Men's Health Month Chp. 4

“Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do. ”

— Bruce Lee

Your Healthy Toolkit

The past few weeks we have been focusing on Men’s health in accordance with Men’s Health Month.

According to Dr. David Gremillion of the Men’s Health Network, “There is a silent health crisis in America, it’s that fact that, on average, American men live sicker and die younger than American women.” Men die at higher rates than women from 9 of the top 10 causes of death and are the victims of over 92% of workplace deaths. In 1920, women lived, on average, one year longer than men. Currently, men are dying an average of 5 years younger than women and lead in nine out of 10 of the top causes of death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Men are at greater risk for death in every age group. More males than females are born (105 vs 100), but by age 35, women outnumber men.

Men’s Health Is A Family Issue

To quote former Congressman Bill Richardson, “Recognizing and preventing men’s health problems is not just a man’s issue. Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men’s health is truly a family issue.” Of the 9 million+ older persons living alone, 80% are women. More than 1/2 the widows living in poverty were not poor before the death of their husbands.

One of the problems is that men are less likely to invest time, energy and money into prevention and self care, than are women. Women are 100% more likely to visit the doctor for annual examinations and preventive services than men according to the CDC enabling them to address issues at early stages and adopt self care and health services to improve them. Depression in men is largely undiagnosed contributing to the fact that men are four times as likely to commit suicide. More than half of premature deaths among men are preventable. But you can’t prevent a problem if you don’t know it exists.   

The first step is becoming aware of the problem and taking steps for a healthier life., which is our definition for the Self Care Awakening. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “What price can you put on your health?

The last two weeks we blogged about Water Matters and Sleep Matters and how they relate to men’s health. This week let’s focus on Weight Matters and nutrition.

Weight Matters

According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), an estimated 160 million Americans are either obese or overweight. Nearly three-quarters of American men and more than 60% of women are obese or overweight. 

An excess of sweetened foods and beverages can lead to weight gain, blood sugar problems and an increased risk of heart disease, among other dangerous conditions. For these reasons, added sugar should be kept to a minimum whenever possible. Currently, Americans eat over 150 grams of sugar a day. That’s equivalent to nearly 38 teaspoons a day. Put another way, it is like eating two and a half teaspoons of sugar every waking hour.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the maximum amount of added sugars you should eat in a day are much less than this for men, 37.5 grams or 9 teaspoons per day and for women, 25 grams or 6 teaspoons a day.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH SUGAR YOU CONSUME DAILY? DO YOU WANT TO KNOW? THE FACT IS YOU NEED TO KNOW. 

There are over 600,000 food items sold in the U.S and over 80% of these have added sugar. If you want a self care awakening look at the nutrition facts label on the food in your cupboards, refrigerator and freezer. It will list sugar content expressed in grams per serving. Let’s use a few examples, one soda can have as much as 45 grams of sugar per 12 ounce serving, that is equivalent to nearly 12 teaspoons of sugar. Popular breakfast cereals are spiked with sugar, some being as much as 55% sugar. Some surprising foods with more sugar than a Twinkie would include yogurt, tomato sauce, granola bars, fat-free salad dressings, muffins and many canned fruits, typically containing 30 to 40 grams of sugar per serving.

Read labels and track your daily added sugar intake to keep it below the daily recommended amount. It’s important to note that there is no need for added sugars in the diet. The less you eat, the healthier you will be.

Sugar is highly addictive. Sugar activates the reward center in our brain the same way as many drugs, provoking similar cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Studies in rats have shown that sugar activates the brain's pleasure centers more than cocaine does.

To break the sugar addiction, let protein help. Eating protein is an easy way to curb sugar cravings. High-protein foods digest slowly, keeping you feeling full for longer. Protein doesn't make your blood sugar spike the way refined carbs and sugars do.  Protein shakes are ideal for this. The typical breakfast full of carbs and sugary or starchy foods is the worst option since you’ll have cravings all day. Having a good protein rich breakfast is vital to prevent sugar cravings and help reduce consumption. Our Nikken Kenzen Vital Balance is an excellent way to help break the sugar addiction.

