Men's Health

On Differences between men and women:
Men think and look at the world different from women, they have different left and right brain structure/function, they have a different anatomy (more musculature and heavier bone structure) as well as on a hormonal basis. In theory men are a different species from women. Men perform differently in muscle power with a different sporting outcome. I firmly believe that we are "what is found or what is left in our body" including what we believe. A good elimination is the basis of a happy body. All this expresses itself on all physical, emotional and spiritual levels. Think about this: If there is a problem, on whatever level, it will hold you back until that problem is resolved. Awareness allows change.

Women complement the emotional and spiritual side of our male being. Being gay is not a disease; those relationships can also balance the male role in relationships.

On Communication:
From the above it is no wonder that women and men often do not understand one another, and when they do it still is not clear if they are on the same level. Being in the "love space" is the ultimate form of communication, where high vibrational energy cancels out disharmony.

Love is the highest healing you can get. While being "in love" is a dependency, it is constricting, "it does not allow you to be yourself". The clearer the communication between the sexes the better the understanding and the less misunderstanding there will be. Communication is a big issue with many men, as they typically like to work out their problem before they are ready to talk about it. If the issue is difficult you can speed the resolution up by using Bach Flower or similar remedies, mediation, kinesiology (muscle checking, Touch for Health, One brain, ect), EFT and the like. I teach the EFT method (EFT: Emotional Freedom Technique) to solve communication and even physical issues. Counselling with a professional may be of benefit and I do refer to them when necessary.

As a rule "Assumption is the mother of all stuff ups" indicating that the clearer the communication, regardless of intention, the better the result. Ask for clarification when in doubt.

Notes on Nutrition:

Ideally it would be best to avoid all the foods that have no function or that have a negative effect on our body. Foods like coffee, sugar, refined foods, alcohol, foods with chemical colouring, flavour enhancers, preservatives, and the like are better kept at a minimum. Many of these 'negative effect' foods are now so ingrained in our society that most of us find it hard to do without. It is not my object to deny you those foods, just to make you aware that there is a better way, reduction often is all that is needed. Of course, avoiding foods that have these components is always best.
Nutrition is the hardest subject to understand, everything depends on it and the society of today with its fast pace and time constraints does not make it easy. Many dietary practices have been with us from before your grand mother's time. It is our own choice to cook or assemble a decent meal. We often choose NOT to make time to do this and eat on the run. Giving up all the 'goodies' that were there before mankind became 'civilised', thousands of years ago, do not work now. Our bodies though still are 'hard wired and programmed' from that time, without coffee, alcohol, preservatives, drugs, etc. It is your own choice how you want to live and what you do with your life. A naturopath can help you make dietary and health choices, adjusting your food intake is part of what a naturopath does.

There are two diet that stand out above any: The 'blood group' diet and the '40/30/30' or "zone" diet. These two are also found way back in history and are related to the ancient Ayurvedic medicine.

A man's body has a larger musculature and bone structure that requires specific nutrition. Same as you would not put diesel in your petrol driven car. A man needs more energy to run and to maintain the body structures because of bone structure and larger muscle mass. So the basic composition of the three macro-components (carbohydrates-protein-fats) of our diet has to be different from women and children. Calorie wise, men need at least 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent fats/oils and not more than 40 percent protein. While younger women may need a lower protein percentage (down to 20 percent, thereby increasing the carbohydrates to 50%) for better endorphin balance. However, in weight loss programs men and women best use the same macro-components percentages.

One of the main factors to consider is that the digestion of food is optimised when the calorie ratio of the three macronutrients is 1:1:1.

When you go out off the "food zone" of 1:1:1 caloric ratio you will experience a drop in energy level within half an hour of eating, showing like a "foggy brain" period (sometimes this period eventuales at 3 to 4 pm).

Generally any food intake determines how you are going to feel physically and often mentally. Chewing your food well is very important for digestive function.

