Men’s Health

       As promised to you last week, today we are going to talk about men’s health. There are a lot of factors that go into it, so we’re going to discuss the best strategies to optimize your health and and make you feel amazing. 

         Now Nutrition, obviously, will have to be one of our first targets. Really, what you need is an all organic, lots of produce, little to no processed foods, to feel good. I know that’s easier said than done, but it’s true. If you can switch your diet from burgers, fries, and a milkshake, or pizza and ice cream, to organic vegetables, whole foods, and good quality meats, than you will start feeling better with that first step. I’m serious. This one step is a huge one. 

         Fitness, is another huge step. If you can workout regularly, then you’re well on your way to getting where you want to be health wise. Try to do at least three good workouts a week. If that’s all you can do, than great! If you can manage your time, I recommend five or six a week. But you need to give your body time to recover too. If you go to the other extreme, and do several hour long workouts every single day, and never give your body the time to recover that it needs, you are going to have all your work backfire and put on weight, feel fatigued, and have a bunch of brain fog from overworking your body. Good advice I can give you, is to target specific muscles on specific days of the week. For example, train your lower body on Mondays and Thursdays, upper body on Tuesdays and Fridays, and chest and back on Wednesdays and Saturdays. And then you rest on Sunday.

       Now that is not a workout program for you, that is an idea of what you could do to optimize the recovery your body needs. If you noticed, when you work your lower body on Monday in that scenario, you are giving your body two days to recover before you target those same muscles again. This will give your body the recovery time it needs. Perhaps you’ve heard this before, perhaps you have not, but the real progress is made during the recovery. After a workout, your body is building up the muscle you just tore to pieces, and getting rid of the fat that you just released. If you overwork your body, it can’t build muscles or burn fat, because it’s overworked. 

       Another thing that I will say about the fitness world for men and women, is that most people seem to think that weights are for men and cardio is for women. But that’s not true. You see, both options are good for both genders. Both men and women need both resistance training and cardio to properly optimize and heal their bodies. One without the other isn’t enough. Men do need a bit more resistance training, but they need cardio too. 

        Hot and Cold Therapy is another option for you gentlemen. This will benefit your body in a number of ways. This is good for women as well, but it will really help with men. You might have seen this mentioned in some of my other blog posts, but if you haven’t: hot and cold therapy is basically where you’re turning the water in your shower from as hot as you can get it, to as cold as you can get it, repeatedly. You’ll leave it on one setting for about thirty seconds, (just long enough for your body to get used to the temperatue) and then switch it. This will shock your body into working harder, which will boost your immune system, burn fat, (obviously it will wake you up), and improve blood circulation. 

          Sleep is part of the recovery that you need after your workouts. If you’re not sleeping enough, than you’re body is not going to be able to recover as well. It won’t be able to recharge your brain after a long day, it won’t be able to rebuild all of your muscle the way you need, you’re not going to have the energy you need, and it will only end up harming your body in the long run. We are not meant to go without sleep. But the world we live in now is so go go go go, that it’s difficult to get the necessary amount. But I’m telling you that it needs to be a priority. 

          Sex is important for health too. The time you spend with your loved one is extremely important for your health. This will help you function better all the way around. The excitement is important for you. While, it is not necessary for your health (if you’re unmarried) it is something that also improves health. For couples, it can be extremely beneficial to your health. 

         Sunshine is important. You need that Vitamin D to recharge your body and help you feel better. Spending time in the sun will help with your mood, energy levels, brain health, heart health, and perhaps even give you that nice tan you might have been wanting. I, unfortunately, burn. So I hope that works out for you. You don’t want to burn. 

          Family is beneficial for your mood, endurance, motivation, energy, and sleep. Spending time with your family can be stressful, they are family after all, but it can also be rewarding. Take your family to the park, go for a hike, have a barbecue, (of good quality meats and healthy barbecue sauce of course), enjoy your time together. Make it fun. This will not only be beneficial to your health, but you’ll look back on those memories with a smile. 

          Essential Oils that I recommend would be: 

         Frankincense: which promotes longevity, supports brain health, and prostate health. 

         Melelaeuca, (or Tea Tree Oil): which fights bacteria and fungus with an anti-septic action. 

         Juniper Berry: which supports urinary and prostate health and helps heals wounds. 

         Cardamom: supports digestive, muscular, and respiratory health. 

         Lemon: detoxifies and has an alkalizing effect. 

             Herbs that I recommend would be: 

           Frankincense, (Boswellia serrata): which is used for Asthma, Skincare, Irritable Bowel Disease, Arthritis, and has an Anti-Tumor effect that can benefit people who have cancer. 

           Juniper Berries, (Juniperus communis L.): which are used for an upset stomach, and promotes digestion. It is used for high blood pressure, congestive heatt failure, and arthritis. 

          Cardamom belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, (or the ginger family). It has been found to have antimicrobial properties, anti-inflammatory properties, benefits heart health, digestive health, blood sugar, oral health, liver health, has antidepressant properties that relax your mind and body, helps with respiratory health, and helps with nausea and vomiting. 

          Lemon, (Citrus Limonum), boosts immunity, detoxifies the blood and makes the skin look healthier, has an anti-aging effect and removes wrinkles, blemishes, acne, etc. It is used for eczema, sharpens memory, alleviates dizziness and helps with motion sickness, helps with stress and depression, relieves fatigue, helps with stomach problems, used for insect bites and poison ivy, and treats Osteoarthritis, Arthritis, Sciatica, Joint Pain, Lumbago, and Rheumatic Pain. 

         Well there you have it! Another blog post for you this week, and hopefully full of all kinds of information that you needed. I hope that this was beneficial to you, and I hope that some of the strategies in here will help you. Have a wonderful day, God bless you!