There’s a lot of buzz online about quitting, or limiting, caffeine, a puzzling revelation for a society obsessed with coffee. Two billion cups of coffee power minds and bodies worldwide every day, and 62% of Americans consume just over three cups to get through the workday. Most of the available correlative research points to coffee not only not being bad for you, but perhaps being beneficial. 

And yet, thousands of outspoken health nuts are ditching the beans to see how it affects everything from their sleep to energy levels throughout the day— and they’re urging others to do the same. There’s a desire for a more “natural” approach, which means that coffee is no longer the only game in town. 

In his international bestseller Why We Sleep, Dr. Matthew Walker, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at UC Berkeley, describes caffeine as a “significant” disruptor of sleep and the body’s 24-hour circadian rhythm. A cursory search on TikTok for a “caffeine-free” lifestyle churns out hundreds of videos of folks touting the benefits of skipping the morning brew. Does that mean you should quit? 

Not exactly. At least for coffee, the data skews the opposite direction. It’s worth mentioning that almost all of the research done on caffeine and its effects focuses on coffee rather than other caffeine sources, and not only have certain negative health effects of coffee been disproven in recent years, but a laundry list of benefits has been attributed to daily java consumption. 

Pro-Java

According to Dr. Brad Analwalt, an endocrinologist and men’s health specialist at the University of Washington Medical School, coffee drinkers are more likely to be rich, grow thick hair longer, be more active, and may even live longer than coffee teetotalers. 

“[Coffee] is associated with lower risks of a variety of cancers including colorectal cancer and skin cancers,” said Anawalt. 

Plenty of studies purport to show that coffee boosts cognitive and athletic performance, may stave off severe disease, and even prevents androgenetic alopecia, the most common type of hair loss in men. 

Anawalt also mentioned that the long-held belief within the medical community (and elsewhere) that coffee increases your risk of high blood pressure and arrhythmias is false. In fact, coffee drinkers had lower rates of rapid heart rates. 

However, coffee is everywhere and it’s drunk by many people every day. This makes it hard to attribute the results of these studies to coffee, precisely, since it’s nearly impossible to pinpoint it as the sole variable. Anawalt also poked confirmation bias within the chronically sleep-deprived medical community. 

“The people who do the studies are PhDs, MDs, and so forth. They’re really likely to drink coffee. You always wonder whether there are biases that factor into this,” said Anawalt, chuckling. 

Since all of the data on caffeine centers on coffee, there’s very little clinical guidance on tea, energy drinks, or caffeinated sports drinks. 

How Much Coffee Is Healthy?

According to the FDA, otherwise healthy adults can consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, without experiencing adverse health effects. That’s about four cups of coffee or a little over a single can of an energy drink. 

While the majority of Americans fall beneath that threshold, Dr. Justin Houman, a men’s health specialist in Los Angeles shared that a significant number of his patients say that they drink more than that. 

A 2019 study of nearly 2,000 college-aged freshmen showed that men metabolize caffeine at a faster pace than women, and therefore may experience fewer uncomfortable physical effects. 

According to Anawalt, though, the long-term health effects can still occur even if someone doesn’t get a racing heart rate after a venti cold brew. 

“If you’re always drinking five or more cups per day the current evidence suggests that that’s probably not good for your health and more substantively, if there is any benefit to caffeinated beverages, you’re losing it when you go five or more per day,” said Anawalt. 

Coffee vs. Energy Drinks

It’s worth remembering, though, that data around coffee does not extrapolate to all caffeinated consumables. Energy drinks are classified as either “conventional beverages” or “liquid supplements” by the FDA. This means the FDA equates them with sports drinks and does not regulate the amount of caffeine. It’s up to manufacturers to maintain consistent levels across cases. 

One can of Bang Energy, RedBull for millennials who miss Hot Topic’s heyday, contains 350 milligrams of caffeine per can. 5-Hour Energy contains 200 milligrams. But these labels may not be trustworthy. 

“[Energy drink brands] are often either not reporting or they’re inaccurately reporting the amount of caffeine in them,” said Anawalt. 

A 2023 study of 16 energy drink brands found that only 10 of them were within 20% of the caffeine dosage noted on the label. Five of them were beyond 20% of the amount on the label, and one clocked in at 70% below the marked amount. 

So, is it actually better to live life without caffeine? No, there’s no conclusive data to support that claim. Coffee in low-moderate amounts hasn’t proven disastrous healthwise, and there’s some anecdotal evidence that it’s beneficial. Energy drinks, however, have not been studied to nearly the same caliber, and exist in a gray area.  

That laundry list of health benefits from caffeine comes from coffee, and it’s not a 1-1 equivalent with energy drinks or sugary sodas. 

Anawalt cautioned anyone who’s pushing their daily caffeine limit with an energy drink, or chugging something before a late-night workout. 

“Sports drinks, they’re trying to create a physical response in you to make you think you’re getting something, and they will over-spike their drinks with caffeine.” 

Mike Cessario has made drinking water cool. Liquid Death, the absurdist canned beverage brand he founded in 2017, has simultaneously fulfilled and created a need for luxury water that looks like a beer without containing a drop of booze and doesn’t come in turtle-killing plastic. Liquid Death’s valuation hit $700 million at the end of 2022 and while the brand’s definitely experiencing scaling difficulties, its hype is real. 

“When I worked in advertising, I always noticed how unhealthy brands like soda, beer, and energy drinks got to have all the fun in their marketing, while healthy brands played it safe and boring. I started toying with the idea of using humor to help promote healthy products,” Cessario told SPY. “With Liquid Death, we’re building a comedy entertainment platform for healthy beverages.” 

Liquid Death’s flavors — Severed Lime, Mango Chainsaw, Berry It Alive — definitely stick out on the shelves, and the brand’s tagline “Murder Your Thirst,” nods to Cessario’s upbringing entrenched in the grunge, alternative scene in LA. After years at the skate park and playing in bands he noticed that many of the products marketed towards kids like him were junk food and sugary sodas. After a decade in advertising, he decided to inject some rebellious energy into the wellness industry. It worked, and now his cans are sold in Whole Foods, Target, Sprouts, 7-Eleven, and at concert venues across the country. 

Liquid Death’s position within the beverage industry is a peculiar one. It’s a higher ticket product that fulfills a basic human need, but it does much more than that. It gives road trippers and airport dwellers an option for non-tap water that isn’t in plastic. All of their cans are made of aluminum, a material that’s infinitely recyclable and often consists of up to 65% recycled materials. Liquid Death also gives sober people something to hold at bars and concerts that isn’t obviously water, and it tastes incredible. 

SPY sat down with Cessario to chat about his brand, his position on their unique place within the marketplace, and his personal beverage preferences. 

SPY: People purchase bottled water for convenience, but Liquid Death’s absurdist, humorous branding has made drinking water a whole vibe. What drove the design of the label, humor in the brand copy, etc?

MC: We didn’t have the marketing dollars to compete with Coca-Cola and Pepsi, so we needed to find affordable ways to cut through the noise. That meant using humor and injecting virality into everything we create because people love to share real entertainment more than typical marketing.

To stand a chance on the shelf, we needed packaging that stood out in a sea of plastic bottles. We tapped Will Carsola, artist and co-creator of Adult Swim’s Mr. Pickles, to do a lot of the artwork you see today, including the melting skull logo, the various designs you see on our boxes, and even our mascot, the Thirst Executioner. 