Making healthy food choices is a challenge for many of us. Think about it, one of the most important decisions we make every day is what we eat and drink. It is everyone’s Choice to eat Healthy or not.

Men’s Health Month Tool Kit:

Nikken’s Core Nutrition Pack addresses our daily nutritional needs for healthy proteins, fruits and vegetables.

Kenzen Vital Balance® (our protein)

Kenzen Vital Balance® is a crucial component of Nikken’s Core Nutrition Pack. The formula contains organic moringa and naturally sweet monk fruit in addition to organic pea protein and organic vegetables. It is designed to help burn fat and boost metabolism as well as promote healthy brain function and the elimination of toxins in the body. With pre- and probiotics to assist in digestive and immune system activity, the Kenzen Vital Balance formula is food for action and food for thought.

*Note Special offer on Chocolate Kenzen Vital Balance®

From now through June 30th take advantage of our special on chocolate Kenzen Vital Balance® at 33% discount—Get 3 containers for the price of 2! Chocolate KVB is formulated and manufactured in the USA.

Jade GreenZymes® (our veggies)

Called "nature's perfect food," barley grass is said to have more nutrition than an equal serving of any other vegetable. The barley grass in organic Jade GreenZymes® is beneficial in helping balance pH, supporting a strong immune system, and assisting in maintaining blood glucose levels that are already in the normal range.

Made with organic barley grass and our proprietary blend of organic acacia and organic pearl barley seed extract powder. It is Kosher and vegan certified, USDA Organic, certified by QAI and Gluten-free.

We have two servings of Jade Greenzymes daily. This product also comes in a capsule form, but I personally love the fresh green taste in a glass of Nikken PiMag Water.

Kenzen Super Ciaga® (our fruits)

Super Ciaga is an organic mixed superfruit juice concentrate made exclusively with organic fruit content. This advanced formula is made with a select group of superfruits chosen for their nutrient and antioxidant characteristics. Highly concentrated, it has an exceptional ORAC value. Certified-organic, Super Ciaga supports individuals who want to feel more energized as well as those who need assistance with poor eating habits. A great replacement for sodas, simply mix an ounce of Super Ciaga to a glass of PiMag® water or seltzer for a naturally sweet and healthy beverage! One of our favorite beverages.

The Core Nutrition Pack is a vital part of our Nikken Wellness Home. These items are available at a 25% discount when placed as an autoship order. Contact the person that shared this blog with you to take advantage of the savings.   

Heather has created a Weekly Self Care Journal that can be downloaded by clicking here. You can also check out some of our other Freebies.

We hope that this month’s focus on men’s health has provided some insights and solutions for Being Healthy by Choice.

Mens Health Month Chp. 3

“If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it - then I can achieve it.”

— Muhammad Ali

June is Men’s Health Month

This month we encourage men to ‘make the time and take the time' to improve their health.

One of our core principles of the Self Care Awakening is quality sleep. We have blogged extensively about this and our body’s need for sleep.

Part of the problem with sleep is that for decades we have considered sleep an unproductive part of our day, when from a physiological standpoint it is the most important part of our day. As self care advocates let’s change the paradigm of people bragging about how little they sleep to boasting about getting a full 8 hours a night of quality sleep. 

As Matthew Walker, professor of Neurobiology and Psychology at the University of California, Berkley states, “Sleep is a non-negotiable biological necessity,” that includes the quantity and quality of our sleep.

Sleep Matters

For many men, sleep is just one more thing at the bottom of the list of all that needs to be done in a day. It seems like wasted time that prevents them from getting any work done. These mistaken ideas about sleep prevent men from tapping into the power of a well-rested mind and body.

Often, men don't realize that they need more sleep. They interpret sleepiness as an indicator that they must be working hard. They get accustom to feeling tired, and they think that's the way it's supposed to be. They believe that they just must fight through it and try to catch up on the weekend. Not a good plan, as this has been proven to be a myth about sleep and we have a very difficult time in making up for lost sleep.

