10 Top Health Tips for Men

It is important that men take care of themselves. In fact when it comes to most men we simply bury our heads in the sand or hide away, especially when it comes to admitting we have a problem health wise or when it comes to health-care.

It is a fact that we shy away from regular visits to the doctor when we have ailments, whereas the women generally take their symptoms much more seriously and are quick to seek expert advice. The same goes for a healthy life style and eating. Women are more likely to choose strict diets  or at least a more healthier and nutritionally balanced one. So it isn’t surprising that the females outlive the males when it comes to life expectancy statistics!

So what can men do about it? take a leaf out of the woman’s health tips book and apply what they have learned and do our best to stick to it. But is it that easy? Well no-after all we are men and the guys tend to argue they haven’t the time to or our simple pride as men gets in the way.

But there are some good tips that can be shared by all us testosterone fuelled beings and listed below are ten of the best to helping-and dare I say educating us-into leading healthier lifestyles and diets.

Try them and perhaps you will surprise yourself!

1. Do your best to get rid of the ”White Foods” from that diet!

So that means cutting out completely or at least limiting such things as white flour and white sugar. Try a brown flower or sugar to sweeten that coffee or tea. The reasons are that they are almost devoid of vital vitamins and minerals. This is also true of processed foods too. White flours and sugars are stripped of they’re natural fibre. This has a knock on effect in driving up that natural blood sugar level and this ultimately results in weight gain. Amongst other things it also increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and various other ailments that can lead to serious conditions! So avoid baked foods made with white flour, cakes, snack foods and drinks that contain lots of sugar such as soda drinks. Get eating more vegetables, whole grains and fibre-rich fruits! You owe it to yourself, guys!

2. Knock the Dangerous Trans Fats on the Head!

Fat intake doesn’t help and it is important to reduce your overall fat intake in your diet. But what is just as important is what fats you consume! Anything made from hydrogenated oils (found in margarine,peanut butters, various pastries and cookies) are a definite “no-no”. The same can be said for fried foods so watch that cooked breakfast. If you insist on one then grill, not fry. Remember meats contain their own fats and that is enough to slow grill them instead of drown in oils or the dreaded old fashioned lard! Heart disease isn’t a hobby so bare that in mind when reaching for such products or pulling out that frying pan.

But there are “essential fats”. So substitute those dreaded trans fats with such fats as Olive Oil, Omega 3 rich fish (found in cold water fish such as Tuna, Salmon and Mackerel). Believe it or not these fats are required by your body and actually combat heart disease! So a good intake of Omega-3 is a requirement. Omega-3 also has other health benefits such as keeping your skin healthy and increasing your brain power amongst many other scientifically proved health benefits! So cut down on the ”red meats” and look for healthy fish alternatives. For those that are vegetarian Omega-3 can be found in flax seeds and various other non-meat foods. 

3. Make Sure you Pop a Strong Daily Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement.

There is no real substitute for a healthy and well balanced diet. But for anyone there is no harm in keeping that backed up with a high-potency multivitamin and mineral supplement. This is especially true for men approaching their 40’s or over! Even with the right diet you can seriously lack the essential minerals and vitamins.  Cooking depletes the food of essential vitamins and also other factors such as poor soil quality, storage of foods and processing can deplete the foods of the goodness your body needs. Taking a good vitamin supplement helps guard against any deficiencies in our foods.

4. Make Sure You Include Weight Training in Your Exercise Plan.

Walking, jogging and other aerobic exercise is excellent for cardiovascular health but when it comes to fighting fat it falls way, way short. Research suggests that even once a week resistance exercise can improve muscle strength. So even for those that lead busy lifestyles or just plain lazy, 30 minutes once or twice a week isn’t a great fete to ask. You will be proud of what you achieve in a few weeks. So get your butts down a gym or get a friend to join you. Remember not to try and lift too much. Consult an expert if you are unsure or have a health condition that is life threatening such as heart disease before embarking on this.

5. Make Sure You Maintain Your Optimal Weight.

This is important. Most of us according to statistics are losing the battle against the fat. Still, maintaining a healthy weight is perhaps one of the best things you can do. You will reduce the risk of developing heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and other health risks that can threaten your survival on this planet! Plus you have the added benefit that you will look and feel better! Great for your image and for the lady in your life too!

6. TRY to Drink Alcohol ONLY in Moderation.

Funny this one but perhaps you guys have heard of the “French Paradox”? Well yes maybe and that drinking red wine protects against heart disease. But this MUST be in moderation! Continuous studies show that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol of any kind actually protects against heart disease and lowers the risk of death from all causes. Excess drinking is detrimental to our bodies, so watch your intake. Plus it doesn’t turn you into a super-hero either guys when you stagger from the bar trying to impress the girls. It makes you look an ass! 

7. Protect that Prostate.

Nighttime urination starts usually around the age of 40. This is generally down to the prostate gland starting a growth spurt. This condition is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia and the comforting news is that it can be prevented or even reversed by taking extracts of two herbs: saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) and pygeum (Pygeum africanum). There have been numerous studies that show these herbs actually work in improving urinary flow. This is also without any adverse side-effects. 160 to 320 milligrams is the suggested dose forsaw palmetto and 40 to 80 mg of pygeum. This is to be taken everyday.

8. Prostate Cancer and Reducing Your Risk!

Most experts estimate that almost 80 per cent of cancers can be significantly reduced by making good and healthy lifestyle choices. Trans fats can fuel prostate cancer so as stated above make sure you keep to a strict regime of protective foods against cancers. Such foods are tomatoes, soy and green teas. Green tea contains poly-phenols and these inhibit formation of cancer-causing compounds and also help block the growth of prostate cancer cells. Tomatoes are an excellent way of obtaining lycopene which is also linked to reducing the risk of prostate cancer. This is especially true in cooked tomatoes. The importance of a multivitamin and multi-mineral supplement is also important. Selenium is an anti-oxidant as is Vitamin E. Don’t overlook a high strength Vitamin C also! 

9. Maintain a Healthy Sex Life!

Erectile Dysfunction (impotence) can be devastating to a man, not just physically but also mentally and emotionally. In fact most cases of ED have an underlying physical cause: Not enough blood getting to that organ! So what is important is to help improve your circulation by following a healthy diet and exercising more. Walking is a good start and don’t forget to take the multivitamin and mineral supplement too!

If you smoke cut it out! It destroys or narrows the tiny blood vessels supplying the penis with oxygen rich blood! Herbs can help improve blood flow and such herbs like Ginkgo Biloba helps. Panaz ginseng, oats and horny goat weed are also common herbs when suffering this condition. Maca and seroctin also improve libido. If you are taking medication or using recreational drugs, these can also impair the penis function so consult your doctor if you have concerns or in fact before taking any herbal supplements.

10. Relationships.

One thing that women do better than us men is maintain close relationships so keep in touch with those close friends and your family. Anything that reduces stress is good so get out and enjoy your quality time with friends, family or any fun hobbies you enjoy.

It all helps to enhance your health and wind down from stress.

Trust me, keep these tips close to your heart and you will reap the rewards!