When it came to content, we knew we could win if we made people laugh. We hate ads just as much as everyone, so instead of creating ‘marketing’ that people scroll past, we focused on producing true comedy and entertainment that people want to share. We approach our creative work like an SNL writer’s room and hold our content to a much higher bar because of that. 

SPY: Liquid Death doesn’t just make drinking water look cool, it also kind of makes it look like someone is drinking booze when they’re not. What role do you think LD plays in the sober trend/community and was that a part of your original conception of the brand?

MC: Everyone needs to drink water, so we never planned on targeting just the sober community. However, we did always want Liquid Death to be something you could drink in a party environment — whether you’re sober, just trying to drink healthier when out having fun, or just taking a break with someone between non-alc drinks. 

Interestingly, there seems to be something psychological about holding a tallboy can like ours. When you drink water in a tallboy, your brain basically associates it with all the fun times you might have had while drinking something that was actually unhealthy in a can. 

Before Liquid Death, water really wasn’t seen as a “fun” refreshment, so people at bars or parties might have grabbed another drink solely because they didn’t want to make it look like they were opting out of the fun.

SPY: Were you a big bottled-water drinker before creating Liquid Death? What are your personal gas station go-to purchases? 

MC: I’ve been pretty health-conscious most of my life — I was vegetarian for many years, I don’t really drink soda, and I’ve always been an advocate to drink more water and less sugar and caffeine. For other personal go-to purchases, I love the occasional kombucha. 

SPY: Liquid Death’s cans being made of infinitely-recyclable aluminum also gives environmentalists and those looking to avoid single-use plastics a reason to purchase. How important is environmentalism for the brand and what drove the use of cans as opposed to other plastic alternatives like glass or cardboard? 

MC: Our mission is #DeathToPlastic, and sustainability is a very important value. A portion of our proceeds goes to nonprofits helping to fight plastic pollution and to bring clean drinking water to those in need. 

Only about 5% of plastic actually gets recycled with the rest of it ending up in our landfills and polluting our oceans. By comparison, aluminum is infinitely recyclable, and nearly 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today.

We went with aluminum over other options because it is far and away the most recycled economically viable material to recycle. Glass and paper cartons have their own issues that make them difficult to recycle at the scale of aluminum. 

SPY: Do you think more brands are going to emerge using plastic alternatives in the packaged water space?

MC: When we started packaging still water in cans, we expected more brands to follow suit. Which is why we always focused on building our unique brand and not being overly focused on the cans themselves. All beer comes in cans, so you don’t see beer companies touting the fact they come in a can, because all their competitors do as well. We hope and expect more brands will make the shift away from plastic.

SPY: Liquid Death has a huge loyal following. Has there been anything that’s surprised you about the larger reception of the brand? Any particular sub-cultures you’ve loved seeing adopt the brand? Festival heads, gamers, etc? 

MC: Our target audience is anyone who likes to laugh, which spans pretty much all subcultures. That’s why we’ve been able to build such a cult following — we’re currently the #3 most followed beverage on social in the world.

That said, we’ve still had some surprises. Parents love to give Liquid Death to their children, which we didn’t initially expect. Many have said they are amazed that it actually got their kids excited to drink healthy zero or no-sugar beverages instead of soda or high-sugar drinks. 

A dad on TikTok recently posted about mistakenly packing his son’s lunch with a Guinness beer instead of our sparkling water and then having to pick up his son who got caught with it at school. 

Welcome to Second Source, a franchise where we ask real doctors whether social media health trends are legit, neutral, or potentially dangerous. If you’ve ever scrolled past something bonkers and wondered “Is this a thing?” This corner is for you. Welcome.

Want a face like Brad Pitt? In lieu of expensive, invasive plastic surgery, thousands of TikTok-ers have opted for ultra-hard chewing gum as a means to achieving a chiseled jawline. The trend has become popular that one particular proponent of the hack has created his own jawline gum brand. Brett Maverick’s dedicated jawline gum brand — Jawliner — promises to reconfigure your face with a substance 15 times harder than the average pack from the gas station. Each piece purports to help all 86 facial muscles grow while reducing one’s double chin and protecting against tooth decay. 

SPY is skeptical. Not only does this feel like a shortcut toward a significant body change, but it feels like a cheap way to exploit male insecurity. 

Many of the videos showcase men who are satisfied with their ridiculous, almost satirical, transformations or men clearly making fun of the trend. Maverick, meanwhile, swears by the gum and promotes it alongside his daily “Male Glow-Up Tip” clips. 

“An overly-defined jawline seems to be the trend du jour on TikTok,” said Mr Naveen Cavale, a UK-based consultant plastic surgeon at REAL Clinic. “People often have Botox injections in their masseter muscles to reduce their jowls, whereas this is designed to make the masseter bigger. With any trend like this, I will always advise caution… it’ll be over within a few years and there will be something new to take its place.”

Dr. Nilesh Parmar, a UK-based dental surgeon said there have been plenty of “recent fads” focused on getting abnormally large jaw muscles. “In theory, it causes the muscles to react to overuse by enlarging and adding more muscle fibers. This is what causes the ‘enlarged/square’ look.”

Sure, this is a puzzling aesthetic trend, but can products like this actually increase the power of your bite? “In theory, yes,” said Cavale. “The muscle is made bigger so in theory the bite will be stronger as you’re working the muscles more.”

But there is a drawback. Cavale explained that, like any muscle group, the benefits will likely go away unless you continue to regularly train the muscle. 

Parmar echoed this advice as well. “As with all muscles, unless you consistently train them, the enlargement will disappear,” he said. “You’re embarking down a life-long use of gums to try and maintain your jaw muscles.”

In addition to the cost of a regular supply of this product, both Parmar and Cavale think the potential pitfalls of chewing hard gum may outweigh any benefits. “The entire jaw musculature system is complex and relies on several muscles/tendons to function in harmony. Over-strengthening just one muscle can lead to an imbalance ultimately leading to jaw pain and dysfunction,” said Parmar.

Parmar said that the ability to bite harder can actually put the joints under stress, and can cause dental damage that will require treatment. “In some cases, the jaw muscles can go into spasm and you may struggle to speak and even eat. I would recommend you refrain from using them.”

Cavale isn’t convinced it’s a trend worth following, either. He explained that the jaw simply isn’t designed to chew repeatedly on something so hard and that doing so may exacerbate serious underlying conditions like temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. “Plus, if you’re one of those people who grind their teeth at night, and you make the muscles stronger, the damage could be worsened by using a product like this,” he said.

Dr Parmar agreed. “Dentists do not recommend any of these devices, and I would recommend you refrain from using them,” he said.

“I think it’s interesting that products like this are being sold when male patients in my clinic want the opposite effect,” said Cavale. “If sharpening up your jawline is of interest, there are other alternatives available such as jawline filler. You won’t run into the same teeth/muscle/gum issues as above, and we can create a subtle but effective result.”

Cavale stressed once that he advises against following surgery and aesthetic trends on social media. “What’s in vogue one day, won’t be the next.”

Most black markets hide in the shadow of commercial trade — down a back alley, around a VPN. Others operate in broad daylight under the authority of blindfolded regulators. The vitamin and supplements industry is simultaneously valued at $130 billion globally and classified as food, not drugs, by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration, which means it’s not nearly as tightly regulated as it should be. The result? It’s very difficult to find trustworthy vitamins online, and even the most health-conscious may end up swallowing lead, talc, or even shellac coating. 

Specifically, the FDA does not evaluate vitamins or supplements for safety, efficacy, quality, or consistency in regards to ingredients. That quality assurance process is left entirely up to individual manufacturers who often produce entire product lines for multiple brands, so any errors can have sweeping effects across many labels with vastly different price points. 

