Men's Health

The “Man Flu” Myth: Do Men Really Get Sicker Than Women?

In general, men are often perceived as being the physically stronger (and thus possibly healthier) gender. However, their response to infectious illness appears to be an exception to the rule. Many people over time have noted that men subjectively report worse symptoms from colds, cases of the flu and other illnesses. The same illness that most women will work through can leave men bed-ridden for days. Is there a difference in the immune systems of the sexes? A new study has weighed in on the man flu and appears to have surprising results.

Do Men Really Get Sicker?

Many sitcom episodes have been written about the different response that men and women have on average to colds and illnesses. However, it is not humorous for many couples. This is a very real source of tension for many couples, particularly when both are ill and the woman is left with the majority of household duties while the man stays in bed. Dr. Kyle Sue decided to look at this issue more closely to determine if there is a biological cause.

Dr. Sue found several studies indicating a difference in the immune systems of men and women. Women have a greater response to the flu shot and report more side effects, which suggests a stronger immune system. They also are less likely to be hospitalized for influenza and other infectious diseases according to a study in Hong Kong. Last, men subjectively report worse symptoms than women—which is unsurprising to many. The study’s authors concluded rather controversially that many men simply need more care and nurturing when they are ill.

Differences in the Male and Female Immune System

Although this study has been a source of amusement for many people, there appear to be very real differences between male and female immune systems. Studies on mice have found that female immune systems are indeed more responsive than male ones. While this leaves women at a higher risk of autoimmune disease, it also can give them additional protection against bacteria and viruses.

In addition, testosterone appears to work to suppress the immune system. Men with higher testosterone levels overall have less immunity after vaccinations. Testosterone is the primary hormone associated with male traits, so this factor alone may have a significant impact on how often men get sick as well as the severity of their symptoms. In addition, estradiol, an equivalent female hormone, appears to act instead to stimulate the immune system and keep women from getting sick as often.

Is the Man Flu a Myth?

Dr. Sue of the recent study on male immunity feels that men’s notorious behavior when ill may have an evolutionary origin. Because men traditionally hunted, being even mildly ill could be life-threatening. Staying in bed and seeking pampering and care from one’s partner might have saved many lives. He argues that men need this nurturing so they can heal and get back to their duties more quickly.

Although many women obviously feel that the man cold or flu is a myth, there is nothing wrong with providing loving care for a partner when they are ill. If men can also take the time to pamper sick girlfriends and wives, many couples will be happier indeed. More studies will need to be performed to determine if there are truly meaningful differences in female and male immune systems, but the current research is interesting indeed.

Keeping High Immunity in Cold and Flu Season

Regardless of your gender, there are several ways that you can prevent illness this winter. Consider incorporating the following habits into your life:

Wash hands often to keep germs on surfaces from causing illness.
Avoid putting your hands near your face where germs can easily enter the body.
Take a multivitamin to help keep your immune system running in peak form.
Avoid sick people and extremely crowded places where contact with viruses may be inevitable.
Spend more time outside to avoid the high concentration of germs in indoor spaces during cold weather months.
Consider taking vitamin C, zinc, and other supplements associated with immunity if you have been exposed to an illness or are feeling under weather.
Stay home when you are sick or wear a face mask to avoid spreading your own illnesses.
Get plenty of restorative sleep.

There is no way to know if men truly are hit harder by infectious illnesses than the women in their lives. However, both sexes should make it a priority to prevent illness and to nurture each other through them. While many men probably could be more functional when they are sick, staying in bed and nurturing yourself is actually the best way to handle a cold or flu.

Phytoestrogens for Men Support Healthy Hormones, Prostate, Heart and More

Dec 12 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Phytoestrogens for men? According to numerous scientists and medical professionals, phytoestrogens—plant compounds that mimic the female hormone estrogen in the body—may play an important role in men’s health. This article describes phytoestrogens, the benefits men might reap from incorporating them into their health regiment and attempts to dispel misconceptions about certain side effects men might experience resulting from exposure to phytoestrogens.

What Are Phytoestrogens?