Every person has their own need for sleep. This need varies from one person to another. On average, most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night to feel alert and well rested. Many men do not get this much sleep on a regular basis. As a result, they are not able to function at a maximum level of health, energy and concentration.

Gender differences in sleep are a fascinating and important area of study. Research has shown that men and women have different sleep tendencies. Some of these differences might be a factor as to why in general, men don’t sleep as well as women and may be a factor as to why women are healthier and live longer than men. 

 A 2011 study suggests that there are marked differences in the circadian rhythms of men and women. In this study, researchers observed the circadian cycles of 157 men and women between the ages of 18 to 74, measuring melatonin levels and body temperature in order to track the 24-hour sleep-wake cycle. Researchers found significant differences between men and women in both the timing of their circadian clocks (which help govern sleep times and wake times) and the interval of the circadian clock.

Women’s circadian clocks are set to an earlier hour than men’s, making them more inclined to fall asleep earlier and to wake earlier. Women demonstrated a stronger inclination for activity earlier in the day than men. In other words, the body’s natural rhythms make it more likely that if you are a man, you will be a night owl, and for women, an early bird.

 While eight hours per night on average is ideal for both genders, it turns out that men are harder hit by periods of sleep deficiency. Lack of sleep causes work performance to suffer more for men than for women, and men recover less quickly from lack of sleep than women do. 

Most men will sleep much better if they simply develop the habits of good sleep. Sleep hygiene consists of basic tips that help you develop a pattern of healthy sleep. 

Sleeping in later is not an option for most people who must be at work early in the morning. Not too many employers are going to let you take a daytime nap, either. The solution is to go to bed earlier. Plan to go to bed early enough so that you will have eight hours before you must get up in the morning. Set it as a goal and make it a priority. After doing this for a while, you will have a better idea if you need even more than eight hours of sleep to feel refreshed when you wake up.

Men’s Health Month Tool Kit:

As Nikken consultants and part of our International Wellness Community we can be of service to the millions and millions of people that struggle with sleep deficiency. We can educate on the importance of sleep and share solutions we have in our Nikken Kenko Sleep System and Kenko Sleep Products.  Here is a link to a recent video we did on Sleep Matters that illustrates why The Nikken Kenko Sleep System should be pat of your Men’s Health Tool Kit.

As a go-to sleep resource, we want to help everyone get a quality night’s sleep and Be Healthy by Choice. Sweet Dreams.

Mens Health Month Chp. 2

“Be the type of guy that makes other guys want to step up their game. ”

— Clint Eastwood

Men’s Health week, June 10th to 16th

Men’s Health Week is celebrated during the week leading up to and including Father’s Day and serves as a time to raise awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men. The week also includes Wear Blue Friday on June 14th to support awareness of Men’s Health Week.

As we mentioned in last week’s Impetus, more boys are born than girls, females live longer than males, and the ratio of men to women declines with increasing age. On the average, women outlive men by 5 years.

Each year Men’s Health Week becomes bigger and more well-known, so if you’re a man that wants to do more, or a woman that wants to inform a man you love about it, then start spreading the word! The more well-known the week becomes; the more men will feel like it’s OK to talk about their health issues and not just push them to the side and ignore health problems away!

Men's Health Matters

This week especially we are encouraged to ‘make the time and take the time' to improve their health.

The first principle of the Self Care Awakening is proper hydration (Water Matters) and we have blogged extensively about this and our body’s need for our most essential nutrient, water.

In general, men need to drink more water than women. Hydration differences between men and women are significant. Because of the different composition of their bodies, the average water consumption per day to keep men and women hydrated is also different. Men tend to have higher levels of fat and need more water because of this. 

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids for men and about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women We advocate that a good rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces of healthy water per day, or 3.3% your body weight in kilograms in liters per day.