“The FDA is not checking on any of these products,” said Dr. Pieter Cohen, MD, an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an internist at Cambridge Health Alliance. “No one is checking to make sure they even contain what’s listed on the label.” 

Most people aren’t naive to this reality when it comes to supplements. They are, more than anything, victims of their own perceived biological imperatives. The human body needs. A vitamin is, purportedly, a naturally-occurring micronutrient in food taken in pill form. A supplement can be naturally-occurring or synthetic. Both can help boost a lackluster diet or physical deficiency. The the right buying advice can help in avoiding the pitfalls of spotty manufacturing practices. 

What the Experts Say

According to Cohen, the best shot at something trustworthy is single-ingredient supplements — like C, A, B — and it’s even better if they’re purchased at a huge box store like Walmart or Target. Why? Established brands have more to lose than earthy co-op labels if they fuck up.

“Most supplements are throwing in a lot of different ingredients,” said Cohen. “But the fact of the matter is that, more often than not, those ingredients haven’t been tested together and the brands are just coming up with a marketing plan to combine certain things.” 

Tod Cooperman, an M.D. and founder of ConsumerLab, an independent vitamin and supplement quality assurance organization, echoed this advice. “It’s just marketers saying, ‘This is hot, that’s hot, let’s throw it all into one formula.’ Everything that’s ever been related to sleep gets thrown into one formula.” 

Brands that appeal to a sort of farmer’s market elitism should also be approached with caution. The manufacturing resources and reputational stakes that come with a Walmart are a direct benefit to consumers, and can create a better product overall. 

“You may think, ‘Why would I buy my multivitamin at Walmart?’ But the truth is that the vendors have a lot to lose if they screw up,” said Cooperman. When discussing larger retailers in general he noted that they “really drive their suppliers hard to make a good-quality product at a very low cost, which is why you can get some of the best single or multivitamins or minerals there.” 

How to Shop for Trustworthy Vitamins Online

One way to decipher the more trustworthy brands from the junk is third-party testing. 

“Don’t just rely on one brand and certainly don’t just rely on a vendor or a merchant,” Cooperman said. “But you need to drill down to the product and make sure it’s been third-party tested. That’s really important.” (But be advised: some brands will falsely slap “third-party tested” on their labels without any vetting having taken place, so it’s important to pay attention to the seal and where it’s from.)

NSF International and US Pharmacopeia (USP) are among five trustworthy agencies, according to Cohen. If a brand works with one of these five, that can signal they’re more trustworthy than others. 

However, even if a brand has obtained one of these seals of approval, the manufacturing inconsistencies can make one bottle actually vitamin C and another an expensive placebo (and that’s the best-case scenario). 

Another way to boost a brand and product’s credibility before making a purchase is double-checking its ratings and reviews on a site like ConsumerLab.

The Best Places to Buy Vitamins Online

Walmart

Cooperman pointed out Spring Valley specifically, Walmart’s in-house vitamin and supplement brand, as a more trustworthy option than niche labels from local co-ops or smaller grocery stores. Most of Spring Valley’s supplements are single-letter or single-ingredient, which makes it more likely that the contents of the bottle match the label. It also bodes well for the brand that it’s not pushing a ton of proprietary blend formulas. 

Here are a few of Spring Valley’s vitamins that SPY editors recommend investing in.

Spring Valley Vitamin D3 Softgels

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$8.88

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Spring Valley is Walmart’s generic supplement brand with a wide selection of single-ingredient products including these vitamin D3 softgels. They include a potent and active form of vitamin D, which can support proper calcium absorption for stronger bones and teeth.  

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Spring Valley Vitamin B12 Quick-Dissolve Tablets

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$7.96

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These B12 quick-dissolve tablets are formulated to support a healthy metabolism and energy levels with a cherry flavor to boot. They dissolve quickly in the mouth so they’re fast to take and each bottle contains a four-month supply.

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Target

Target’s another large retailer whose in-house brand is more likely to yield higher-quality supplements, according to our experts. Their up&up label has a bunch of tablet and gummy adult vitamins, as well as some blends aimed at things like “Hair, Skin and Nails,” which are less likely to be effective. Their website also dedicates a whole section to “Label Info” — essentially giving the customer a clear online view of the bottle’s label — which makes it easier to see the purported ingredients. Similarly to Walmart, single-ingredient or single-letter vitamins are the safest bet. 

up&up Zinc Dietary Supplement Caplets

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$6.39

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These 50 mg zinc tablets are formulated to support immune health and serve as an antioxidant boost for those who don’t absorb enough zinc in their regular diets. 

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up&up Iron Dietary Supplement Tablets

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$8.89

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Similarly to zinc, these 65 mg iron tablets are designed to supplement a diet that doesn’t contain enough iron, a nutrient essential for red blood cell formation. This supplement only contains iron and may help with fatigue. 

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Amazon

Amazon, as the internet’s largest retailer, can be a source of trustworthy vitamins but more tactfulness is required from the shopper. Any old brand in the search results shouldn’t be trusted, but a larger library — and not having to buy generic products — can be a pro for certain shoppers. 

Since Amazon doesn’t have their own in-house supplement brand to the extent of the other retailers, it’s more important to inspect the label for third-party testing from reputable sources like NSF, as well as shop for single-ingredient supplements wherever possible. 

Here are a few of the better options SPY editors recommend.

Nature Made Melatonin Gummies

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$17.25 $24.69

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These gummies from Nature Made have a moderate dosage of melatonin and a pleasant strawberry flavor. They have a few more calories than other supplement options but it’s largely a negligible amount. Also, they don’t contain any artificial flavors, synthetic dyes, or high fructose corn syrup. 

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Nature's Bounty Gentle Iron

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$14.64

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This pick from Nature’s Bounty is another one SPY editors recommend after research into the brand’s trustworthiness and transparency. The dosage is formulated to support blood cell reproduction and the budget-friendly price is a great value for a 90-day supply.

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Thorne

Thorne is a specialized health retailer that sells vitamins, supplements, and health tests. It’s known as a “professional brand” in the industry, meaning it produces supplements that are NSF-certified and that professional athletes can use under certain drug and performance enhancement restrictions. This means they can be more trustworthy, but no brand is entirely safe, according to Cooperman. 

“There are many people who say professional brands are supposed to be better,” he said. “They’re definitely more expensive — you can count on that! The quality tends to be better than average brands, but it’s not foolproof that you’re always going to get a good product with the professional brand.”

With that in mind, SPY editors recommend the following two supplements from Thorne.

Thorne Vitamin C with Flavonoids

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$18.00

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This vitamin C contains naturally occurring citrus flavonoids, which can optimize the beneficial effects of taking vitamin C because it replicates the way the compound is found in nature.

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Thorne Vitamin K

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$27.00

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This vitamin K from Thorne contains three essential forms of vitamin K — K1 and two forms of K2, including MK-4 and MK-7. This can help support bone density and healthy blood vessels, as well. 

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Since the supplement industry feeds off of fabricating medical necessity and creating an artificial need in its consumers, vetting which supplements may work best for you — and doing your due diligence about each one — is an important first step.

And then moderation. “Where we see people actually get hurt by supplements is when they get very excited about some particular ingredient and overdo it.” said Cooperman. “[Problems arise when] they think they should be taking more of it than [is advised], because they’re so fixated on that particular supplement. Use moderation. More is not better. Do your research.” 