Phytoestrogens are a subgrouping of what is medically referred to as phytohormones. Typically, these substances are produced by and found in plants, most notably in many of the fruits and vegetables people consume as part of their diets. Examples include produce like garlic, parsley, soybeans and soy products, carrots, kale, broccoli, potatoes, dates, cherries, apples, pomegranates, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, grain products and coffee beans. Among the two most studied and well-known types of phytoestrogens are isoflavones and lignans.

Though phytoestrogens are not thought to be as potent as the hormone estrogen, which is among the chief female reproductive hormones, those in the medical community have expressed confidence in their ability to precipitate many positive dietary and overall bodily health impacts. What is of even greater significance is that phytoestrogens are also believed to offer men many important health benefits.

Phytoestrogens for Men May Reduce the Risk of Prostate Cancer

Isoflavones, the phytoestrogens commonly found in soy and soy byproducts, may help reduce a man’s chances of being stricken with prostate and other hormone-related malignancies. No place has this fact been more evident than in Japan where the incidence of the disease is five times less likely than in the United States and other Western nations. Testosterone, the main male reproductive hormone, is known to serve as fuel for prostatic cancer cells and cause this specific type of cancer to grow and spread. Several therapeutic regiments are geared towards limiting or, in more severe cases, eliminating a man’s ability to produce testosterone. Scientific research has also shown soy might be effective in prohibiting the growth of prostate cells in men suffering from prostate cancer. Researchers think the correlation might be related to the diet of the average Japanese man, which is much higher in soy than of men in the United States and other western nations.

Exploring Additional Health Benefits of Phytoestrogens for Men

It is suggested that isoflavones may play a part in helping men maintain healthy levels of LDL, aka “bad” cholesterol in their bloodstreams. This type of cholesterol is responsible for precipitating cardiovascular problems such as coronary artery disease, strokes and peripheral artery afflictions. Studies conducted on Asian men, all of whom consume diets rich in soy products, revealed they experienced less incidence of heart disease. Prominent American health organizations, such as the Food and Drug Administration and the American Heart Association, have stamped soy as a heart-healthy product and recommends men include more edible items containing the nutrient in their diets.

Scientists and nutritionists have discovered many men, especially those of advanced ages, consume diets lacking protein. For the most part, foods rich in soy are thought to be healthy but also contain enough protein to help those deficient in the critical dietary component meet—at a minimum—the nutrient’s recommended daily allowances.

Lignans: The Other Phytoestrogen for Men’s Health

Like isoflavones, the phytoestrogens known as lignans are thought to provide added protection in the fight against various forms of cancer, as well as aid in the reduction of cholesterol levels. However, scientists believe these chemicals possess several health-boosting attributes, including:

Preventing Hair Loss

Lignans are said to block the body’s ability to synthesize testosterone into the hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT collects in the hair follicles and can contribute to male hair loss or possibly even complete baldness.

Strengthening the Immune System

Lignans contain numerous antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that prevent or lessen inflammation in the body’s cells and tissues. The reduction and/or elimination of inflammation boosts the body’s immune system.

Helping to Maintain Healthy Hormone Balance

The similarity of phytoestrogenic lignans to sex hormones enables them to dock at certain hormone receptor sites, enabling them to contribute to promoting a healthy balance of hormones, especially during andropause.

Contrary to the belief of some, phytoestrogens in men do not cause feminization or bring about certain physiological changes. In the recent past, rumors have circulated that consuming a diet plentiful in phytoestrogens, particularly those containing soy, can lead to men developing excess breast tissue (a medical condition known as gynecomastia). That said, there are many in the scientific community who believe this theory is more of an “old wives tale” with little factual evidence. Studies conducted have shown that, if eaten in moderation and as part of an otherwise balanced diet, soy-based phytoestrogens like isoflavones will not result in a man developing breasts or experience any other form of “feminization.”

While research is still ongoing, the studies that have been completed suggest phytoestrogens may play a role in men improving their overall health and quality of life.

