June 1st kicks off Men’s Health Month, to bring awareness to the challenges men face in life. Men on average have shorter life spans than women, as women are more likely to visit their doctor regularly.
The purpose of International Men’s Health Week is to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection & treatment of disease among men and boys. It runs from June 11 to 17th and is a fantastic opportunity to talk more openly about men’s health. See how you can support Men’s Health at the official website found here.
Here at Studio You, we see so many women, and they frequently refer their son/partner/husband/dad/brother in for a health check. As someone who is super close to her dad and brother, I want to champion this focus on men’s health. My dad has been through prostate cancer and my brother does a lot to support the prostate cancer foundation too.
This week is all about talking openly about health and I would love to encourage you and your male family members to have a check up with your doctor. Research shows that early detection of male health issues, like prostate cancer, are critical.
Here are some facts we would love to share with you, in the hope that you talk to the men in your life.
If we all have these conversations, we could reduce the rate of prostate cancer, heart disease and many more health conditions!
Fertility Fact #1
Did you know that alcohol consumption is associated with lower sperm volume? Research shows that health programs focusing on optimising lifestyle and mental health effectively improves male reproductive health.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20674912/
Fertility Fact #2
Excessive alcohol consumption, or an intake of more than 60g a day, is strongly associated with low levels of sperm count, but is reversible after alcohol is stopped. Research shows that men with low-to-moderate alcohol intakes should abstain from alcohol to increase the chances of obtaining a pregnancy. By the way, one standard drink contains 10grams of alcohol so that means more than 6 drinks a day and your swimmers are damaged!
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23969551
Fertility Fact #3
Alcohol withdrawal over a 3month period shows a very fast and drastic improvement of sperm health, even in the case of heavy chronic alcohol intake. So if you are trying to conceive, avoiding alcohol for 3 months before hand will make having a baby so much easier! http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20117050
Fertility Fact #4
Infertile men show an elevation of oxidative stress markers in both their blood and sperm. Aim to avoid oxidative stress and improve sperm health before trying to conceive! Oxidative stress is increased with sugar, alcohol, stress and smoking with it is decreased with a clean whole foods diet rich in anti oxidents. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23416821
Fertility Fact #5
Various studies have revealed that males with low zinc levels have improved sperm production and sperm count after zinc supplementation. Research further shows that zinc and other micronutrients are necessary in the male reproductive system to maintain the right metabolism of hormones, sperm motility and formation – factors that influence fertility status in men.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21804631
Prostate Health Fact #1
Include fresh fish intake – such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, and trout, in your diet at least two to three times per week to get more omega-3 fats. Research shows high amounts of omega-6 fats increases prostate cancer risk, whereas omega-3 fats inhibits prostate cancer growth. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23659447
Prostate Health Fact #2
Increase your dietary intake of cooked tomatoes as it’s health promoting nutrients are more readily absorbed once they are cooked. Lycopene, a nutrient abundant in tomatoes disrupts cancer cell’s ability to connect, thereby preventing the growth of cancer. http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8655912
Guys, when is the last time you went to the doctor? Did you know young men in particular should at least have annual checkups? June is Men’s Health Month—the perfect time to get those annual checkups. See this list of things doctors wish they could tell guys who don’t get their checkups.
