The Debate Over Protein Versus Carbs

To carb or not to carb. For many American men, that’s definitely the question. But are carbohydrates all that bad? Is a high-protein diet the answer to men’s weight loss? We break down some of the benefits and drawbacks of these two important nutritional components to reveal the fact behind the fad.

Carbohydrates

The Good: Face Facts-complex carbohydrates are a necessary part of a healthy diet. They provide energy for the entire body. And for those men looking to lose weight, restricting the amount of carbs in a diet forces the body to break down fat for energy instead of carbs. This in turn can lead to greater weight loss and reduce appetite.

The Bad: Eating too many carbohydrates can be just as bad as not eating enough. Overeating can cause weight gain and could lead to heart disease. Not eating enough can lead to headaches, irritation and serious health problems down the line as the body is forced to convert too much fat into energy and blood sugar levels drop.

Protein

The Good: Protein allows men to build strong muscles and bones and is key for growth and immunity. Eating a diet high in protein contains fewer calories and provides a greater feeling of fulfillment, both of which may contribute to faster, healthier weight loss for men.

The Bad: To fully benefit from protein, men should only consume lean forms of it. This includes low-calorie choices like lean meats, white poultry, fish, soy, beans and low-fat dairy. Eating too much protein, especially if its high in saturated fat like red meat and processed foods, can not only add pounds, but also increase chances of other men’s health problems. And if you’re just focusing on protein, you run the risk of missing out on nutritional offerings (like veggies) that might not have as high levels but are just as necessary for good men’s health.

So Which is Better for You?

The fact is that both protein and carbohydrates are necessary for a healthy diet. Man cannot live on protein alone, and carbohydrates by themselves are not what cause men to gain weight. The key is to keep protein options lean and carbohydrate servings moderate, supplementing your diet with plenty of vegetables and fruits.

Deidra Garcia is a freelance writer and communications manager for MenScience Androceuticals, a men’s skincare, grooming and nutritional company. You can find more articles by Deidra, as well as further tips and advice, at http://www.MenScience.com

Super Foods for Prostate Health

Prostate cancer is a very scary thought for most men. The idea that every single man, if unencumbered by other diseases, will in his lifetime eventually have either an enlarged prostate or suffer varying degrees of prostate cancer is no secret any more.

The difference now is, we’ve become a nutritionally advanced culture who has learned more and more about natural supplements and products that can help us achieve and maintain health much longer than we used to, as well as to eat the right foods that will make our organs function at peak levels well into late ages.

Prostate health is no different. There are foods that you can eat that will help keep your walnut-sized prostate gland functioning at peak performance, and in healthy condition for a longer time than if you had a nutritionally lacking diet.

The foods that a man can eat to support the health of your prostate actually have multiple health benefits in addition to prostate health. This is because they are mostly classed into a coined group of foods dubbed “super foods” for their healing and health promoting properties, as well as therapeutic uses.

What are these “super foods” for prostate health you ask? Well, the first one may be a bit surprising for a guy to hear, because this nutrient rich food is usually reserved for female health. It’s soy.

The compound derived from the common soybean, which is so many time suggested as a benefit to women’s health. Well, some research has shown that soy derived products can also support a man’s prostate health as well. Soy is a common ingredient in vegetarian and vegan dishes.

It is used because it is so versatile, and easily absorbs the flavors of other foods, and can easily emulate these foods as well. Soy burgers, soy cheese, and other soy products that taste like meat and poultry have a lot of soy in them, but it’s actually best when you get it in the form of the actual soybean or in tofu, because it is not so radically processed at this point.

You can also buy powdered soy genistein, which is actually the active chemical in soy products (not all though) that can be an excellent cancer thwarting agent.

Another good food for prostate health is fruit. This may seem like common sense, but there is a slightly more complex reason that fruits may be good for your prostate. Fruits contain a natural sugar in them which has been found to have a protective effect on the male prostate gland. There is another natural chemical compound in some fruits called lycopene, which has been shown to have very beneficial effects.

This natural nutritionally powerful compound gives fruits and veggies a deep red color, so the deeper the red, the more lycopene it is likely to have. Men who were studied and had diets high in fruits and vegetable rich in lycopene were also found to have less incidence of prostate cancer.

Saw palmetto, an herb that is fairly inexpensive to come by, has long been thought to provide great benefit to men with an enlarged prostate, and to help continue prostate health. Some have refuted this, but nonetheless there is some anecdotal proof out there that men may not want to bypass the likelihood this herb still has great benefit to overall male health, especially prostate health.

As far as foods to avoid to keep the prostate gland in good shape and functioning properly and efficiently, milk has been found to be a possible deterrent to maintaining the health of this important gland.

Perhaps just limiting the consumption of milk or dairy in general would be prudent, especially for men in their older age where every little bit might help. Another possibility would be to replace milk with a milk substitute such as soy milk (kill two birds with one stone).