Osteoporosis in Men: A Serious Yet Often Overlooked Disease

Nov 01 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Osteoporosis is a disease where the density of your bones falls to a critical point where they are so weak that even mild physical impact can fracture them. Some people do not experience any symptoms of osteoporosis until they break a bone in a situation that would not have harmed them when they were younger. Osteoporosis is considered an age-related disease; osteoporosis is most common in women over the age of 50 and men over the age of 60.

Osteoporosis: Not Just a “Woman’s Disease”

It’s a fact that osteoporosis is much more common in women. This is true for several biological reasons. The sudden drop in estrogen levels that women experience during menopause causes their bone mass to rapidly deplete. Women also have smaller bones than men to begin with, so when bone mineral density starts to drop with age, women’s bones reach that critical weakness point much more quickly.

Unfortunately, because osteoporosis is far more prevalent in women, it is often considered somewhat of a “woman’s disease,” leaving osteoporosis in men under-recognized and under-treated. Indeed, one to two million men in the United States alone have osteoporosis, with an additional eight to 13 million men suffering from low bone mass that could lead to osteoporosis in the future. Approximately 13 percent of American men over the age of 50 will suffer at least one osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime. Though this rate is not as high as that of women, men are twice as likely to die after an osteoporosis-related hip fracture than women are. Therefore, awareness of male osteoporosis is an important public health concern.

What Causes Osteoporosis in Men?

Of course, aging is the primary cause of osteoporosis. However, there are many other medical and lifestyle risk factors that can make you more likely to suffer from osteoporosis as a man. There are also some medical problems and other factors that can actually be the cause of your osteoporosis, rather than aging. The most common causes and risk factors for this disease in men include:

age-related testosterone deficiency
androgen deprivation therapy
corticosteroid use
excessive alcohol use
low body weight
low calcium levels
low vitamin D levels
physical inactivity
previous bone fractures
small body frame
spinal cord injury
tobacco use

One of the strongest risk factors for osteoporosis is heredity. If your father had low bone mineral density or osteoporosis, you are four times as likely to also eventually develop it. If both your mother and your father had it, you are almost eight times as likely to develop it with age.

There are also several less-common risk factors and causes of osteoporosis in males:

anti-epileptic drugs
chronic kidney disease
chronic liver disease
Cushing syndrome
eating disorders
HIV
hypercalciuria
hyperparathyroidism
malabsorption (e.g. that caused by celiac disease)
mastocytosis
multiple myeloma
organ transplantation
osteogenesis imperfecta
rheumatoid arthritis
Type 1 or 2 diabetes

Treatment and Prevention

Osteoporosis can be prevented by making efforts to preserve your bone mineral density as you get older. It is especially helpful to achieve optimum bone strength before the age of 30, if possible.

Proper calcium and vitamin D intake are crucial for healthy bones. Men older than 50 years of age should get at least 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily. As for vitamin D, men over the age of 50 should get at least 400 IU daily, and men over the age of 70 need 600 IU. However, experts recommend that for the purposes of preventing osteoporosis, you should consume at least 800 IU of vitamin D daily. Getting enough calcium and vitamin D has been proven to reduce the risk of fractures by 12 percent.

Other nutrients that can help reduce your risk of osteoporosis are magnesium and vitamin K. Arguably, it is a good idea to take a daily supplement that contains all of these nutrients. However, even if you take a supplement you should also eat a diet designed for bone health. Important foods to eat include fortified dairy, all manner of vegetables, egg yolk, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fatty fish and mushrooms. Getting plenty of fiber is also important, as research shows that dietary fiber can help increase calcium absorption. This is likely because fiber causes food to be digested more slowly, giving your body more time to absorb the calcium.

To improve bone strength, you must also adjust your lifestyle if necessary. Abstain from tobacco, limit alcohol to two drinks per day, and engage in weight-bearing exercises at least twice a week.

All men over the age of 70 should receive regular osteoporosis tests, just to make sure. If you have any of the risk factors or medical problems described earlier, routine testing should start at the age of 50.

They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. However, for men who have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis, medical intervention is in order. A class of medication known as bisphosphonates is the principal treatment; these can be administered orally or intravenously. Furthermore, any medical conditions that could be causing or contributing to a man’s low bone mass should be addressed. For example, a man who has developed osteoporosis due to sex hormone deficiency should investigate the possibility of testosterone therapy.

