So many aspects of our health are connected to one another. What you eat can directly affect your bladder, drinking water can change your skin and light exercise can mean the difference between heart disease at age 40 and a long life free of serious illness. Regardless of your life stage, these top health tips for men can radically improve your health with a few tweaks to your daily habits.
1 . Prioritize sleep.
A lot of men feel that they can train themselves to “run on less sleep,” or make up for lack of sleep with exercise, but that simply isn’t the case. Sleep is when the body restores and repairs itself best, and as we age it is especially important that we allow ourselves a proper recovery period every single day. If you’re regularly getting less than seven hours nightly, consider adjusting your routine to make room for a few extra minutes of shut-eye.
2. Ditch calorie counting.
Contrary to popular belief, calories are actually a poor picture of overall health, especially for active men who burn a lot of energy. Instead of counting every bite, focus on choosing a wide variety of foods from different food groups. Even “bad” nutrients like fats and sugars can actually be good for you when they come from healthier options like avocados and apples.
3. Find a doctor you are comfortable with.
Men are notorious for ignoring symptoms and avoiding the doctor. If you take the time to research your physician and commit to seeing them regularly, it can make a potentially awkward conversation seem much less daunting. A doctor you know will also be more familiar with your medical history and can better help you make informed health decisions.
4. Don’t forget your mental health.
There is a reason women tend to live longer than men, and it has a lot to do with how they communicate. Instead of clamming up and trying to push through a serious mental health issue like depression or anxiety on your own, do your physical health a favor and talk it out with someone. There is never anything wrong with getting help when you need it.
5. Incorporate Kegels into your exercise routine.
You may care about your biceps, but what about the muscles you can’t see? The humble Kegel is a simple exercise that strengthens the pelvic floor muscles to support the bladder and bowel while also improving your sexual health. Prevent incontinence and preserve potency in one fell swoop by repeating a set of 10 pelvic muscle contractions three times a day.
6. Maintain your middle.
If you’ve noticed a bit of a gut creeping up on you, working it off should be about more than your looks. Visceral fat, or fat that collects around your middle, is the most deadly fat form around, and is linked to countless health problems including type 2 diabetes. The best way to keep it under control is to eat a well balanced diet and get plenty of age-appropriate cardio exercise.
7. Watch your water.
Being busy is no excuse to skipping out on your eight glasses a day. In fact, men may need even more water than that to stay properly hydrated. Take your weight in pounds, divide it in half, and that is the number of ounces of water you probably need. Keep a reusable water bottle on your person and remember to fill it up to improve your skin, experience more energy, ease indigestion, and prevent urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
When it comes to your health, little lifestyle habits are the key to maintaining a high quality of life. At Arkansas Urology, we know that urological health starts with a solid foundation of overall wellness. If you’ve been ignoring symptoms, or simply want to talk with a urologist about what you can do to maintain or improve your urinary or reproductive health, call us today at 1-877-321-8452. Our providers are leading experts in helping you live your fullest life.