Testosterone levels are dropping. Not at the moral panic-inducing levels Tucker Carlson’s PR team describes, but consistently and concerningly. A 2020 study tracking the testosterone levels of over 4,000 Americans found a 25% decrease in comparably aged men between test taken between 1999 and 2000 and tests taken between 2011 and 2016. Higher BMIs and “environmental factors” – potentially anything from impaired sleep to workplace noise levels – were noted as potential causes. 

For men, declines in testosterone are often accompanied by weight gain, lowered sex drive and weakness. This (and general male insecurity, tbh) is why testosterone supplements and related therapies are at the center of the telehealth boom, and why at-home testosterone tests have become ubiquitous. Designed for doctor-averse men confused by their own lethargy and looking for reassurance that they don’t suffer from hypogonadism, which affects less than 1% of the male population and necessitates medical intervention, tests offer the reassurance of a bell curve. But reassurance and accuracy aren’t the same thing.

What the Experts Say

Testosterone levels peak in the morning for most men, and anything below ~300 nanograms per decileter (ng/dl) is considered “low” if the measurement is taken in the morning. But a number of factors can impact testosterone levels. Dr. Justin Houman, an LA-based men’s urologist advises that at-home testosterone tests should be taken early.

“Our testosterone levels spike in the morning, which is why a lot of guys prefer morning sex,” explains Dr. Houman. “Check it before 10:00 am.” 

Dr. Jeremy Choy, a Clinical Assistant Professor in the University of Washington Medical School’s Department of Urology, agrees with Dr. Houman about timing, but stresses that the tests should only ever be used as a quasi-diagnostic (not as an end-all be-all assessment of a man’s vitality). “Tests raise a red flag that there could potentially be a problem with testosterone production,” he says. “But men should always seek further evaluation from his health care provider.” 

The regulations on at-home diagnostics are not particularly tight and it’s more complicated to create a test that finds a range than a test that just looks for the presence of a hormone (think: HCG on a pregnancy test).

And other clinicians are even more skeptical. Dr. Brad Anawalt, the University of Washington Medical Center’s Chief of Medicine wonders what the tests are even capable of offering beyond reassurance.

“Test are a great idea if you want to keep hormone specialists well employed, but a terrible idea for purposes of healthcare management,” he says, pointing to the problem of ranges varying test to test. “If you don’t use this standardized, harmonized test that’s been validated by the CDC and has a normal range of 264-916, it’s confusing. We have people that are getting tests with a normal range of 350-1100 or 1200. So, what does a result of 300 actually mean? Does that mean you’re low or does it mean you’re normal?” 

Dr. Choy agreed that the numbers tend to provide more noise than signal, adding that “there’s more to the story than just the total testosterone level and there are situations where the same total testosterone level might be considered to be high, low, or normal depending on the clinical and hormonal context.” 

A Note on “Low Testosterone” 

Dr. Anawalt also clarified that “low testosterone” is a phrase that was coined by Big Pharma to try to promote the sale of testosterone medication but that for most men it’s a “lab abnormality, not a disease.” He notes that he mostly coaches patients worried about testosterone to just take better care of themselves. Eating better, exercising, and sleeping more can all leads to increased testosterone.

The Best Testosterone Tests for Men in 2023

BEST OVERALL

Ro Testosterone Evaluation Test

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$69.00

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Roman, a well-known purveyor of a host of men’s wellness products, has their own testosterone test that uses two blood samples over the course of two separate days to deliver results. This is a more extensive process than other options out there, and the results are interpreted by a licensed Ro-affiliated provider. The results and consultation happen within an app and they offer medication as a next step, delivered discretely, if a low level is diagnosed.

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RUNNER UP

Everlywell Men's Health Test

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$249.00

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Why It’s Worth It: Everlywell offers a more comprehensive men’s health test that measures the levels of a few different hormones including testosterone, cortisol, DHEA and estradiol. The results are delivered digitally and reviewed by a board-certified provider in the user’s state. This test is a great option for those looking to assess hormones beyond testosterone that play a role in men’s wellness and get a fuller picture of their health. 
Sample Type: Saliva 
Results Turnaround: Website doesn’t specify

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BUDGET-FRIENDLY

imaware Testosterone Monitoring Test

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$69.00

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Why It’s Worth It: This testosterone test from imaware offers a lower-cost option for users who want a simple, stripped-down reading of their hormone levels. FSA/HSA cards can be used to purchase and the results are interpreted in CLIA-compliant labs. 
Sample Type: Blood 
Results Turnaround: 7 days

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EASY TO USE

LetsGetChecked Testosterone Test

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$89.00

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Why It’s Worth It: This test is designed to be simple and easy to use, with a prepaid shipping label for returning the sample and a team of board-certified physicians who will call if the results are abnormal.
Sample Type: Blood 
Results Turnaround: 2-5 business days

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QUICK RESULTS

MyLabBox At-Home Testosterone Test Kit

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$79.00

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Why It’s Worth It: This testosterone test is designed to be conducted in just five minutes with minimal materials and easy instructions. The site also specifies that it can be used by men or women to measure testosterone levels. 
Sample Type: Blood 
Results Turnaround: 2 days

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Proceed to Checkout… 

The Black Friday-style run on the weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Mounjaro prescriptions started in 2021. Many early adopters were wealthy urbanites seeing general practitioners willing to help them skip the line, which got longer as breathless news reports hit the wire. When Mounjaro received FDA approval as a treatment for type 2 diabetes in 2022, it quickly became a hit among non-diabetics looking for an appetite suppressant. Only a fourth of prescriptions are currently written for patients with diabetes. What percentage of those people were in need of a genuine medical intervention is unclear – not the sort of statistic that gets captured – but the Ozempic joke at the Oscars was indicative of appetite suppressing drugs’ sudden off-label ubiquity.

Wall Street is betting on that ubiquity. Johnson and Johnson stock has come back to Earth (more or less) post pandemic; not so for Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, which manufacture Ozempic and Mounjaro. This reflects a belief that the FDA will approve the drug to treat obesity and an understanding that, because these are new drugs, generics won’t eat market share. It also reflects a view of unmet demand. Prescriptions for semaglutides have increased 2,082% in the last three years with more than 5 million prescriptions written in 2022, a 259% increase from 2021 alone. Now, 8,000 people per month are searching for “how to get Ozempic for weight loss,” up 2,531% from 2022. It’s Tickle-Me-Elmo to the power of American body dysmorphia.

And the price tag is significant. A 30-day supply of the once-a-week injectable drugs currently runs between $1,000 and $1,200 for those without morally flexible primary care physicians or a clear and undeniable (from an insurer’s perspective) medical need. While the drugs were in short supply earlier this year due to the rush, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lily are scaling production. It’s not clear that increased supply will affect pricing even if it does affect availability.

As it happens, Ozempic and Mounjaro arrived at an interesting moment in the history of American prescriptions. Brands like Hims, Hers, and Ro, a DTC erectile disfunction play that showed turgid pandemic growth, are leveraging telehealth tech and pandemic-related legal loopholes to squeeze doctors out of the prescription process. Questionnaires full of obviously leading queries lead into quick conversations with “providers” lead to generic prescriptions for ED and anxiety disorders. Now, Ro is offering Wegovy prescriptions and Plenity as an alternative medication for those who don’t qualify. Plenity is a daily pill taken before a meal to curb appetite that was FDA-approved for weight loss in 2019. It’s not as effective, though, with results tapping out at 10% body weight loss, or around 22 pounds, on average.

Ro requires that potential patients fill out a notably longer questionnaire and take an at-home metabolic test. Ro has also instituted a waiting period of 3-6 weeks minimum after a patient chats with a provider. Still, it’s clear where this is going.