The blood group diet is related to the historical immunological differences that became about by the changes in society when the hunter-gathering methods of food collection could not keep up with the formation of villages and cities when nomadic life stopped. It is about the access of enzymes to the food in your digestive tract. Foods that are recognised by cells in your digestive tract as less favourable to the mucous membranes determine the formation of a protective barrier in the form of mucous. That food and all other food is then transferred in a partial digested state to the colon, where it is dealt with by the bacterial population, which for your information does give you bloating by gas formation, low energy as you do not get the full energy potential, and constipation. The other mucous membranes in your body ALSO produce the same mucous in your respiratory tract, throat, mouth, nasal cavity and sinuses. For a good digestion and it is therefore best to avoid those foods and keep your digestion up to normal and minimalise the utilisation of your immune system. The production of mucous is not a food allergy, but food intolerance, totally different immunological and sometimes life threatening reaction.

My diet experience: I have adapted my diet and become a firm proponent of the “Zone”- and blood type diets and have used them since the mid nineties. I used to be a strict vegetarian for over 20 years with a low protein intake with the result that I was eating all the time, I was always hungry. When I stopped exercise because of injury (I was addicted long distance running), I gained weight rapidly. When I finally got past the low protein vegetarian "block" and ate more protein foods I felt much better, with longer lasting energy, greater endurance and a better sleep. Since then I am eating only one meal as an omnivore and two meals as a vegetarian and two snacks. Now I rarely go to bed before 12:30 at night and usually wake up at 6:30 in the morning. I seem to need only 5 to 6 hours sleep, and I routinely have two 10 minute meditations every day.

On Weight gain:

This is mainly a result of an imbalance of energy intake and energy expenditure, it can also be because of body/organ oriented problems directly or indirectly related to diet. Reversal of this nutritional imbalance is the same for men and women by changing dietary habits and including an exercise routine to reverse the slump in energy output. The dietary change in calorie intake by switching to a less dense carbohydrates (vegetables) and more proteins and oils is easily realised. I constantly see two main issues: skipping meals and a low protein/low fat diet. The food pyramid diet instituted by all governments (as dictated by the medical fraternity since the late 1960s) is directly responsible for the overweight/diabetic society we have now!

Your weight is dependent on the glucose-glycogen utilisation. To decrease the gap between these two by decreasing highly refined carbohydrates, coffee and alcohol is a step in the right direction. Taking small steps by starting with one meal at the time makes changes acceptable. Giving those coffees etc. up completely is not my aim and not convenient in this time pressed and fast moving society, we have to keep up with it to get anywhere. It takes time to make changes. The important thing is that if you want to make changes and need help I can help you in the right direction.

Carbohydrate breakdown is about the production of glucose. The whole body revolves about the breakdown of carbohydrates to glucose and further down to electrons, which drive the cells. Glucose is allowed to pass the intestinal wall into the blood stream, it is detected by the pancreas resulting in the production and release of insulin. Insulin functions like a key to the doors that allow glucose to get in the cells. In the cells 20 percent is utilised immediately and the remainder of the glucose is safely stored by linking the glucose molecules together to form a safe storage polysaccharide molecule. This molecule is called glycogen, which behaves like fat, it requires the hormone Glucagon to become glucose again. When the sensors in the pancreas note low glucose level the pancreas starts to produce the hormone glucagon. It takes a good 15-20 minutes to make enough glucagon for the recreation of glucose from glycogen. In that time you will find it very hard to stay awake. It is what is called the "foggy brain period". To combat that you either do two things: you need to eat easy-to-digest carbohydrate food (a sugary sweet) OR take a short nap. Medical professionals are well aware of this process and actually promote having naps. I wonder if your boss is going to pay for your slump in productivity, or your siesta!

Sorting your diet out is one of the main functions of a naturopath, to help you correct dietary deficiencies and optimising the way to your health. Most health problems can be helped or alleviated by a well trained naturopath.

I have completed part 2 and if you want to read it just send me a request and I will email it to you FREE. Watch this space.