It’s the problem even your closest It’s a well known trend – men tend to be less diligent about their health than women, and females certainly make up a larger proportion of most naturopaths’ clients.

 

Men seem to find fulfilment in being regarded as strong, good providers for their family.  Maybe this is why they try to soldier on through most illnesses, and summarily end any discussion about their health with “I’m OK mate”.

 

Whatever the cultural reasons, guys, here’s one very good reason to look after your health: Being healthy and feeling energetic can really improve your sex life!

 

Now that I have your full attention, here are some major health areas that men particularly need to attend to:

 

At work, men often come into contact with toxins such as chemicals in the workplace, and pollution. Antioxidant vitamins can help the body deal with these toxins effectively, taking a load off your liver. Antioxidants are freely available in brightly coloured fruits and vegetables, eaten raw. Instead of a pie & chips for your lunch today, how about a salad sandwich instead?

 

Men seem to be particularly susceptible to cholesterol problems. Eating lots of unprocessed food with high levels of soluble fibre and omega-3 oils helps. Normal cholesterol levels promote good blood flow to some very important parts of your body!

 

Fertility: Making healthy babies needs healthy sperm. The old tale about oysters and sex going together actually has a lot of truth in it. Sperm production uses a lot of zinc, and oysters contain a large amount of this mineral.

 

The prostate is an important focus for male health. This gland is wrapped around the urethra, the tube which carries urine from the bladder to the penis. As some men age, the prostate tends to enlarge, perhaps because of hormonal changes that occur in late middle age. Prostate size becomes a problem if it enlarges enough to force the bladder to become smaller, or even to obstruct the urethra. This can result in a decreased strength of urine stream, and increased frequency of urination, plus related problems in this area of the body.

 

Gout can sometimes appear as a man ages. This is a disorder of uric acid metabolism. A person with gout can’t process the high levels of uric acid, so it tends to be deposited in far-flung areas of the body, especially the big toe. Naturopaths find that men presenting with gout often have a very high-meat, high alcohol diet and poor liver function.

 

So, guys, its time to take control of your health and make an appointment with your health professional for a complete check up and advice on the best way to get healthy. And remember, there IS a good reason to have higher energy levels!

 

 

Article © Olwen Anderson, 2008

Blokes Can Be Healthy Too!