Raw Living's guide to natural men's health - from nutrition and tonic herbs to fitness and grooming
The modern world is tiring, and it can be hard to keep up. It's more important now than ever to be supporting our bodies as best we can, and thankfully, there are many things we can be doing to achieve this.
Men's health sometimes has a tendency to go overlooked, but there are lots of simple, natural solutions for supporting the body to look and feel strong, energised and nourished. Raw Living's Natural Man Collection hosts a whole range of products aimed at improving men's health and grooming naturally - spanning nutrition, tonic herbs, fitness support and grooming.
🥦 Nutrition: The Foundation of Men's Health
Supporting your body with the right vitamins and minerals is a great place to start when it comes to energy. Sometimes chronic fatigue can be traced back to the nutrients a busy lifestyle depletes - key minerals like magnesium and zinc are among the most common. Both contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Microbz for Men - Fermented Mineral Support
Live Liquid is a fermented living culture formulated specifically to support men's health. It contains 24 herbs and minerals, including magnesium and zinc - two minerals men are most commonly low in. What sets it apart is its fermentation process: brewed to a 3.2pH, it's designed to survive stomach acid and deliver its nutrients directly to the gut, where they're needed most. The fermentation also actively supports gut health, which plays a central role in how well the body absorbs everything else you give it. You can find it here.
Selenium & Brazil Nuts - The Overlooked Men's Mineral 🌰
Selenium is an often-overlooked mineral in the context of men's health. It's an essential element in the production of testosterone, and contributes to normal sperm production. The scientific research is still developing, but some studies have shown that higher selenium intake is associated with better testosterone levels, particularly in men with deficiencies.
Selenium is also a strong antioxidant, helping to keep oxidative stress in check — more on that in the adaptogens section below. The richest plant-based source of selenium is brazil nuts. Research has shown that eating just 2 brazil nuts a day is as effective at raising selenium levels as taking a 100mcg supplement. You can find them here raw, organic and activated - a soaking and slow-drying process that reduces antinutrients like phytic acid, making the minerals even more bioavailable.
Multivitamins - An Easy Daily Foundation
Not specifically part of the Natural Man Collection but worth a mention: multivitamins are an easy way of topping up essential nutrients. BetterYou do a great spray format including vitamins A, B, C, D, K and selenium - particularly useful for men on plant-based diets, where certain nutrients can be harder to obtain from food alone.
🌿 Adaptogens & Tonic Herbs: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Relevance
Adaptogens and tonic herbs often have a broad range of essential vitamins and minerals, but what makes them unique is how they interact with the body's stress response. Adaptogens work by influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis - the body's central system for managing stress hormones like cortisol. Rather than simply raising or lowering cortisol, adaptogens help normalise it, supporting the body's ability to maintain balance under pressure. In short: they help your body handle more, without burning out. ⚡
Most of the products below also contain the three minerals men are most commonly low in - iron, zinc and magnesium - making them valuable for both their adaptogenic properties and their nutritional content.
🌱 Ginseng and Brazilian Ginseng (Suma)
One of the earliest recorded uses of ginseng dates back over 2,000 years, when Emperor Shen-Nung prescribed it specifically to men to enhance their performance in agriculture and battle. Its Latin name, Panax, derives from the Greek for "panacea" — an indication of just how broadly revered it was. Ginseng is rich in B vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin E, as well as zinc, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium.
Suma is often referred to as Brazilian Ginseng — though not because they are actually related, but because of their general similarities. Indigenous peoples of the Amazon have used suma root for generations for a wide variety of health purposes, including as a general tonic, an energy and rejuvenating tonic, a sexual tonic, and a general cure-all for many types of illness. Suma root is rich in vitamins and minerals including iron, magnesium, zinc, certain B vitamins, vitamins A, E and K. It also contains pfaffic acid and pfaffosides, as well as ecdysteroids - which are of particular interest in the fitness world as plant-based compounds that support protein synthesis.
