Men's Health Week

With Men's Heath week that has just passed, we take a moment to note some of the main issues men face and some of the herbal remedies that can be applied to sooth them. 

Heart Disease

Heart disease is the number one cause for death in the male segment. To minimise the risks of heart disease men should do regular check ups as well as influence their likelihood factors through balanced diet and sport. 

Diabetes

Compared to women, men have a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes at a lower weight. This is partly because male bodies have more belly fat, which itself raises the risk of this chronic disease. Managing your weight and getting more exercise can help reduce this risk. It’s also good to know your risk for prediabetes so that you can take action early.

Low Testosterone

Testosterone levels start to naturally drop in men's 30s.This drop often causes unwelcome symptoms like low sex drive or trouble concentrating, ask your provider whether you need a blood test to check your hormone levels. Your provider can help diagnose any underlying issues that may be causing the “low-T” and discuss options like testosterone replacement therapy.

Depression

Depression in men is often not that obvious as it could play out as anger or irritability rather than sadness. Also men are more likely to negate it and sweep it under the rug, instead of paying attention to it and turning for assistance or seeking help. 

Heart Health Supplements

Coenzyme Q10

Q10 is a chemical that plays a crucial role in a cell’s ability to extract energy from food. Because the heart is the hardest working muscle in your body, it’s essential that your heart have a constant supply of CoQ10 so it has energy to do its work. This chemical decreases with age and low cholesterol also depletes it. That's why with impeding age, it's good to give our body extra of the supplement to ease the heart's work. Studies show that  taking CoQ10 supplements reduces oxidative stress and increases antioxidant enzyme activity, relieving symptoms of cardiovascular disease. CoQ10 is safe and well-tolerated and although it’s not readily absorbed orally, a more “bioavailable” form, ubiquinol, offers better absorption into your bloodstream.

Green Tea

5-6 cups per day of green tea shows to be beneficial in protecting the heart, due to its antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)content.

Magnesium and Potassium

Studies show that magnesium may reduce blood pressure and help heart's functions. Potassium can also offset the rise of blood pressure due to high salt intake.

Diabetes Remedies

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is a super supplement. Research has shown that aloe vera helps in protecting and repairing the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Further studies show that is can increase insulin levels, protect against diabetic kidney disease, depression, and anxiety by reducing oxidative stress and also boost eye health. 

Cinammon

Cinnamon is a favourite of ours. Not only that it tastes deliciously, but it also promotes the levels of glucose, insulin, lipids, antioxidants, controls blood pressure and aids digestion. 

Other supplements that are warriors in the diabetes type 2 fight are bitter melon, milk thistle, fenugreek, gymnema and ginger. 

Depression

Rhodiola

Rhodiola is an herb linked to a variety of potential health benefits when taken in supplement form. These include reduced depressive symptoms and an improved stress response, which can help your body adapt to stressful situations. The herb may exert antidepressant effects via its ability to enhance nerve cell communication and reduce overactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis.

Saffron

Studies have observed that saffron increases levels of the mood-boosting neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. While it’s unknown exactly how this process works, it’s thought that saffron inhibits serotonin reuptake, thereby keeping it in the brain longer.