Prescriptions for Ozempic and Mounjaro are harder to come by. They are ostensibly available online through telehealth providers like PlushCare and Push Health, which charge between $30-$129 for a first-time chat with a doctor, depending on insurance coverage as well as Sequence, a weight loss-specific platform recently acquired by WW, formerly known as Weight Watchers. But these telehealth fees don’t include the cost of the actual medicine and it’s not clear that all patients get what they came for (which might not be a bad thing).

Dr. Sue Decotiis, who treats obese patients in Manhattan, has seen an influx of patients who’ve tried and failed at acquiring Ozempic online. One patient paid $1500 upfront to a doctor who claimed they could provide the goods then offered a lesser weight loss medication she could’ve sourced from any doctor with her insurance. Her accounts emphasize the importance of working with accredited telehealth agencies like the ones above, and even then proceeding with cautious optimism.

“These companies can’t get their hands on this medication. You can’t stockpile this medication. No one can,” explains Dr. Decotiis. “Even if they want to serve the patients, they won’t be able to get it. So they’re going to take the patients’ money and put them on a lesser medication…. I can’t call Duane Reade and CVS and call in prescriptions for unnamed patients.”

Presumably, this is why Novo Nordisk is actively distancing itself from the companies most capable of distributing its products at scale.

“Some weight loss clinics, online pharmacies, “telehealth” and other companies claim to have availability of compounded “semaglutide” products, including products that purport to offer “semaglutide” in combination with other ingredients,” Novo Nordisk explained in a statement to SPY. “These compounded products do not have the same safety, quality, and effectiveness assurances as FDA-approved drugs, and may expose patients to potentially serious health risks.”

This underscores the current state of play: Weight loss drugs are being treated like a consumer good, but they aren’t being priced like one. This is no surprise given that they are, in fact, cutting-edge pharmaceuticals, but it creates an unusual market dynamic. The price of the drug is almost uncorrelated from the price of the drug. What you pay has everything to do with how the drug is obtained. The price is stable.

But then there’s Canada. In Canada, the drugs now cost $250 for a month’s worth of this medication. Some Americans have made the run north, but dosing and administration are problematic. It is possible to get the drug by filling prescriptions at Canadian pharmacies, but difficult to figure out how much to take. Dr. Salas-Whalen, an endocrinologist and obesity specialist in New York, now has patients who arrive at her clinic on the Upper East Side with the drug, but without a notion of how to take it.

“But I’m supervising the drug, I’m supervising the dosing,” says. Dr. Salas-Whalen. “I’m supervising the side effects. As long as it’s under supervision, it’s okay.”

To date, no one has died from taking either of these drugs. But the reported side effects can be bad. Dr. Andrew Kraftson, an endocrinologist and Director of the Weight Navigation Program at the University of Michigan described a patient who had explosive diarrhea for three days and ended up being hospitalized with an acute kidney injury.

“Potassium was completely out of whack,” Dr. Kraftson says. “Other medications had to be adjusted. Was she totally appropriate to go on the medication? Yes. Was she understanding that there were risks? Yes, but still bad things can happen.”

Nausea, vomiting, and dehydration are more common side effects and many patients “suffer” from what has been dubbed “Ozempic Face,” apparent aging that’s driven by the rapid loss of body fat.

Dr. Decotiis and Dr. Salas-Whalen both use a body composition scale to track patients’ weight loss, making it easier to tell that Ozempic is burning away what it’s supposed to. These scales can be purchased on Amazon and used at home, if folks are truly looking to DIY the whole process.

Without this, both doctors described, patients can gain the weight right back or develop what’s called “sarcopenic obesity” also dubbed “skinny fat” obesity where a body has a high fat percentage and a low percentage of muscle mass.

Dr. Decotiis compares Ozempic and Mounjaro favorably to appetite suppressants. They do the same thing in the same way that Aaron Judge and the best kid on a Little League team both hit.

“I tell my patients when they start this drug, especially the tirzepitide because I prefer it over the semaglutide, I say ‘you’re gonna feel like you’ve had Thanksgiving dinner every single day,” said Dr. Decotiis. “You feel so sated, and it’s a good feeling because you don’t want for anything.”

The irony is, of course, that everyone wants for something. Hunger is just one urge.

Within a society devoutly obsessed with weight loss, working towards a goal of acquiring pounds is an act of rebellion. There are a ton of reasons folks may be trying to gain weight on purpose, though, like the pursuit of a deadlift PR or recovery from an illness. Consuming more calories than are burned can be tricky for some, which is where mass gainers can help.

Mass gainer supplements are essentially protein bars on steroids. Steve McCarthy, a personal trainer and writer over at MuscleBustle.com, explains that these high-calorie, high-protein powders “provide an easy and convenient way to increase calorie and nutrient intake without having to prepare a lot of food.” While not having to cook a bunch of food is convenient, mass gainers can only do so much and shouldn’t replace a well-balanced diet.

Mass gainer supplements are just that, supplements, which means they’re not regulated by the FDA and very few are third-party lab tested for ingredient quality and purity. To help make sure the user will be okay, Ronald Smith, a registered dietitian and owner of EatDrinkBinge.com recommends starting with a smaller serving size to begin with as “This will help to prevent side effects such as bloating or stomach discomfort.” Nobody can work out when they’re feeling too full to move.

No supplement should be a replacement for real, whole foods and a well-rounded diet. That’s true of all supplements, but it bears repeating for mass gainers because they could easily replace a full day’s meal plan, but definitely shouldn’t.

BEST OVERALL

Optimum Nutrition Mass Weight Gainer

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$79.99

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Starting at $30.99

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Optimum Nutrition third-party tests their supplements for banned substances and their Serious Mass gainer, while made with some artificial ingredients for flavor, has relatively few junky ingredients for the product category. Each serving has 1,250 calories, 50 grams of protein and 252-254 grams of carbohydrates for workout fuel. It also comes in dessert flavors like banana and chocolate.

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SIMPLE INGREDIENTS

NAKED Chocolate Mass Weight Gainer

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$69.99

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Some people want to know exactly what’s going into their bodies, and that’s what NAKED does best. This mass gainer uses gluten-free organic tapioca for the extra calories, which is a little cleaner than some other options. It also only has three ingredients in it, making it great for those who want exact records of what they’re eating. Each serving also has 50 grams of protein and 1,250 calories, putting it on par with SPY’s top pick.

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BUDGET PICK

Dymatize Super Mass Gainer Protein Powder

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$42.23 $48.70

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The Dymatize mass gainer mixes easily, tastes nice, and packs in more than 50 grams of protein per serving. It also includes 10.7 grams of BCAAs for supporting muscle growth and has a mix of 17 different vitamins and minerals too. It’s also cheaper than many of the options on this list while also coming from a trustworthy brand. If budget is a large factor in the ultimate decision, this is a great choice without compromising.

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BEST WHEY ALTERNATIVE

MuscleMeds Carnivor Mass Diet Supplement

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$36.79

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Whey protein doesn’t jive with everyone. A lot of those people tend to be vegan, but for those who consume animal protein this mass gainer is made using 100% beef protein isolate. It’s got fewer calories than a lot of the other options on this list, 700, but, not surprisingly, still packs a monstrous protein hit per serving of 50 grams.

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BEST VEGAN

Naked Vegan Mass Gainer Protein Powder

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$64.99 $74.99

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This mass gainer is free of a lot of things, but most importantly, it’s completely whey-free. This gainer uses pea and rice protein mixed with organic maltodextrin for a high-calorie, high-carb, high-protein drink that’s also completely vegan. It has 248 grams of complex carbs per serving, 10.3 grams of BCAAs, and is free of most allergens to boot.