Keeping your body hydrated is one of the easiest ways to improve your health, yet research shows, that nearly 70 to 80% of us are dehydrated. If you don’t drink enough, it can affect your body temperature, energy, brain function, digestion, mood, performance, and joint health. Dehydration has been called the mother of all epidemics and the first step we need to take in addressing chronic disease.

Here are some tips to stay hydrated and make hydration a healthy habit. 

• Start and end your day with water. When you wake up, drink a glass of water. This will replace fluids lost during the night and jumpstart your hydration and metabolism for the day. Keep a glass of water at your nightstand and bathroom vanity. Before grabbing your morning coffee, drink a glass of water first. Sip on water as you watch television or read a book before bed. Worried you will be up all night? Watch this short video “I don’t want to stay up all night”

• Make drinking water convenient. Keep a bottle of water in your vehicle, at your desk and other areas you frequent often during the day.  When you have water close at hand you are more likely to drink more and more often. As your body needs water, you will instinctively develop a habit of sipping water throughout the day.

• Add some color. If plain water just isn’t palatable, there are lots of colorful ideas to make it more appealing. Add squirts or slices of lemon or lime, a few springs of mint or basil, cucumber or orange slices and berries or watermelon pieces. 

• Include water-rich foods in your diet. Fruits, vegetables, broth-based soups, beans and oatmeal have high water content to help hydrate your body and give you a feeling of fullness.

• Drink a glass of water at every snack and meal. In the busyness of the day it’s easy to forget to drink water, so making sure to drink whenever you eat is a great way to ensure you stay hydrated throughout the day. I know many people that set an alarm to remind themselves to drink water and stay hydrated.

• Teach your children to have a taste for water. With so many sugary and flavored drink options, children may never acquire a taste for water if you don’t regularly give it to them and teach them about the importance of drinking water over other beverage choices. I constantly remind people that water is not just a beverage choice, it is our most essential nutrient.

• During summer travel with your family, times in airports and on airplanes can be very dehydrating. It’s easy not to drink as much as you usually do when you’re on the go, and airplanes are known for low-humidity air that contributes to low hydration statuses during flights. We highly suggest packing an empty refillable water bottle in your family’s carry-on bags and, after going through security, fill them up with water. Many airports now have water fountains designed specifically for refilling water bottles. Skip the vending machine soda and, when the beverage cart passes through the cabin on your flight, opt for water. Soft drinks do a poor job at hydration and the high sugar concentration can interfere with your body’s ability to absorb water and is not a healthy choice (Weight Matters).

• Looking at the color of your urine is the easiest way to monitor your hydration. If your urine is darker than lemonade, you’re dehydrated. It will give you a good idea of how well you’re hydrating in the morning. If your urine isn’t clear, drink water immediately and work to hydrate better the rest of the day. If your urine is a light lemonade color, it’s likely that you are properly hydrated. Dark yellow urine (as in dark or darker than apple juice) typically signals dehydration and need for immediate rehydration.

• Swimming and hydration. Summer is the time for water sports and leisure activity. I remember my kids swim team coach saying, just because you’re in water doesn’t mean your going to stay hydrated. Drink water before, during and after swimming. Of course, that also applies to any physical activity that can increase your need for more water.

Men’s Health Month Tool Kit:

Healthy Water on the Go:

To help stay hydrated all day long we suggest the Nikken PiMag Sports Bottle. I have mine with me just about everywhere I go and sip on it all ay long. This remarkable and affordable water bottle not only filters the water but enhances it. The patent-pending filter has the ability to significantly reduce certain harmful pathogens in potable drinking water. It’s also a green choice: You won’t be adding to landfills and polluting ocean waters with plastic. Environmentally responsible, both the bottle and the filter can be recycled, and you’ll be saving a fortune by not paying for commercially bottled water.  The filter’s alkalizing media increases the pH from 7 to 8.5, representing a 15 to 25 fold increase in pH value, going from an acidic to an alkaline range. Alkaline water decreases oxidation-reduction potential and helps offset the effects of harmful free radicals.