Chronobiology and the Circadian Rhythm: What You Need to Know

Oct 18 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

The circadian rhythm is a huge topic of discussion lately due to a group of three researchers winning the Nobel Prize for identifying the genes and proteins that coordinate our internal clocks. As the Nobel Laureate committee noted, a small mismatch between our bodies and the environment can lead to serious health problems. This makes understanding chronobiology and the circadian rhythm critical to maintaining good health.

Chronobiology and the Circadian Rhythm: The Basics

All living creatures have a circadian rhythm, from the smallest unicellular creatures to plants to even complex mammals such as humans. Our bodies have internal clocks that tell us when to be alert, when to sleep and even when to eat. These clocks are innate but also are influenced by external factors such as sunlight, temperature and when we eat. Our circadian rhythms refer to a 24-hour clock, but we also have cycles that repeat monthly, seasonally and annually.

Why are these clocks important? Consider the event of waking. In the early morning hours, our brains switch from making melatonin, a hormone that increases sleepiness, to making the wakeful hormone cortisol instead. As the sky begins to light up, our brain begins to awaken, along with every cell in our bodies. By the time the alarm goes off or we wake naturally, our body is primed to get up and be alert.

What Happens When Your Internal Clock Is Out of Sync?

Why are our internal clocks important? Quite simply it is because our bodies cannot function effectively without them. Without these internal clocks, our bodies cannot prepare ahead of time for events such as eating and sleeping, which can cause issues with these activities. Disorders ranging from IBS to even depression have been linked to dysregulation of internal clocks in the GI tract.

In addition, our bodies depend on these internal clocks to determine when to perform important repair activities such as DNA repair. When our circadian rhythm is dysregulated, these activities may not occur on the right schedule or even may not occur at all. This leads to a higher risk of cancer and other potentially deadly diseases, which have been linked to jet lag, shift work and other disruptions of the circadian rhythm.

Advances in Chronobiology, Advances in Health

New understanding of internal clocks and the way that they affect our health and happiness have led to a new field called chronobiology. Chronobiology is the study of these internal clocks, including the clock that governs our circadian rhythm.

Much of our sleep-wake cycle is governed by an internal clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. This area of the brain collects information about light levels and other external cues, using these to modify the timing of our internal clocks. Understanding more about the genes and biochemicals involved in these can lead to new and more effective treatments for the circadian disorders. For instance, we now know that melatonin is an important part of the body’s preparation to sleep and thus that taking a melatonin supplement can help to get the circadian rhythm back on track. Other new discoveries in the field of chronobiology may mean new and innovative treatments in the future.

Modern Conflicts with Circadian Rhythm

While we now understand more about the circadian rhythm than we ever have, modern life makes maintaining a stable internal clock a greater challenge than ever before. People are working increasingly erratic hours due to a planet where the business day never stops. Many people work odd shifts that keep them from waking and going to bed at a regular time. Travel for work and personal reasons has made jet lag a common affliction. Even simple things like daylight savings time can throw internal clocks off kilter.

Light pollution is also a modern problem that interferes with the circadian rhythm. Most modern people no longer live in an area where total darkness is possible. This can interfere with melatonin production, sleeping habits and long-term health. It may even be part of the reason that we have seen a sharp increase in obesity, metabolic disorders and other chronic diseases.

Maintaining Healthy Internal Clocks

How can modern people combine new information about the circadian rhythm into their own healthy lifestyle? While there is still much to be learned, there are concrete ways that we can help to stabilize our internal clocks. Consider the following strategies:

Maintain a stable sleep schedule with the same bedtime and waking time—even on days off.
Expose your skin to bright natural light every day.
Try to create the darkest possible environment at night, using blackout curtains if necessary.
Turn off screens about an hour before you go to bed.
Consider taking a melatonin supplement at night if you have trouble falling or staying asleep.