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LOWEST CALORIE OPTION

Rivalus Clean Gainer

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$49.99

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Clean eating is a bit of a muddled term at this point, but you can take it to mean no banned substances, at least here. Not only that, but this mass gainer is a lot lower in calories than other options, which will make it a lot easier to deal with for those who can’t stomach over 1k calories at once.

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The Bottom Line About Mass Gainers

Mass gainers are a niche but useful supplement for those trying to put on weight in a short amount of time, or struggle to consume enough calories each day for one reason or another. Also, both Smith and McCarty recommended speaking to a healthcare professional who knows your circumstances before taking any supplement, and SPY echoes that.

It is worth noting that many of the options here have what is considered to be too much protein per serving. The human body can only absorb around 25 grams of protein in a single sitting, which means that the excess protein in some of these mass gainers could be processed adversely by the body. It’s not likely to do harm, as excess protein tends to be passed through urine without issue.

“Testosterone has a magical hold on humans,” noted Brad Anawalt, Professor and Vice Chair of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine and a male reproductive endocrinologist, when asked about men’s declining testosterone levels and the ensuing panic that’s taken place amongst men and society at large.

“It is one of these hormones that everybody loves to talk about. There are a couple of them — testosterone followed by the thyroid and followed perhaps by estrogen — those are the three that everybody likes to see as either the root of all evil or the fantasy. So, there are many men that come in and think that testosterone is the cure.”

After discussions with a group of men’s health and hormone specialists, it’s become clear that a slew of men’s health problems can be attributed to or result in low testosterone, making it a reliable harbinger for overall vitality, or lack thereof, but it’s not a fix-all.

It’s positioned as this ultimate herald for men’s health, but there’s a lot more at play. Having “High-T” or “Low-T” matters if it’s affecting how a guy feels each day, but there’s no correlation between a hormone level and a man’s masculinity. There’s much more at play, and taking a pill from a rhino-adorned bottle entitled “Testo-Booster” is unlikely to grant the spark lost to age, adulthood or a bad breakup. It is, however, okay to want to feel better, and there are many ways to do that.

What Are Testosterone Supplements?

According to Anawalt, there are three kinds of testosterone supplements available.

“There are so-called ‘natural supplements’ that are not testosterone but they purportedly increase testosterone naturally. Fenugreek is one of them, something called Ashwagandha is another one, these are not testosterone derivatives and actually, they have been studied and the most accurate interpretation of the studies is that they do not have significant effects on testosterone,”

“The other testosterone supplements that are purchased without a prescription are actually supplements that purport to have hormones in them. Like DHEA and Andro, and these compounds, if they’re pure, and they’re the precursors to testosterone, if you take massive quantities you can increase testosterone because your body will convert it to testosterone but in really large quantities. You actually also convert to estrogen and many men will convert larger levels of estrogen than testosterone, so I would discourage that,” said Dr. Anawalt.

He went on to note “the third category is stuff called testo-power or testo-booster and we don’t even know what’s in there. Sometimes they have testosterone in them and or they have modified testosterone, so anabolic steroids.”

“Again, because it’s unregulated, I’d discourage that.”

Not only are these supplements not regulated and potentially dangerous, but according to Dr. Anawalt, there’s a natural decline in testosterone as men age, and also a vast range of “normal” testosterone levels for younger, healthy men that doesn’t need to be optimized.

Some men have diagnosable disorders that lower their testosterone blood concentration levels and require lifelong treatment. Others don’t fall into this category but would benefit from a reliable boost to reach a “normal” range. That boost, most of the time, can come from simple lifestyle changes.

Testosterone Levels Naturally Decline With Age

Testosterone levels can be quantified with a blood test at a doctor’s office. There are also at-home medical test kits one can use to get a rough estimate of where they’re at. Most medical professionals agree that a “normal” T level is somewhere between 300 and 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL).

Around 40% of men over the age of 45 will test below that range, and some may require supplement therapy. Dr. Anawalt explained that there are two major declines that happen throughout a man’s life, one after age 35 and another after age 65.

“So it’s 35, gradual decline and then an inflection point, or greater decrease, around 65-70.”

For men of all ages who don’t have a disease causing low testosterone levels, like hypogonadism, the treatment Dr. Anawalt recommends is largely the same.

“It’s really a great opportunity when we get young guys, guys in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s — and they’re worried about a lab result and they’re worried about their health and we can reassure them that they don’t have a disease. But just like your car, you need to do some maintenance here and you’ve got a lot of control over this without medications,” said Dr. Anawalt.

He went on to connect the two, “Testosterone should not be used as a general therapy for men over age 65 who have low testosterone. That’s not the first step. The first step is actually similar to younger men. Which is to address weight and overall health and lifestyle changes.”

Signs of Low Testosterone

“Testosterone deficiency is a combination of having low levels of testosterone in the blood with associated symptoms,” said Dr. Darshan Patel, Assistant Professor of Urology at UC San Diego Health.

He noted that “Many of the symptoms attributed to testosterone deficiency can be non-specific, but are broadly categorized as physical, cognitive and sexual signs and symptoms.”

Dr. Patel noted the following physical, cognitive and sexual signs that may point to low testosterone levels in men:

Although the symptoms above are notable, the only way to conclusively diagnose low testosterone is with a blood test at a doctor’s office.

Do Testosterone Supplements Work?

Testosterone supplements is a catch-all category for any supplement you consume that’ll boost your testosterone levels beyond what your body is already naturally producing. Though the science is thin on over-the-counter supplements that claim to boost testosterone, Dr. Patel noted there are some OTC supplements that “with regular exercise can support a healthy, balanced diet for men with testosterone deficiency.”

He also noted, however, that using OTC supplements alone to treat testosterone deficiency is less effective, and that “Unfortunately, most OTC testosterone supplements make claims that are unsubstantiated. Nearly 90% of OTC testosterone supplements claim to ‘boost T’, 50% claim to ‘improve libido’ and 50% claim to ‘make you feel stronger.”

“Only a fraction of the various components of advertised OTC testosterone supplements have actually been tested in human studies and among those that have been, less than 25% of participants have reported an improvement in testosterone deficiency,” said Dr. Patel.

He also noted that some testosterone supplements can contain ingredients that are unsafe when mixed with other prescription medications. “For example, some OTC testosterone supplements containing Tribulus terrestris have been shown to contain steroidal glycoalkaloids that are toxic to animals and humans and cause severe liver and heart damage.”

“Always look at the nutritional label on the product. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has established tolerable upper limit (UL) to prevent side effects from excessive intake of vitamins and minerals. Often OTC supplements contain very high levels of certain ingredients that are above the UL. It is always best to inform your doctor prior to starting an OTC testosterone supplement,” said Dr. Patel.

If you’re looking for trustworthy brands, Dr. Patel highlighted the following ones for their independent lab testing and certifications as well as solid manufacturing practices.

Based on this advice, here are the OTC testosterone supplements SPY recommends.

Nature Made Multivitamin For Him

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$9.37 $13.59

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Nature Made is one of the brands Dr. Patel recommended for the safety and efficacy of their supplements, and this men’s multivitamin is formulated to support men’s overall health and wellbeing. It contains 25 essential vitamins and minerals for men, as well as antioxidants and vitamin C for immune support.

