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Though billed as the stronger sex, men have a lower life expectancy than women. Married men tend to live longer than single ones, possibly because they get so caught up in doing other things they forget to look after themselves.
Some of the causes of early death in men are heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic lung conditions, diabetes, kidney disease and chronic liver disease or cirrhosis. Of these, all except diabetes and some types of kidney disease are completely preventable, and even some forms of diabetes are self-inflicted!
If you want to buck the trend and avoid an early grave, you need to do something about it. Make health a priority so that you will live longer and improve your quality of life.
Most men enjoy sport - at least, they enjoy watching it. But sitting in front of the television with a 6-pack and a selection of snacks is not going to help you 'live long and prosper'. You've gotta get out there and do it, as Nike says.
Life's changed a lot since we left our caves; from the health point of view, not all for the better. Nowadays, instead of chasing after a wild boar for a couple of hours to get dinner, you can just ring up for a pizza. Your average cave man got plenty of regular exercise. You need to get some, too.
There are lots of ways of going about this. Working out in the gym, football, cycling or jogging are all possible options. If you have access to the countryside, especially a hilly area, walking or trecking is another idea. There are plenty of other possibilities to choose from, though, so if none of these appeal, think of something you will enjoy - what about kayaking? swimming? golf? - so that you are more likely to succeed.
One of the other problems for men's health is the amount of sugar in our diet. Alcohol, chocolate and snacks (even crisps and similar products) all contain sugar, the main cause of late-onset diabetes. Diabetes can bring on many other problems, including blindness and gangrene, not something any of us would like to experience.
Refined sugar is one of the worst things you can eat. Whenever you eat it, your blood sugar level soars, then a short time later, plummets. That's why it is so dangerous - it can easily lead to hypoglycaemia, and finally diabetes. Trust me, you do not want to give yourself diabetes!
In nature, sugar is part of a whole complex of different vitamins and minerals and it is never found in its pure state. So, if you want something sweet, think about fresh fruit, or if you prefer it, you can get dried fruit - anything from raisins to apricots - or tinned fruit in fruit juice (but avoid fruit in syrup). This way, even if you are still satisfying your craving for something sweet, it's in a healthier form.
There are other possibilities, as well. For example, there are lots of really nice cereal bars, especially the organic ones, some of them chocolate coated. And you can also get low-fat desserts, though these are not so good, as they still contain refined sugar.
Do you like fast food? Or do you feel obliged to eat on the run, so you go for the quickest option? A recent study has found that people who take time over their food and allow some time for it to digest - even if it's junk food - are healthier than people who just eat and run. Maybe the old saw about chewing every mouthful 25 times had something going for it after all!
Of course, it's not just the speed factor that makes junk food unhealthy. Almost without exception, real food has better nutritional value and lower fat content than its fast food equivalent. I know you're busy - but try to take just a little more time, and consider what you eat more carefully. This is probably the most important change you can make to improve your health.
Many health problems are directly related to smoking. I know it's hard, but if you can possibly manage it, do your level best to give up the 'evil weed'. When you do, within a couple of months you will notice an improvement in your health, even without any other changes to your lifestyle. It will also make it a lot easier to take part in your chosen sport - and think of all the money you'll save!
Another little known fact about smoking is that it lowers your ability to absorb some of the essential nutrients in your food. Levels of certain vitamins and minerals in smokers are much lower than in non-smokers. This means that, as well as directly causing blockages in lungs and the blood vessels, it stops you getting all that you need from your food as well, so it's a double whammy.
Sexual health is another area which can be a worry for some men. Excess weight makes you less attractive to women, as well as reducing your sexual appetite and ability. Smoking reduces fertility and causes erectile dysfunction.
Finally, if you aren't sure you are getting all the nutrients you need, it can't hurt to take a supplement, especially if you are a smoker, such as the special formulation for men available from Health and Essential Ltd.
You may not have the energy you had when you were a teenager, but you will certainly have a lot more if you follow these simple tips.
A steady stream of scientific research published in the past decade has confirmed and extended the roster of preventive health and anti-aging benefits attributed to omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3s are now believed to discourage depression, prevent and reduce certain cancers, and reduce many risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Given this flood of positive press, the rapid growth in sales offish oil supplements comes as no surprise.
Sales of fish oil in US reached about $134 million in 2002 and rose sharply to an estimated $210 million in 2003. Clearly, health-conscious consumers are hearing the medical message.
Their role in the prevention of heart disease has been extensively studied, with the following results concerning their ability to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease:
Even the White House has boarded the omega-3 bandwagon. In May of 2003, the president's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging them to promote consumption of omega-3s.
In May 2004 an expert nutrition panel bolstered this position when they advised the USDA to change the agency's Food Guide Pyramid so that it would call for Americans to eat two 6 - 8 ounce servings of fish species high in omega-3 fatty acids every week. (Equivalent to 1g of EPA and 1g od DHA in capsule from)
The FDA has once again confirmed the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, this time as a preventative to coronary heart disease. A similar claim regarding foods containing EPA and DHA was proposed by the FDA back in 2000.
Common foods that contain eiscosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acids include oily fish such as salmon, lake trout, tuna and herring.
Since coronary heart disease is responsible for 500,000 deaths a year in the United States, scientists hope this omega-3 finding will Read More
A recent survey conducted in the UK showed that Omega 3 fatty acids from fish and fish oils can protect against coronary heart disease.
Introduction
Omega 3 fatty acids from fish and fish oils can protect against coronary heart disease. Both health professionals and the public are increasingly interested in their role in the prevention and management of coronary heart disease .
.. So what is the current evidence regarding fish oils and cardiovascular disease, their possible mechanism of action, and potential future developments and research strategies.
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