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Men’s health is an area that has gotten some extra attention lately as women and men have different bodily functions; hence there are certain specific precautions men need to take to stay healthy. Here are 10 things men need to do to stay fit longer.
1. Eat Homemade Food:
Packaged and processed food are full of preservatives, which only means unhealthy. Not just that, they can be detrimental to your health in the long run and honestly add no nutritional benefits. Instead, opt for homemade fresh food that is balanced so that you gain enough nutrients, which will automatically make you healthy and help boost your immunity. Include fresh foods, grains, vegetables, meat, and fiber-rich food for a balanced diet.
When you shop for groceries, stick to the aisle that sells fresh food and avoid packaged food section to maintain a healthy diet.
2. Get Moving:
Heart disease is the most common cause of death in men, especially in the US, which needs to be taken care of from a very young age. Regular exercise is the best way to prevent any heart disease and keep your heart strong. Your diet also determines your heart’s health. Workout out regularly by getting a gym membership also helps in uplifting your mood. Men are prone to depression more than women as 40% of them refrain from sharing what they feel to others as society has termed it as a sign of weakness all these years. Working out helps release endorphins, also known as happy hormones, that will help fight stress.
Try to get 150 minutes of workout every week for a healthy and active lifestyle.
3. Eating Supplements:
If you eat a balanced diet, you get most of the nutrients, but if you add on a few supplements like multivitamins or fish oil capsules containing omega-3 fatty acids, it will benefit you. A balanced diet still may lack some nutrients, and also, the preparation type may kill essential nutrients. These supplements will make up for the lost value in your meals. Do not add these supplements without consulting a doctor.
5. Maintaining a Healthy Waist Size:
Men are more prone to cardiovascular ailments, mostly because of the extra fat they store across their waistline. This causes an increased risk of developing obesity-related diseases such as type-2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. The best way to shed belly fat is to cut calories from your diet and regular workout.
5. Protecting Your Skin:
Skin cancer is not just limited to men, but women are careful about protecting their skin and apply UV protection creams which helps them against developing this condition. Men, on the other hand, are not that careful about applying skincare products. They also tend to go out in the hot sun uncovered more than women; hence the risk is higher. To lower the risk, do not spend much time in the sun, be under the shade. Cover your body with protective cloths and apply sunscreen on the exposed skin with an SPF factor higher than 30. Reapply the sunscreen every two hours if you sweat frequently. Also, conduct a skin check frequently to know if they are any unusual moles or change in color and texture of the skin. You can do it at home, but better to ask your partner to do it for a better view. Also, visit a dermatologist yearly for a full-body skin check.
6. Visiting Your Doctor:
Men are known to avoid visits to their doctor as much as they can. Also, they are known for ignoring mild symptoms until it aggravates. Maybe this is why women tend to live longer, as they are careful about not ignoring any physical health signs.
Why wait for symptoms to develop when you can avoid any illness much in advance. Schedule a yearly checkup with your doctor to monitor your cholesterol, blood sugar, weight, kidney function, liver function, and several other parameters that determine how healthy you are. This will help you keep a check on your lifestyle and push you to make healthy choices.
7. Getting Dental Checkup Done:
Not just a physical examination, but also get a dental checkup every six months. Dental issues are costly to handle and painful as well. Keep a check on your dental condition regularly also get your teeth cleaned half-yearly to avoid any major complications and procedures.
8. Getting Prostate Checked:
Prostate cancer is a very common cancer diagnosed in American men that needs to be addressed as soon as you can. If you develop any trouble urinating, such as pain, or notice blood in your urine, this may be an early sign of prostate cancer. Do not ignore it; instead, get it examined. Follow the protocol instructed by doctors because if you do not handle this sooner, it can progress to become fatal.
9. Getting Colon Checked:
Colon cancer is quite common and is known to be the second leading cause of death in the US. It is better to start screening in the late 40s to check for any cancerous growth in your colon. Also, they can keep a check on polyps, which is a non-cancerous growth that need not be operated on immediately. Still, they will need to monitor it regularly as it can develop into cancer at a later stage. Ask your doctor about the frequency with which you should get a colonoscopy done.
10. Taking Care of Mental Health:
Not just physical health, but mental well-being is a much-talked-about subject nowadays, with people realizing the seriousness of this. Men tend to suffer from mental health issues too, but most do not speak out. If you are under a lot of stress, deal with it tactfully so that it does not convert into anxiety or depression. If you are already facing depression, get help by talking to your close family or friend. Address the mental health issue at the beginning and do not let it grow.
Make sure to follow all the tips above to lead a physically and mentally fit life. If you are careful about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you will live a healthier life longer.
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