As long as you maintain a quality diet with a variety of color, less red meats and more fruits and veggies, you can rest assured you are doing all you can to promote a long, healthy and complication free life for your prostate gland. Not only that, these foods will benefit other areas of your health as well, making it well worth your while to pay attention to what you put in your body.

Danna Schneider is the founder of Men’s Health and Enhancement , an online magazine about innovations and news in mens health, and also contributes to Herbal and Alternative Health , where various supplements and alternative treatments can be found.

Pilates For Men Breathes Life Into Men’s Health

Pilates for men gives you increased strength, more endurance, agility and power. These benefits are what most men are looking for their workout to provide.

Is Pilates for men different then for women? Not in terms of actual exercises, but because men have different physical structures than women, certain moves may prove difficult. Men have a narrower pelvis, tighter hips and generally tighter hamstrings then women. Both sexes require the same benefits of regular exercise.

Are men concerned with stronger bones, less body fat and better orgasms? Of course they are! Or they should be. Men need strong bones and less belly fat just as much as women do. And better orgasms? Who doesn’t want better orgasms! Pilates has been falsely identified as a woman only exercise. First, it was created by a man for men. The first practitioners were soldiers, boxers, and athletes.

There seems to be a movement of men to Pilates. I’ve seen more men in my studio recently than ever before. I’ve noticed that they break down into three categories. Men who are aging, men who are young and fit, and men who have had a significant weight loss. Their reasons for seeking out Pilates for men may be different, but they can all benefit from the regimen.

Men who are getting older notice a difference in how their bodies feel. They may be unable to perform the same kind of exercise they did when younger. These men will benefit from more stretching, core strengthening for stronger backs and better posture, and exercise that is gentle on their joints.

Men who are young and fit may already be active and strong. More often they are looking to gain functional strength to improve their golf game or muscular endurance. Or they might be bored with their routines and want variety. Pilates for men can breathe some life back into their game.

Men who have lost a large amount of weight might still have belly fat. They lost the pounds and now want to tone their mid sections. Pilates, with all its attention to building stronger abs, is a perfect addition to a well-rounded plan that includes cardio, strength training and a lean low fat diet.

Pilates for men can improve posture, balance, stability, flexibility, coordination, endurance and functional strength. Men’s health benefits everyone.

Susannah Marchese is a certified Pilates fitness instructor and a senior contributing writer to everything-about-pilates.com. To read more about Pilates for men please visit http://www.everything-about-pilates.com/pilates-for-men.html

Men’s Health – Lose Your Man Boobs Now – Pseudocomastia

Pseudogynecomastia is a medical condition in male humans. It is the development of female-like breast enlargement. Although it may seem humorous to some, those who suffer are not amused. This condition differs from gynecomastia which results from a hormonal imbalance. When breast prominence is due solely to excessive adipose or chest fat, it is termed pseudocomastia – man boobs.

This type of man boobs is caused by obesity. Heredity may be a factor if fatty tissue develops disproportionately in the chest area, but the main cause for pseudogynecomastia is environmental – life style choices. If the embarrassment quotient has risen to your personal level of intolerance, perhaps it’s time for action. Lose your man boobs now.

OK, how do you know if you have gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia? If you have the physical symptoms, then a blood sample will confirm a hormonal imbalance. Your doctor will be able to confirm which condition exists. No hormonal imbalance, then pseudogynecomastia.

What are the treatment options?

Weight loss can dramatically reduce breast prominence. However, it is difficult to target body areas for weight loss either with diet or exercise. The wrong exercises can actually increase breast prominence.

As a side note: here is a fine example of the medical insurance companies in action – many American insurance companies deny coverage for surgery for pseudogynecomastia treatment on the grounds that it is a cosmetic procedure.

The medical establishment offers two treatment options:

• Surgery, liposuction for fatty tissue removal
• Pharmaceutical medication for weight loss.

As a proponent of natural health treatment methods, I can not recommend either treatment strategy from the medical establishment. There are less costly strategies which are not dangerous, invasive, surgery; or artificial, manipulative, pharmaceutical products. However, if you are taking some pharmaceutical products for other health issues, then I suggest that you investigate alternative medicines (with your doctor) as weight gain may be a side-effect of your current medication.

There are natural treatment strategies for pseudogynecomastia:

• natural herbal supplement treatments
• all natural exercise and diet programs.

Remember the cause of the condition known as pseudogynecomastia is obesity. A successful treatment and prevention strategy must include a weight loss component which not only reduces your weight but teaches you a life style which will keep the weight off.

To find more about pseudogynecomastia
and all natural treatment strategies,
Visit my blog
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Prostrate Cancer Warning Signs – Facts on Men’s Health

Understanding prostrate cancer warning signs is very important as nearly every man experience some type of prostrate problem during his lifetime. Enlargement of the prostate is commonly experienced by men after the age of forty-five. Although this may not be a problem in itself, it is uncomfortable and could potentially develop into more serious maladies.

