Australia recently celebrated Men’s Health Week to raise awareness of the importance of men’s health. The opening statement on the Men's Health website reads  ‘Despite three decades of adverse statistics, male health policy or rather lack of it, continues to fail the Australian male'. Statistically men have a shorter life expectancy, suffer more illness, more accidents and take their own lives more than women. Heart disease, cancer and accidents are the main reasons for male deaths.

How would you rate your male health?

Do you experience any of the following?

• Mood issues, depression, anxiety
• Inability to manage stress
• Memory loss
• Impotence
• Lack of energy
• Not as strong as you used to be/losing muscle tone
• Reduced facial or body hair
• Increased wrinkles
• Incontinence
• Frequent urination
• Urinary urgency
• Waking up to urinate
• Incomplete bladder emptying
• Erectile dysfunction
• Premature ejaculation
• Infertility

How does prostate health affect men’s health overall?

Insulin resistance, obesity, thyroid function, poor diet, exposure to toxins, liver disease, medications can have an effect on male hormonal profiles. Sub optimum prostate health can play a role in the development of elevated cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.

How do you find out whether you have a normal male hormone profile?

A simple male hormone profile can assess the metabolism and balance of male hormones. Sometimes, depending on age and symptoms additional tests including a cardiovascular health profile and liver function may be requested. Basically what the tests will show is the capacity of the body to produce testosterone, hormone levels and genetic susceptibility.

What are some of the dietary and lifestyle choices for prostate health?

• Maintain a healthy body weight
• Exercise regularly
• Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
• Wholefood diet
• Don’t smoke
• Include foods rich in lycopene such as tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit, guava and papaya
• Include foods rich in selenium such as wheatgerm, seafood, shellfish, eggs, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, cashews, mushrooms, onions and garlic
• Include foods rich in zinc such as oysters, sunflower seeds, seafood, organ meats, mushroom, eggs, brazil nuts, almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, sundried tomatoes, tahini, sesame seeds, garlic, green peas, parsley and basil
• Avoid/reduce stress
• Drink plenty of water
• Avoid
• Reduce alcohol intake

If you would like some dietary and lifestyle recommendations to look after your prostate health you can see one of the Naturopaths at Mr Vitamins. Following on from your consultation you may be referred for a simple blood test or recommended to visit your doctor for a follow up.

Naturopath Janne Ramsay

Janne Ramsay is a Naturopath at Mr Vitamins clinic and has a special interest in baby boomer health including the men's health as they start to age. Learn more about Janne here You can also join Mr Vitamin’s Naturopath Janne Ramsay as she takes you through an informative and fun presentation on the basics of healthy digestion. Discover how your digestive system directly impacts your health.