June is Men’s Health Awareness Month
Posted on: 2014 06 23
from www.tarrantcounty.com/ehealh Following ChooseMyPlate guidelines is a great way to eat a healthy diet, male or female. However, men typically are larger and have greater muscle mass, requiring higher calorie or energy intake throughout the day. Men may be big meat-eaters because they believe more protein will produce greater muscle mass. While protein is an important part of the diet, it’s important not skip the whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Overeating of meat has been linked to increased risk of heart disease and colorectal cancer in men. Shape Matters Men are often classified as “apple” shaped in comparison to women who are “pear” shaped. The apple shape refers to gaining weight and fat in the abdominal area, or “belly fat” and is related to the hormone testosterone. Regardless of overall body weight, people with extra weight in this region of the body are at higher risk for several chronic diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes. Waist size can be an indicator of abdominal fat. For men, a waist size greater than 40 inches is considered a risk factor for heart disease and other health problems. How can we reduce belly fat? Choosing smaller portions, along with increasing physical activity can help trim body fat. Men’s Health Facts · 1/3 of men age 20 or older are obese.
- 1/3 of men age 20 or older are obese.
- 31{12470e0fe01d1e6fcc7df4df95300bd13a27d9338be1c3cc41e39732a8d70917} of men age 20 or older have hypertension.
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, followed by cancer.
- Men are nearly 25 percent less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year.
- Men more than twice as likely as women to have a leg or foot amputated due to complications related to diabetes.
Prostate Cancer After certain types of skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most the most common cancer among men. While there is no one answer to prostate cancer prevention, there are healthy lifestyle choices than can help lower the risk for prostate cancer. Maintain a healthy weight – overweight and obesity are linked with higher risks of prostate cancer.
- Fill your plate with fruits and veggies – these foods are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that promote overall health
- Focus on healthy fats – Cook foods with olive or canola oil and choose foods rich in healthy fats such as fish and avocados
- Get active – physical activity promotes a healthy weight. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend at least 30 minutes of activity 5 days per week