The 9 Best Drinks For Men's Health
The drinks we imbibe can be just as beneficial or harmful to our health as the foods we eat. As time has gone by, it seems there are just so many choices for what one can drink. It's not simple anymore. Back in the day, the choice for a staple like water was very limited: tap water kind of ruled the roost. Now we have all types of waters to choose from: vitamin water, smart water, flavored water, ionized water, bottled water, filtered water, carbonated water... you name it.
The 9 Best Drinks for Men's Health (Slideshow)
The market for beverages has exploded, and most of these are nothing but a bottle full of sugar and food colorings. Even the carbonated products are popping up everywhere like nobody's business with innumerable products. The question of "to fizz, or not to fizz?" has taken over.
Is this all really necessary?
My mantra for life: keep it simple... and this applies especially to food and drink.
As a young female physician, I know it can be hard to convince a man to change his ways in terms of what he eats or how he exercises. But when I get down to the nitty-gritty and show my male patients the results of their cholesterol, sugar, hormone, and micronutrient tests... all I can say is that these men get a little nervous all of a sudden, and that's putting it nicely.
My advice: first off, ditch the soda, coffee, and dairy, while limiting intake of alcohol. Soda is nothing but bad news for the body, while coffee affects adrenal and heart. Dairy is animal protein which the human body is not meant to digest, in turn causing acidity and inflammation. Alcohol in moderate and controlled consumption can be beneficial, however, overdoing it reverses all the positive effects it can have on the heart and brain.
From a medical standpoint, there are certain health conditions I worry about for men. Just like women experience menopause, men experience what we call andropause. This is when testosterone decreases in conjunction with low libido and difficulty attaining an erection. Prostate cancer or enlarged prostate are unique to men of course, but what is interesting is that men suffer from a lot of the same conditions that women suffer from. But why do women outlive men by over 5 years? Women are more likely to seek medical attention. A lot of diseases that men succumb to early on are preventable, and these include heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, colon cancer, and metabolic syndrome.
So men, pay attention to your bodies: if something doesn't look or feel right, seek medical attention right away. Putting off minor problems can and will only lead to major problems down the road, and ultimately an early demise. Detox your body at least once a year with a plant protein cleanse, which is what I have all my patients do. Strive to create more alkalinity rather than acidity in your body. And always make time to exercise, have great sex, and get plenty of sleep: not only will these activities make you feel amazing, they'll create synergy of the mind, body and spirit.
Whole Juice with Chia Seeds
As a physician, I see many male patients with low libido and erectile dysfunction. Using natural and holistic ways to treat these issues are way better than reaching for a Viagra. Watermelon, pomegranate, beets, green veggies, berries, bananas... they all enhance circulation and blood flow to the sexual organs while enhancing nitric oxide production. Throw in some chia seeds, like what the Aztec warriors used to eat for stamina... and be prepared to go all night.
Pomegranate Juice
This superfruit has been shown to have numerous beneficial effects for men including blood pressure reduction, reversal of atherosclerosis, glucose stability, and prostate health. Plus, there is loads of vitamin C in this tangy beverage.
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Dr. Deepa Verma of Synergistiq Integrative Health believes that healthy and holistic living is the key to happiness and aging gracefully. Follow her on Twitter @DrDeepaVerma and subscribe to her Youtube Channel.