🐴 Ashwagandha
Traditionally considered a warrior's herb, ashwagandha's name derives from the Sanskrit "strength of a horse" - referring both to the herb's distinctive scent and the vitality it symbolises. For thousands of years it was used as a rasayana in Ayurvedic medicine - a class of tonics prescribed for rejuvenation and resilience.
Its active compounds are called withanolides, a class of steroidal lactones responsible for its adaptogenic properties. Interestingly, withanolides are structurally similar to ginsenosides - the active compounds in ginseng - which is why ashwagandha is often referred to as "Indian ginseng". Nutritionally it's rich in iron, zinc, vitamins C and D, and flavonoids.
🐐 Epimedium
Epimedium was said to be discovered by a goat farmer in ancient China who noticed heightened activity in his flock after they grazed on the plant. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it's known as Yin Yang Huo, and was traditionally prescribed for vitality, low energy, weak joints and the strengthening of sexual function. It was listed by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences as one of an elite group of herbs associated with longevity.
Its key active compound is icariin, a potent flavonoid with vasodilatory and antioxidant properties.
⛰️ Shilajit
Shilajit isn't actually a plant - it's something older. A mineral-rich resin formed over centuries, as the Himalayas compressed layers of ancient plant matter into rock. What seeps out is a complex substance loaded with fulvic acid, humic acid and over 80 trace minerals, including iron, zinc and magnesium. Its Sanskrit name says it all: "conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness".
In Ayurvedic medicine, shilajit was classified as a rasayana and described in the Charaka Samhita - one of Ayurveda's oldest texts - as the king of natural remedies. What makes it particularly useful alongside other supplements is the role of fulvic acid: it supports the body's absorption of other nutrients, potentially making everything else you take more effective.
🌵 Cistanche
Perhaps the most obscure herb in this collection. It's said that Genghis Khan consumed cistanche daily, claimed as one of the reasons behind his heightened drive and desire for power. It is included in large doses in many TCM formulas that look to improve men's health.
Cistanche is a holoparasitic plant, meaning it lacks chlorophyll and cannot photosynthesise at all. It obtains all of its nutrients and water by attaching to the roots of the black saxaul tree in the deserts of China and Mongolia. Since it draws water, nutrients and organic compounds directly from its host tree's vascular system, whatever minerals the saxaul tree absorbs from the desert soil effectively end up concentrated in cistanche's fleshy stems - including vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, copper and zinc.
🌀 Amorata by SuperTonic Herbs - A Rounded Blend
For those who want something more comprehensive, Amorata by SuperTonic Herbs is an excellent option. It brings together Cistanche, Epimedium, Morinda, Ho Shou Wu, Rehmannia, Schizandra, Bamboo, Lohan Guo and ORMUS - a blend drawing on centuries of Traditional Chinese tonic herbalism. Each of these herbs has been used traditionally to support vitality, stamina and overall drive, making Amorata a strong all-round choice for men looking to cover multiple bases with a single product.
💪 Fitness: Supporting an Active Lifestyle
An active lifestyle can, perhaps counterintuitively, do wonders for energy levels. Exercise improves circulation, supports hormonal balance and helps the body manage stress more effectively. But supporting that activity with the right nutrition matters - both for performance and recovery.
The two classics are protein and creatine. Both are highly accessible products - but in the mainstream market they're often stuffed with fillers, artificial sweeteners and synthetic additives. The products we offer at Raw Living are, of course, natural and free from artificials.
Protein - Sunwarrior Organic
Sunwarrior's organic protein powder is formulated from fermented pea protein, hemp and goji berries, supported with MCTs and available in vanilla or chocolate. Fermentation improves digestibility and bioavailability - meaning the protein is easier for the body to actually use. For those looking beyond dedicated protein powders, Bee Pollen and Spirulina are also excellent plant-based protein sources available in the Raw Living range.
Creatine - Quality Matters
Creatine supports the body's ability to regenerate ATP - the fuel used during high-intensity exercise - which in turn supports strength, power and recovery. It's one of the most well-researched supplements available, with over 1,000 studies supporting its safety and effectiveness.
