It's a man's world (men are slow learners)

Monday 7th December 2009 8:20am

mans world

More and more is being written about men’s health these days and with good reason. We men are pretty slow learners.

Most men typically treat their health like they treat their car. They assume everything is OK as long as it still works and only take it to the mechanic or doctor when something is broken.

Men just don’t seem to be as receptive to general health messages that appear in mainstream media. Sure they see the messages about alcohol, smoking, blood pressure and cholesterol  but because the negative effects of these things are only seen in the long term men are not as proactive about managing them as they should be.

Hit them where it hurts!

One area where men will take some notice of health advice is in the area of sexual health although they tend to tune out when a prostate examination is mentioned!

Leaving this to later, men are increasingly becoming interested in their health when they are trying to have children. Their partners are mostly aware of the need to avoid alcohol and smoking before and during pregnancy as well as the need for specific supplements like folic acid and iron.

Men however need to do their bit as well. Successful conception is a two part story involving a healthy egg as well as healthy sperm.  Good prostate health is important to good sperm health and supplements can play an important role here.

Zinc is vital for the formation of seminal fluid and sperm production. Herbs like saw palmetto help maintain a healthy prostate and increases libido. Both of these elements are becoming increasingly important as males are leaving having children to later in life.

Once past the reproductive stage men tend to revert to their old ways and forget about specific men’s health issues however for those with a family history of prostate problems  annual testing by a GP is a good idea for those over 40. All men over 50 years should book in for an examination.

A good pointer to potential problems here is frequently having to get up at night to urinate. As men age their prostate gets larger and can pinch the urethra causing poor flow and bladder emptying. This must be checked out by the doctor to rule out more serious health conditions but if it is mild to moderate benign enlargement then it can be greatly improved by using saw palmetto.

This herb acts to gradually help the prostate return to normal size but as the prostate enlarges slowly so it shrinks slowly too. Results are usually are not fast; allow at least a six week trial of saw palmetto before making a decision if it is working or not.

There’s more to it than that

Like all health related topics there is much more to men’s health than can be covered in a few paragraphs. Good nutrition, adequate rest, avoiding prolonged periods of stress and getting some  regular exercise are all important things to consider whether it’s for men or women.

Regular supplementation with a good multi-vitamin isn’t the whole answer but if nothing else it’s a very good place to start.

Herb Valley has the following products that may assist:

This information is not intended as a substitute for qualified medical advice. Please consult a properly qualified health care practitioner.