This Nobel Prize has brought attention to the circadian rhythm and the field of chronobiology, for good reason. Understanding the workings of the human body’s internal clocks may lead to new and innovative treatments that help people to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Gut Bacteria Found to Influence Diet, Reproductive Success and More

Aug 09 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

A growing body of research suggests that bacteria in the gut influence overall human health. While past research has indicated that trillions of bacteria thriving in the human digestive tract can affect everything from immune system function and nutrition to mood, two new studies have found that gut bacteria influence diet as well as reproductive success in fruit flies. These new findings may have important implications for humans.

How Gut Bacteria Influence Diet

The digestive tract of humans and most other animals contain trillions of microorganisms that are known to affect many physiological traits. Two new studies from the Macquarie University Department of Biological Sciences and the University of Sydney’s SOLES department examined the impact of gut bacteria in fruit flies.

The research, which was published in Current Biology, found that gut bacteria in the flies had an effect on their foraging habits and ultimately their reproductive success. The research also indicated that this influence could be passed down to the next generation of fruit flies.

The teams found that fruit flies do not simply forage for nutrients that will balance their diet; they also forage for bacteria to encourage healthy cultures in their digestive tract. The fruit flies showed a strong preference for smells associated with beneficial forms of bacteria in food with less preference shown for foods lacking these types of bacteria.

Gut Bacteria Also Influences Reproductive Success

A separate study, conducted by the same team of researchers, examined the reproductive success of fruit flies based on changes in gut bacteria. Researchers began by inoculating fruit flies with different species of microbes to examine how the changes in gut bacteria influenced the sexual interaction of the flies.

This study, published in Biology Letters, found that the investment the flies make in reproduction and their ultimate success, along with offspring body mass, was influenced by bacteria in the gut.

Gut Bacteria Can Trick Flies Into Reproduction

These are not the only studies published this year on fruit flies and gut bacteria. Another study, published in PLOS Biology, demonstrated how the bacteria influence the flies’ nutritional decisions. Researchers divided the flies into three groups. One was fed a solution with all necessary amino acids and the second group received a mix of amino acids necessary to make protein but without the amino acids to synthesize it. With the third group, researchers removed amino acids one by one to analyze which could be detected by the bacteria.

After three days, flies in all groups received a buffet with their typical solution or the option of a protein-rich yeast. The flies in the groups without amino acids got a strong craving for the yeast to make up for the nutrients. When five types of bacteria were introduced, the flies lost the desire to eat protein. The team also found that the amino acid levels in the flies were not replenishing, which indicates the bacteria were not replacing nutrients in the flies’ diet by producing the amino acids but instead turning them into new chemicals. The researchers believe the bacteria was producing chemicals that may tell the host fly it could continue without amino acids. This would trick the flies into continuing reproduction, even though the deficiency would impact cell growth.

This study found that Acetobacter and Lactobacillus bacteria were the most effective at influencing the flies’ appetites. Increasing the levels of both bacteria could essentially suppress a fly’s appetite for protein and encourage sugar consumption, restoring reproductive function when it would normally be hampered by the nutritional deficiency.

Previous research has also shown that fruit flies prefer mating with partners who have a similar gut bacteria composition rather than flies whose gut bacteria is too different from their own.

Maintaining a Healthy Balance of Gut Bacteria

In humans and other animals, microorganisms in the gut and on the body—collectively called the microbiome—play a role in many physiological traits and behaviors. The immune system, gastrointestinal system and stress have all been found to interact. For example, psychological stress causes a near-immediate change in the population of gut bacteria, and some of the bacteria influence the effect of stress on the immune system.

Stress, through its effect on gut bacteria, and the immune system can also alter brain function. In some people, gut bacteria can play a role in anxiety, stress, depression and memory. Researchers have even found that to communicate, gut microbes can produce many of the same neurochemicals that relay information in the human brain. Among these neurochemicals are dopamine, serotonin and GABA, all of which are used by human neurons to regulate mood.

All of this research indicates that it may be more important than anyone really understands to maintain a healthy balance of gut flora. There are several ways to do this, including eating a diet rich in vegetables, legumes, fruit and beans, eating fermented foods like yogurt, kefir and sauerkraut, supplementing with a high-quality probiotic formula and cutting back on artificial sweetener, which may negatively affect gut bacteria.

