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Let’s Talk About Men’s Health

Let’s Talk About Men’s Health

I would like to talk about men’s health. One of the best things that a father can do is be an example for their children on how to take care of their body, create a healthy lifestyle, and eat well.

I would like to talk about men’s health. One of the best things that a father can do is be an example for their children on how to take care of their body, create a healthy lifestyle, and eat well. When I worked in the ICU, I would see so many men come in at the last minute of the hospital, and many times at that point it was too late to fix the years of living a poor lifestyle. The reality is that after many years of unhealthy living cannot be fixed in a few days, weeks, or months. I am very quick to let my patients know that for every year you’ve had issues then expect at least that many months to get better.

One of the best ways a man can support his health is by eating an organic nutrient dense diet to prevent insulin resistance and diabetes. Insulin resistance can occur in your body for many years before you even develop type 2 diabetes, and it can most times be reversible. It occurs in your body when your muscles, liver, and fat do not respond properly to insulin. Insulin is critical for regulating blood sugar levels in the body. When you have insulin resistance it can lead to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, a stroke, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, high blood pressure, hardening in the arteries, higher cholesterol levels, lower testosterone, sexual impotence, and erectile dysfunction. Due to the rise in obesity and diabetes, boys born in the 2000s have a 1 in 3 chance of developing diabetes in their lifetime. In one study, having 30 minutes of physical activity a day with a healthier diet decreases the risk for diabetes by 50%.

Cardiovascular health such as high blood pressure and strokes are topic that men should take seriously because there can be fatal complications if it is not properly addressed early on. It is estimated by the American Heart Association that one in three men have a form of cardiovascular disease. African American men have a greater risk of 100,000 more death than men of Caucasian descent. One important early warning sign of cardiovascular disease and a sign of a bigger problem with the vascular system is erectile dysfunction. Even though it is not life-threatening, it is caused by atherosclerosis and sometimes insulin resistance. Atherosclerosis in the body is caused by the same process that can cause a heart attack.

In a recent study, men’s sperm count has dropped by 60 percent since 1973. Why is that? It is due to lack of nutrients, stress, poor diet, environmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors such as phthalates. Phthalates are man-made chemicals known as parfum or fragrances and are in everything from plastics, home goods, personal care, and cleaning products. These chemicals are everywhere! Endocrine disruptors mimic your natural hormones and that causes the hormones to not function properly. Over time exposure to endocrine

disruptors, it can cause diminished sperm count, reduced sperm quality, infertility, and congenital malformations of the genital tract. To help with this you can start today by purchasing products that are phthalate-free and help decrease the exposure to the next generation.

I understand that tackling your health issues can be very daunting but by avoiding it all together it will catch up to you and has the potential of being lethal. At Be Whole Wellness Center, we can help you have a healthier diet, do the lab work to assess any red flags, and encourage and educate on how to you to live a healthier life so that you can be that great example for your children.