Men's health

I have already written about how men should  examine themselves more in my recent article on Prostate Health, and Jane Cronin recently published a post about tomatoes and their ingredient Lycopene and how it helps prostate health.

So given that it is Movember, have we written enough about men’s health? I think not and the statistics agree with me.

• Men die younger than woman
• 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime compared to 1 in 3 women
• Prostate cancer occurs mainly in men over 60, and is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in New Zealand men
• Smoking causes more deaths every year in New Zealand than road crashes, suicide, skin cancers, drowning and homicide combined. It is no secret that if you are a smoker, it increases your risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and a range of cancers and other diseases.
• 1 in 10 NZ men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime. Some will need treatment and some will live with it, however don't take any chances. From age 40 get an annual prostate cancer check - starting with a simple blood test. Prostate cancer is curable if you get to it early enough
• Depression affects one in six people at any time. Four times as many men commit suicide compared with women
• Men account for 70% of alcohol related deaths
• One-third of men have not seen a doctor in the past year. 10% have not seen one for five years

Movember is about men’s overall health, and one of the more telling facts above is the one relating to men not having seen a doctor. Even I, as a naturopath, employ the services of my doctor. After all he is the one with the medical training, valuable body insights that I do not have. I have a bag of solutions he may not offer, but his medical insights are still valuable.

Movember is about motivating men to consider their health and, more importantly, take charge of it. I recently gave a presentation about men’s health and described what happens to most men who do not look after themselves: drinking a lot, very little exercise, eats anything he wants, and generally sedentary, on heart medications, arthritis medications, cholesterol medications and quite possible Viagra and some form of prostate drug. He would possibly be overweight around the middle and have back pain, and knees that may prevent him from exercising. Sound familiar to anyone?

This scenario, is however, mostly avoidable.

How?

• Saw Palmetto is beneficial for supporting prostate health
• Chrysin, Di-indolylmethane (DIM), Saw Palmetto and Nettle root work to support healthy hormone balance in males
• Nettle root may also support healthy function of the kindneys and urinary tract function in males

Men need to keep moving. Movement through low impact sports, walks, hikes, runs, biking, yoga, stretching, weight lifting, etc have an amazing positive effect on the body no matter what the age. It keeps the blood invigorated, pumps lymph around the body so it can drain away metabolic waste, helps keep fat storage down. And sweating is a form of detoxing. It also helps clear the mind which helps process life and its ups and downs.

Use a doctor – even if it is only as a gateway to other portals of help. A doctor friend once told me that a good portion of his job as a GP is to stop people getting access to tests and treatments they do not really need – but making sure they are pointed in the right direction. Talk to a pharmacist or naturopath/ herbalist

For the men’s seminar I mentioned above, I asked our fans on facebook what women thought I should tell men. The overwhelming response was to listen and talk. Men talking about men, their health and their issues helps men deal with it – but they have to talk first.If you are reading this, then chances are you are a female. I know this to be true. The majority of clients I have seen and spoken to are female. Males will chat to me for one of two reasons. They have either been told to by their female partner or they one of those rare creatures who possess a great awareness of their body.  Luckily the second sort of male is on the increase.

Men’s physical health is also linked to their levels of testosterone, which are also linked to the amount of lean muscle mass. The only way to increase lean muscle mass is through weight resistance exercise.

Look after your adrenal glands: Both men and women in today’s fast paced society tend to hammer their adrenal glands. The adrenal glands produce energy, stress response hormones, hormones for sex, and hormones for water and mineral balances. Your longevity, according to the Chinese and Indian Medicine greatly depend on the adrenal gland’s health. Given that men do not look after themselves as well as women it is no surprise their adrenals may burn out faster or more regularly. (But – yes it does happen to women as well).

Finally men let yourself be pampered once in a while. For the most hardy of you all – even a rough deep tissue massage will help your body and health.

Movember is about education and self care and talking through the man-issues. So do yourself a favour men and sit up and take note. To make a donation to The Cancer society and the Mental Health Foundation for Movember visit: www.movember.com. If you have some images of impressive mo's post them on our facebook page and you may be into win some Men's Hormone Support.