Prostrate cancer begins when cells in the prostate grow in uncontrollable fashion and invade the surrounding tissues or even spread throughout the body. It is not surprising that prostrate cancer has become one of the major killers of men. Unfortunately, majority of men know little about the disease. It is also suggested that ethnicity is one of the factors that offers some differentiation, with black men the highest risk and Asian men the lowest.

Prostate Cancer Warning Signs

It is possible to cure prostate cancer given the condition is detected in the early stages. One of the best things to do to promote good prostate health is to take a PSA (prostate specific antigen) test every year. The test involves simple procedures to check your prostate and you will be given recommendation if any condition is detected.

The test, however, cannot give you a comprehensive report on the prostate cancer detection. It is simply because prostate cancer symptoms are very difficult to detect. Many men do not even seek medical advice when the symptoms are present, partly because they are very similar to those of another disease: BPH or benign prostatic hypertrophy.

There are some prostrate cancer warning signs that are worth mentioning. They include:

- difficulty starting urination

- painful urination

- incomplete emptying of the bladder

- lower pressure of the urination stream

- frequent urination of small amounts

- pain during ejaculation

- blood in the urine

Treatment for prostate cancer patients has to be specific to the individual case. Doctors have to determine several decisive factors, such as general health condition, age, location of the tumor in the prostate, size of the tumor. The common option for treatment is surgery. However, the main operation, known as radial prostatectomy, is extremely tiring to the body, so the patient has to be in good health condition.

Getting a hormone therapy is also a common option. This treatment does not kill the cancer cells but it reduces the size of the prostate tumor of the majority of patients. Above all, it is important to pay attention to food that you consume. Recent research by the authoritative US National Cancer Institute revealed that men who consumed more than 1/3rd of an ounce of onions, scallions, garlic, chives per day were much less likely to have prostate cancer.

Read here for facts and information about prostate cancer. Learn what you should do to treat prostate cancer effectively. Also understand how to find an online help for prostate cancer.

How To Diagnose Male Yeast Infection

Yeast infection also know as candida is an infection which manifests through itching and burning in areas like your penis or your intestines. The itching is followed by a white discharge from the specified areas. Most times men get their infection after having a sexual contact with an infected person or after using too much antibiotics. An infection is very common nowadays so I suggest to keep your head up and go to your doctor or You can try to cure yeast using home remedies or using anti-fungal creams.

Any men can have this kind of infection, no matter if he’s young or not, so I will tell you some symptoms that men have when they are infected in order to know how to diagnose male yeast infection. Most times infection signs are found on the skin of a men’s penis and the risk that men who are uncircumcised get yeast infection increases.

The first symptom is severe itching. Also during intercourse or when you urinate you will feel a burning sensation in the area of your penis. You also have a yeast when you have a white discharge and red patches on your penis.

The common yeast infection symptoms are bad breath, constipation, indigestion, sexual dysfunctions jock itch, and prostate problems.

A problem with men who don’t know how to diagnose yeast infection or not. They see white dots on their penis and think that is a infection. I am telling you that is not yeast , it’s fordyce disease and it’s harmless to your body and your partner’s body.

Here’s a quick way how to diagnose male yeast infection: before you go to bed take a glass with water and spit in it.When you wake up look at the glass and see how is your saliva.If it dissolved in the water then you don’t have yeast infection, but if you can see your saliva sink at the bottom of the glass and it’s kind of a spider web then it very possible that you have a infection. Be aware that the best way to determine if you have yeast infection is by going to the doctor.

Read now the best home remedies that you can use to get rid of yeast infection the easy way

Yeast Infection Natural cures and Home remedies for yeast article.

Why an optimistic life is good for health

Washington, May 1 (ANI): Everyone says that leading an optimistic life is good for health. Now, a new research has found evidence as to just why a positive life will keep you healthy.

According to a series of studies, optimists enjoy better health than pessimists. The May issue of Harvard Mens Health Watch explores possible reasons for this connection.

The studies have reported that optimism influences health. Some of the finding were- optimistic coronary bypass patients were only half as likely as pessimists to require re-hospitalization, highly pessimistic men were three times more likely to develop hypertension.

The research also revealed that people with positive emotions had lower blood pressures.

In one study, it was found that the most pessimistic men were more than twice as likely to develop heart disease compared with the most optimistic.

These results argue persuasively that optimism is good for health. But people who are healthy are likely to have a brighter outlook than people who are ill, so perhaps optimism is actually the result of good health instead of the other way around.

To counter this argument, scientists have adjusted their analyses to account for pre-existing medical conditions. The studies that made these adjustments found that existing illnesses did not tarnish the benefits of optimism.

One explanation is behavioral. It is possible that optimists enjoy better health and longer lives because they lead healthier lifestyles, build stronger social support networks, and get better medical care. In addition, optimism itself may have biological benefits, such as lower levels of stress hormones and less inflammation.

Finally, heredity may explain some of the link. It is possible that genes predispose some people to optimism, and that the same genes affect health and longevity. The Harvard Mens Health Watch suggests that more study is needed because its likely that multiple mechanisms are involved. (ANI)