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Androsurge Estrogen Blocker for Men

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$19.99 $39.99

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This supplement from the Jacked Factory Store limits men’s bodies production of estrogen, with a scientifically-dosed, non-proprietary blend that contains ingredients like grape seed extract and diindolylmethane. It’s formulated to help you build back muscle, increase strength and boost overall energy levels.

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Roman Testosterone Supplements

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Starting at $35/Month

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Roman is one of the best telemedicine companies for men, and their testosterone supplement contains zinc, vitamin D3, ashwagandha and other vitamins for supporting overall health. It may or may not boost actual testosterone levels, but may be a worthwhile addition to a healthy routine for the right candidate.

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TRANSPARENT INGREDIENTS

Alpha JYM Testosterone Support

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$44.99

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This testosterone booster from JYM is a fully-loaded testosterone optimizer that contains ingredients for supporting and maximizing testosterone levels including fenugreek, ashwagandha and eurycoma. The ingredient list is comprehensive and transparent, so it’s totally clear going into the body, and there’s no need to cycle in and out of taking it as it’s designed to be taken every day.

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Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is the infamously hard-to-hide infection that constitutes about 1% of primary care office visits in the US due to the expeditious contagion within its crusting mucus. There are ways to get rid of it fast, including and especially shuffling into a doctor’s office with your sunglass-adored head draped in shame. But there are also at-home methods one can try in the meantime or while waiting for the antibiotics to kick in.

SPY spoke with a panel of medical experts on pink eye treatment options at home — which ones are vetted, which ones are snake-oil-level scams with no medical backing, and which are somewhere in between. The best methods for minimizing the chance of contracting pink eye have overlap with the best ways to get rid of it fast, explore them all below.

Pink eye is an infection or swelling in the conjunctiva (hence the name – conjunctiv(a)-itis). When healthy, this thin, clear membrane acts as a protective layer to the white of the eye (the sclera) and inside of the eyelids. It also plays a part in healthy lubrication through the production of mucus and tears. When infected, the conjunctiva turns a telltale pink color and is often accompanied by the inability to appear on-camera in the team’s morning Zoom meeting, as well as a host of other common symptoms of pink eye.

Bacterial vs. Viral Pink Eye

The two most common causes of pink eye include viral — caused by an underlying virus like the common cold-causing adenovirus, as well as bacterial caused by bacteria that’s highly contagious but clears up to 2-3 days, on average. Seeing a doctor is the best bet for determining the type of infection and developing a treatment plan from there.

Benjamin Ticho MD, an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at The University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary explained that “Bacterial conjunctivitis typically results in yellow or green pus discharge.” Meanwhile “the discharge in viral conjunctivitis is typically clear and relatively nonspecific; these patients commonly have swollen lymph nodes in front of the ear (preauricular).”

How To Get Rid of Pink Eye Fast

To help comprehensively answer this common query, we approached Dr. Nate Simmons, a board-certified, practicing ophthalmologist from Buffalo, NY. Dr. Simmons explained that the “best way to determine how to get rid of pink eye fast is to determine the underlying cause.” If a speedy recovery is the priority, the best course of action “when someone thinks they have pink eye is to see an eye care provider to obtain an accurate diagnosis.” Determining which type of pink eye you have can be beneficial because “the actual treatment of each type of conjunctivitis varies.”

Dr. Simmons expanded further on the treatment for the various types of pink eye.

“Viral conjunctivitis (the most common cause of pink eye) is a time-limited infection.” This means that “the body’s natural immune response will resolve the infection.” However, even though “antibiotics will not help this as the offending agent is not a bacteria but rather a virus”, there are occasions when “antiviral medications (pills and or eye drops) can help eliminate the infection.”

For the fastest way to get rid of bacterial conjunctivitis, Dr. Simmons explained that “once the appropriate eye drops and possibly pills are taken, this will resolve the symptoms rapidly.”

Lastly, for pink eye caused by allergies or irritants, symptoms will likely “improve if the offending agent is removed”. For sufferers of this type of pink eye with an unidentified cause, Dr. Simmons advises to “think about changing cosmetics and facial products such as soaps/moisturizers. Also, any eye drops the patient is currently using may need to be changed.”

Rinsing the infected eyes regularly, washing hands, changing out towels and avoiding contacts for a few days are all necessary at-home precautions to take when dealing with pink eye.

Here are a few more recommendations from SPY editors for at-home conjunctivitis remedies and ways to get rid of pink eye fast.

BEST FOR HYDRATION

Systane High-Performing Eye Drops

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$19.48 $24.99

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Artificial tears are eye drops made from mild saline, and they’re one of the best ways to treat pink eye at home. Once approved by a doctor, one can use these eye drops to flush out some of the contaminants in the eye and relieve the dryness that is often associated with pink eye. In particular, the Systane Ultra Lubricant Eye Drops have been shown to soothe dry and gritty eyes and come with more than 19,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.

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BEST FOR WASHING GOOP

Amazon Basics Cotton Balls

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$3.29

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One of the worst parts of having pink eye is the uncomfortable build-up of crust and mucus as well as constant secretions of liquid from the infected eye. Using clean hands, wet a cotton ball with warm water and wipe the liquid 2-3 times a day to keep things cleaner and healthier while you heal. After the eye has healed, these cotton balls are also a great option for skincare, makeup and first aid.

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BEST FOR PREVENTURING SPREAD

Lysol Laundry Sanitizer

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$6.49

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Both the viral and bacterial forms of pink eye are highly contagious. Not only is it possible to spread pink eye to others, pink eye in one eye can spread to the other if not properly contained. It’s also possible to become reinfected if the bacteria or virus is left to fester on household surfaces. That’s why it’s important to sanitize everything, especially bedding, and clothing. Simply add some Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to each load of laundry to ensure all the germs causing your painful eye are killed.

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BEST FOR VISUAL IMPROVEMENT

Visine Red Eye Drops

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$6.52

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In addition to their hydrating eye drops, Systane produces a line of eye drops made specifically for dealing with eye redness. These Visine Red Eye Hydrating Comfort Redness Relief Eye Drops are formulated to reduce redness and can be particularly handy for an important interview, wedding, or meeting up with friends. However, it’s important to understand this improvement may be temporary and may actually result in more significant redness afterward.

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BEST FOR VIRAL PINK EYE

Amazon Basic Care Ibuprofen Tablets

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$13.20 $15.40

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Unfortunately, there are limited treatment options for viral pink eye and the infection simply has to run its course. But that doesn’t mean sitting with eye pain for days on end. Taking over-the-counter pain medicine, like these Basic Care Ibuprofen Tablets, can help ease discomfort and with 500 200 mg tablets in this bottle, you’ll get plenty of use out of it afterward for headaches, sore muscles, and other aches.

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BEST FOR INFLAMMATION

Amazon Basics Washcloth

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$14.25 $15.33

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In may seem like old grandma folklore, but SPY editors firmly believe that a wet washcloth can work wonders in many situations. It may not fix much of anything, but it’ll help.

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BEST FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

THRIVE Face Wash

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$14.95

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Using a natural face wash won’t cure pink eye, but it can help ease the healing process as your antibiotics work under the surface. A simple, unscented face wash won’t irritate the eyes more than necessary, and it can help cleanse the sensitive area surrounding them as well. If you have sensitive, reactive skin this is a face wash you should be using anyway. The Thrive Natural Care Unscented Face Wash is formulated with plant-based ingredients to powerfully clean your skin without irritation.

