IN THE NEARLY 40-year history of Men’s Health, we’ve never had a Supplement Awards. We never could. The supplement world has, for a long time, been rife with questionable pills, powders, and potions that make grand claims without scientific support. The snake-oil slinging only intensified during and after COVID, and now the supplement market is in a total gold rush—and projected to nearly double in size to more than $431 billion from 2026 to 2033.
Yet, thankfully, along with the modern supplement boom, a new class of companies has joined a handful of Ol’ Reliables in developing high-quality, data-backed, third-party-certified supplements. These products—from workout performance enhancers to muscle builders to sleep aids—work.
Which is why our team of Men’s Health nutrition and fitness editors, with the help of all three dietitians on our Advisory Board, felt like we could finally assemble our favorite supplements all in one place.
Our Men’s Health nutrition advisors reviewed editor-provided product suggestions for safety and effectiveness. In some cases, when a product did not meet their standards, the advisors offered a replacement product.
For more than six months, our team scoured the supplement marketplace, looking for products that satisfy three criteria:
After heated discussion, we agreed on 31 winners across five categories. The final result: a list of science-backed, expert-approved, human-tested supplements that will help you live a stronger, longer life.
These are the first-ever Men’s Health Supplement Award winners.
There’s no supplement more foundational to building and maintaining muscle than protein powder. Without enough protein, your muscles won’t have the necessary fuel to kick-start the process of tissue repair. And while you can eat all your protein in the form of whole foods, depending on your goals, that can be a lot. Protein powder makes it much easier.
Not everyone loves a shake—or has the time to whip one up. These ready-to-go options are here to help.
Smart athletes know that a strong diet is the keystone to workout performance. But they also know that certain supplements, like these, can provide an edge.
There are a whole bunch of supplements out there that promise to help you fall asleep faster, spend more time in deep sleep, and even fix insomnia. Many of those claims are overblown—but there are a handful of quality options that might improve your rest.
If you find yourself falling short on certain nutrients, these supplements can help you dig out of a deficiency—or make sure you never dip into a shortfall.
Paul Kita is a Deputy Editor at Men's Health, where he has covered food, cooking, nutrition, supplements, grooming, tech, travel, and fatherhood at the brand for more than 15 years. He is also the author of two Men's Health cookbooks, Guy Gourmet and A Man, A Pan, A Plan, and the winner of a James Beard Award.
Charles Thorp is the Fitness and Reviews Editor at Men’s Health, where he shares the best product recommendations in gym equipment, recovery tools, supplements, and more. Following an early life in athletics, Charles became a NASM-certified trainer and began writing programs alongside the most respected coaches in the world. Since entering the world of fitness content, Charles has had the opportunity to learn from and train alongside high performance individuals from the NFL, UFC, NBA, Formula 1, CrossFit, US Olympics, and Navy SEALs. When he’s not writing about training programs or gear, he can be seen at the gym or in the wild, putting them to the test.
