Preventative health for normal guys
Joseph Federico
Preventative Health … what exactly is it and why should you take an active interest? We’ll explain why through a series of short answers on the topic at hand, and even give you some edible suggestions as to how to implement this thought into your daily lifestyle.
Kathleen Burke PhD, RN of the Ramapo College of New Jersey states that, “Preventative Health deals with actions that when taken usually prevent disease; while it is not guaranteed, most preventative actions result in the early detection of concerns of the prevention of same.”
Louis, a middle-aged man, explains what Preventative Health means to him: “Preventative Health is eating a balanced diet, taking a daily vitamin and food supplement (such as a fish oil Omega 3 product), and getting a good amount of exercise that allows the heart rate to increase both for maintaining weight and brain function.”
Louis continues to discuss drawbacks of not taking Preventative Health into consideration. He states, “Some things to consider before it’s too late are heart disease, diabetes, and yes, even erectile dysfunction; the earlier you start to take these potentially life-threatening drawbacks into consideration, the better off you are. Many baby boomer parents took into consideration the idea of pre-natal care, and provided wonderful nutrient-rich diets for their children … this is something that should be continued as the child grows-up and even more so, the child should continue these regimens when he enters adulthood.”
Let us now get some opinions from those who are part of generation-Y…
Mike, a law student and well-spoken pseudo-hipster, comments on the following question: Why do you think younger men should consider turning to food for Preventative Healthcare?
He replies: “That’s a no-brainer. As a matter of basic nutritional science, food contains the nutrition we need to keep our bodies and immune systems strong. It’s especially important as a young man to eat healthy because poor choices now can have amplified consequences later and because healthy habits are easiest to develop and retain while young – ‘I’ll do X in a few years’ too often really means, ‘I don’t really care enough about X to do it.’
“Besides, if you’re a young man who knows a lot about food and cooking, you’ll not only eat better and more cheaply, sleep better, and have more energy, but people will want to be your friend so they can eat well too,” Mike light-heartedly completes his thought.
Sean, a recent graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and nutritionist-in-training started off by discussing why, as a society, we’re obsessed with the latest trends and body image. He bluntly states, “Since our population is obsessed with image, many feel the need to keep up with the times. Because of this we turn to popular remedies and the most popular of the time is food. By changing the way we eat or adding healthier food to our diet, we can greatly change the quality and longevity of our lives. When considering turning to food for preventative health, you first need to understand what food can do for your body.
“By regulating the amount of protein, carbohydrates, fat, minerals and vitamins you ingest, you can help to improve your diet. These compounds enter our bodies through the meats, fruits and vegetables, oils, and whole grains that we eat. It’s clear that men eat quite enough carbohydrates; the problem is the type and quality of carbs that are being eaten. The type of carbs that should be eaten is whole grain. Whole grains are filled with minerals, vitamins, and tons of fiber, which of course is very necessary in a man’s everyday diet,” he concludes.
So what does this mean for you? Sean suggests remembering the ABCs of antioxidants to prolong your life:
1. Anthocyanins- these contain red, blue, or purple pigments which are found in most fruits and berries
2. Beta Carotene- this is found in orange fruits and veggies
3. Catechin- this is found in tea, wine, and even chocolate
and to skip forward bit…
4. Lycopene- this is found within tomatoes and has tremendous health benefits
Basically, the word on the street is to start taking Preventative Health measures now fellas, while your face is youthful and your heart pumps perfectly. You may want to implement the consumption of different kinds of berries into your diet, Sean says, as the purples, reds, and blues in them help with brain health as you age and are proven to offer various health benefits.
Or put your taste buds to the test by trying the Goji berry; it is a new super food phenomenon these days according to Sean, and is said to fight off cancer, heart disease, and even protects the body from Alzheimer’s.
Hmm, imagine that. Try mixing some blueberries into your daily yogurt or pack a bunch of raspberries in your man bag before your big hike in Upstate, New York … you’ll be happy you went the healthy route. Moreover, wouldn’t you rather go healthy now, before it’s too late? The mentality of living fast and leaving behind a pretty corpse is so passé.
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