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BEST FOR ALLERGIES

Allergy Eye Itch Relief Eye Drops by Alaway, Antihistamine, 10 mL (Pack of 2)

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$25.49

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A pink eye infection caused by an allergic reaction of some sort calls on antihistamine eye drops to help. Just like the antihistamines taken orally, these eye drops work to combat an allergic reaction and to reduce inflammation. Developed by Bausch and Lomb, the Alaway Antihistamine Eye Drops are formulated to begin working in three minutes and provide up to 12 hours of relief.

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Before You Check Out…

It’s been a rough 2023 for cordyceps supplements. Due to the mushroom’s center-stage feature in HBO’s The Last of Us they’re now at the mental forefront of health nuts and skeptics alike, and not for an ideal reason. There are now two large camps surrounding the dried mushroom pills — those terrified of turning into man-eating zombies and nutrition experts trying to assuage the fears of this supplement that’s been vetted for boosting athletic performance. SPY editors are in the second camp.

In the show, cordyceps infect the brains and bodies of humans, turning them bloodthirsty and thus nearly wiping out the human global population. To be clear, this scenario is nearly impossible in today’s world. However, the fictional premise didn’t come from nowhere, it was rooted in the true nature of these heterotrophic growths.

Cordyceps is a parasitic mushroom that infects insects and takes over their body. As the fungus approaches maturity, it consumes over 90% of the infected insect, ultimately mummifying the host. Not so great news if you’re an insect, but for humans, these mushrooms are harmless and even contain a myriad of health benefits.

What The Experts Say

Jules Annen, PhD, nutritionist and holistic wellness coach, told SPY that they are often taken for their potential to increase energy, endurance, and athletic performance as well as for their pro-regulating and anti-inflammatory effects. “Cordyceps are rich in antioxidants, polysaccharides and other bioactive compounds that may offer these benefits,” she said.

When discussing cordyceps, the specific species also matters. More than 600 species have been discovered, but only two, Cordyceps militaris and Cordyceps sinensis, have been subject of research due to their adaptogenic, immune, energy-boosting, antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Most studies have been conducted on rodent models and in vitro, so besides anecdotal and Eastern folklore evidence, human trials are still needed to draw conclusions for human use. Be sure to consult your doctor before adding any supplement, including cordyceps, to your diet and wellness routine.

What The Research Says

Cordyceps may help regulate blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing insulin resistance. A study on type 2 diabetic rats found that the group given cordyceps militaris had a significant reduction in blood glucose levels by promoting glucose metabolism and had lower fasting blood sugar. Plus, a supporting eight-week study, also on rats, showed enhanced glucose utilization in skeletal muscles.

The energy-boosting power of Cordyceps militaris comes from two active compounds: cordycepin and adenosine. Adenosine might sound familiar from your intro to biology class, as it’s an essential part of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an organic compound that your cells use to generate energy. The more ATP you have the more energy you’ll have, too. That’s why cordycepin comes in handy too. its chemical profile is very close to adenosine, so the body finds it easy to use it for extra energy.

A 2018 study out of UNC Chapel Hill of 28 individuals investigated the effect of cordyceps on high-intensity exercise and found that the group that supplemented with the mushroom had significantly higher levels of endurance, oxygen utilization and increased blood flow.

Cordyceps contains polysaccharides and beta-glucans, which have the power to modulate the immune system in a manner to turn it up or turn it down. For example, they can boost an immune response to fight off infections and also downregulate an overactive immune response via anti-inflammatory cytokine modulation. Basically, they can act as the smart thermostat for your immune system in times of lower or higher risk of infection.

A 2015 study of 70 healthy male subjects out of Korea showed a significant increase in natural killer cells, which contribute to this fungi’s ability to enhance immunity.

The rich polysaccharide content of cordyceps has been found to increase the body’s own antioxidant levels and reduce free radicals and oxidative stress as a result.

High levels of free radicals and lingering chronic oxidative stress have been found to play a role in aging, so mitigating those effects by boosting the body’s innate antioxidant properties may contribute to longevity and anti-aging.

What to Look for in a Cordyceps Supplement

Annen suggested that when choosing a cordyceps supplement, it is important to look for a reputable brand that uses high-quality ingredients and has undergone rigorous testing for purity and potency. “Look for supplements that use certified organic or wild-harvested cordyceps and avoid products that contain fillers or additives,” she said. There are whole agencies dedicated to testing store-bought supplements for ingredient quality, including ConsumerLab and the NSF.

Be sure to flip the bottle and look at the label for not only whether it’s militaris or sinensis, but whether the company used the mycelium or the actual fruiting body in its product. The label might say “100% fruit body”, “no mycelium or grain” or “mycelium biomass” or “mycelium and fruit body”. Also look for badges that say things like “no fillers”, “no artificial ingredients” or “certified organic”.

It is the fruiting body, the mushroom itself, that contains the most potent active compounds, such as beta-glucans and other polysaccharides that yield the best health benefits.

Cordyceps supplements are available in pill, tincture and powder form, and while the nutritional or performance gains may be similar, the absorption and effectiveness of the supplement may vary depending on your body and dosage.

The Best Cordyceps Supplements of 2023

BEST OVERALL

Real Mushrooms Cordyceps-M Supplement

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$29.95

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Real Mushrooms is one of the few that provide high-quality organic ingredients in their capsules and powders to ensure one is getting the purest form of cordyceps militaris. The transparency around their products is a great indicator that they go the extra mile to ensure safety and efficacy, and even guarantee a high percentage of beta-glucan content, which is one of the key active compounds you need to boost your health and performance. They offer the option to take it in a capsule or blend the powder in your morning smoothie or coffee.

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BEST GUMMIES

Mushroom Revival Chewables

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$34.95

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Mushroom Revival has turned cordyceps into chewables for adults who still prefer taking their supplements in gummy form. The taste is funky, but they do utilize cordyceps militaris and only the fruiting body of the mushroom, so one knows they’re getting all the benefits that come with this fungi. The company has also performed toxicity testing showing safe levels, and, according to their website, they will soon be sharing their beta-glucan content as well. Besides gummies, Mushroom Revival also sells capsules, powders, and tinctures, so you can pick your favorite form of mushroom extract.

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BEST POWDER MIX

Four Sigmatic Mushroom Mix With Cordyceps

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$22.15 $25.49

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Four Sigmatic is extremely popular for its wide variety of mushroom nutritional products, and their cordyceps blend measures up to our quality standards. They use the fruiting body of 100% USDA organic mushrooms. Plus, the team produces their products according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), which are guidelines that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration enforces to govern the manufacturing process of a product to ensure that the quality and safety are consistent. In addition to that, Four Sigmatic also works with third-party labs to check for the purity of the formulas.

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ORGANIC PICK

Fresh Cap Cordyceps

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$34.95

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Fresh Cap’s products contain no grains, no fillers, and are made out of organic cordyceps militaris extract from the fruiting body. This brand is known for its transparency, and it’s refreshing to see such a detailed nutrition label. It claims that it contains 32% Beta-Glucan and 0.3% Cordycepin, both of which are key players in immunoregulation and energy production. Fresh Cap sells both capsules and powders.

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QUALITY PICK

Nootropics Depot Cordyceps Mushrooms

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$26.99

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Do you ever wonder what a laboratory is like where they test supplement safety, purity and efficacy? Nootropics Depot will let you take a 360-degree tour of their in-house analytical laboratory online, which if you are a nerd like us, is very exciting. This is where they test for identity, purity and for the presence of dangerous and toxic compounds such as heavy metals. Their cordyceps capsule supplement is extracted from the whole fruiting body and contains 25% beta-glucan and 0.2% cordycepin. You can choose from powder and capsule options.

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