUPPLEMENT: Horse chestnut seed extract (HCSE) HCSE blocks the release of enzymes that damage capillary walls, which reduces the pain, swelling, and itching associated with varicose veins.
Dosage: 250–300 mg of a standardized extract twice a day
SUPPLEMENT: Grapeseed extract
Grapeseed extract contains antioxidants that help make blood vessels more elastic and less prone to swelling.
Dosage: 150–300 mg of a standardized extract a day