New Research Sheds Light on Link Between Iron and Heart Disease

Aug 03 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Are you getting enough iron in your diet? Research on iron and heart disease suggests that getting enough of this mineral may be crucial to your health.

We hear a lot about how diet can affect disease risk. However, there is a great deal of conflicting information. Is vegetarian food the healthiest choice? Should we be eating low-carb instead? While there is no solid evidence about what diets are best, the need for a variety of nutrients is well supported by research. There are numerous vitamins and minerals that can protect your body against disease. According to several studies on iron and heart disease, iron may be one of the most important nutrients in maintaining good health, particularly good cardiac health.

Heart Disease: A Public Health Crisis

While people in the West are less susceptible to communicable diseases and infections than ever before, several other diseases are increasing at an alarming rate. Heart disease is one of these illnesses. A great deal of heart disease is caused by coronary artery disease, an illness in which the arteries that supply the heart become hardened, blocked, or otherwise unable to pass blood. The result is that the heart does not have the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function and becomes increasingly diseased over time. This eventually can lead to angina, a heart attack or a stroke.

There are many theories about what factors contribute to coronary artery disease. Lifestyle appears to be a huge influence. A healthy diet and regular exercise can help to prevent the illness. In addition, it appears that getting enough iron can lower a person’s risk.

New Links Between Low Iron and Heart Disease

Exactly how can iron levels have this effect? It appears that iron levels can affect which genes are expressed, which, in turn, can protect against coronary artery disease or exacerbate it. In addition, the genes expressed by the body also can cause or prevent low iron levels. Low iron correlates with higher rates of coronary artery disease, but which is the causative factor?

According to studies on heart disease risk and blood iron levels, low iron levels appear to be at least partially a cause of coronary artery disease. However, correcting these levels by taking increased iron supplements may not affect disease risk. The issue appears to be more complicated than it previously seemed. It is important to get enough iron, but exactly how much iron seems to remain a controversy.

Too Much of a Good Thing?

This research may lead many to wonder: If low levels of iron are linked to poor heart health, are higher iron levels beneficial? However, research does not appear to support this. While low levels of iron may contribute to heart disease, higher levels of certain kinds of iron appear to be unhealthy. There are different kinds of iron found in foods, with a type called heme most common in red meats. Heme is absorbed more easily than the types of iron found in plants, which is why it is often preferred by people who are anemic or have high iron needs. However, eating large amounts of heme iron appears to be an independent risk factor for heart disease. Eating high levels of non-heme iron, the kind found in plants, does not appear to have this effect.

How can heme iron have this effect on the heart? It appears to contribute to the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which in turn contributes to atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Non-heme iron has a different chemical structure and thus does not oxidize LDL cholesterol in this manner.

Are You Getting Enough Iron to Protect Against Heart Disease?

There is still much research to be done on the link between irons levels and heart disease. However, it currently appears that getting enough iron, and getting enough of the right kind of iron, may help to prevent damage to coronary arteries. There are several ways to increase iron intake, including:

Choose plant-based iron foods over meat to keep levels of non-heme iron high.
Eats beans, leafy greens and other good vegetarian sources of iron.
Eat iron-rich foods with acidic foods such as citrus foods, which helps vegetarian iron to be absorbed at a higher rate.
Choose cereals and grains that have been fortified with iron.
Avoid caffeinated drinks, which reduce iron absorption.
Take an iron supplement or a multivitamin that contains iron if you feel you cannot get enough of this mineral in your daily diet.
Talk to your doctor about how much iron you need, as it varies widely according to your activities and general health.

While there is often conflicting information on what diet and which nutrients are the most important for good health, one thing remains clear. Eating a varied and well-balanced diet while getting plenty of exercise is the most important way to prevent heart disease as well as other potentially deadly chronic illnesses. While you should not take in very high amounts of heme iron from meats, vegetarian non-heme iron appears to be crucial in helping your body maintain healthy blood vessels and heart tissue.