What's less talked about is the variation in quality across products. Creatine monohydrate is the gold standard form - the most studied and most bioavailable. Many cheaper products use diluted or alternative forms, such as creatine ethyl ester, which research has shown to be less effective at raising muscle creatine levels.
Creatine Complete by Now Alchemy contains a synthesis of all seven forms of creatine, while True Creatine by Ancient + Brave is enhanced with vitamin D, magnesium and taurine - easy to stir into a smoothie or morning oats.
🪒 Look Good, Feel Good: Men's Grooming Naturally
The most commonly overlooked area of men's health is typically external. Grooming products have historically been underserved for men - most of the natural skincare market has been formulated and targeted almost exclusively at women. The Natural Man Collection puts that right, highlighting several of Raw Living's natural grooming and skincare products suited specifically to men's needs.
Living Libations - Skincare Worth Using 🌿
Living Libations offer several products well-suited to men's skincare. Their Best Skin Ever line comes in a few different scents - highlighted here is the Sandalwood Elixir, with a classically masculine scent made from organic essential oils. It's versatile enough to use all over the body, anywhere that needs nourishment. Skincredible is another sandalwood-scented option - a multipurpose product that works as everything from aftershave to scar treatment.
When it comes to shaving, Living Libations has you covered. Good natural shave products are genuinely hard to find - most are built on a dehydrating alcohol base. Zen Shave is a luxurious shaving lotion made from organic jojoba and coconut oil, with rare ingredients for a clean, smooth shave. For after, Maverick Face Cream - infused with sandalwood and frankincense - is an excellent moisturiser with a deep, distinctive scent.
Living Libations also has a whole range of colognes, and even a naturally formulated lubricant with a jojoba base - filled with a range of botanical scents, for those interested.
There's even Raw Living merch you can throw on once you've finished making yourself look and smell good 👕
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What's the difference between ginseng and ashwagandha? A: Both are adaptogens with a long history of traditional use, but they come from opposite sides of the world. Ginseng originates from East Asia and has been used in TCM for over 2,000 years, while ashwagandha is rooted in Ayurvedic medicine from India. Their active compounds - ginsenosides and withanolides respectively - are actually structurally similar, which is why ashwagandha is often called Indian ginseng. Both contain iron, zinc and magnesium, making them nutritionally complementary as well.
Q: How much selenium do men need daily? A; The recommended daily intake of selenium for adult men in the UK is 75mcg. The richest natural source is brazil nuts - research has shown that just 2 a day is as effective at raising selenium levels as taking a 100mcg supplement. It's worth noting that selenium can be harmful in excess, so more is not better. A couple of brazil nuts a day, or a quality multivitamin containing selenium, is plenty for most men.
Q: Is creatine safe to take every day? A: Yes - creatine monohydrate is one of the most extensively studied supplements available, with over 1,000 studies supporting its long-term safety. A standard daily dose of 3–5g is considered safe for healthy adults with no known adverse effects from regular use. As with any supplement, quality matters - opt for a clean product free from fillers and artificial additives.
Q: What's the best natural supplement for men's energy? A: There's no single answer, as energy is influenced by many factors - nutrition, sleep, stress and movement all play a role. That said, magnesium and zinc are a sensible starting point, as both contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism and are among the minerals men are most commonly low in. Adaptogenic herbs like ginseng and ashwagandha have also been used traditionally for vitality and resilience for thousands of years.
Q: Do I need all of these, or where should I start? A: Start with the basics: nutrition first, then build from there. If your diet has gaps, a good mineral supplement like Live Liquid or a quality multivitamin is the foundation. From there, a single adaptogen - ginseng or ashwagandha are good entry points - is a simple addition to a daily routine. The tonic herbs, creatine and protein powders are worth exploring once the fundamentals are in place. There's no need to take everything at once.
Every product featured in this article is part of Raw Living's Natural Man Collection - all natural, all carefully chosen, and all in one place.