Four 4,600+ gauss neodymium magnets help decluster the water molecules, improving bioavailability to the body’s cells because smaller clusters of water molecules are easier to absorb.

The Sport Bottle is ideal for travel. Heather and I both have ours on vacations and business travel.

 Healthy Water at Home:

We recommend the PiMag Waterfall for healthy water at home. Filtering our tap water is convenient, cost effective and the best way to provide ourselves and our families with healthy water. Imagine if we could create fresh spring water in our own home or office? This is the strategy behind the Nikken Waterfall.  The Nikken Waterfall System is an advanced, technically sophisticated, well designed countertop home filtration system that converts tap water into fresh spring-like water. Using a multi-stage filtration process which cleans, alkalizes, mineralizes, ionizes, energizes and oxygenates the water, the Waterfall produces a light, velvety fresh-tasting water which is highly absorbable and healthy. The PiMag Waterfall works without electricity or plumbing and can be used in any location. Heather and I often take the waterfall with us when camping, it fits perfectly on the counter of our cab-over camper.

Put simply, the Waterfall produces water the way nature intended water to be. Free of contaminants but maintaining an alkaline pH with minerals that are added back after the filtration process. The water is run through a magnetic field that provides a water structure as it occurs in nature.

For the best value, check with the person that sent you this blog about our cost-effective water packs, that include, the PiMag Waterfall, Sports Bottle and our Micro-Jet Shower system and replacement filters. It’s not too late to give the gift if health for Fathers’ day. We have hydration solutions to accommodate any budget.

To quote former New Mexico Governor and Congressman Bill Richardson, “Recognizing and preventing men’s health problems is not just a man’s issue. Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men’s health is truly a family issue.”

For the next few weeks in honor of Men’s Health Month we will concern ourselves with simple self care actions to be Healthy by Choice.

June is Men’s Health Month

“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life. ”

Hosted by Men’s Health Network since 1992, the month of June is dedicated to enriching men’s health and wellness through a broad spectrum of national screening and educational campaigns.

Men’s Health Week is celebrated during the week leading up to and including Father’s Day and serves as a time to raise awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men. The week also includes Wear Blue Friday on June 14th. You can show your support and encourage your colleagues to wear something blue to show concern for the health and well-being of men. From the current research I have been doing in this area, we need it!

We instinctively assume that males and females each constitute half of any given population, but the reality is that the ratio of the sexes varies by age throughout the life course. In most societies, more boys are born than girls, females live longer than males, and the ratio of men to women declines with increasing age.

According to Dr. David Gremillion of the Men’s Health Network, “There is a silent health crisis in America, it’s that fact that, on average, American men live sicker and die younger than American women.”

Men die at higher rates than women from 9 of the top 10 causes of death and are the victims of over 92% of workplace deaths. In 1920, women lived, on average, one year longer than men. Currently, men are dying an average of 5 years younger than women and lead in nine out of 10 of the top causes of death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Men are at greater risk for death in every age group. More males than females are born (105 vs 100), but by age 35, women outnumber men.

Men’s Health Is A Family Issue

To quote Congressman Bill Richardson, “Recognizing and preventing men’s health problems is not just a man’s issue. Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men’s health is truly a family issue.” Of the 9 million+ older persons living alone, 80% are women. More than 1/2 the widows living in poverty were not poor before the death of their husbands.

One of the problems is that men are less likely to invest time, energy and money into prevention and self care, than are women. Women are 100% more likely to visit the doctor for annual examinations and preventive services than men according to the CDC enabling them to address issues at early stages and adopt self care and health services to improve them. Depression in men is largely undiagnosed contributing to the fact that men are four times as likely to commit suicide. More than half of premature deaths among men are preventable. But you can’t prevent a problem if you don’t know it exists.   

The first step is becoming aware of the problem and taking steps for a healthier life., which is our definition for the Self Care Awakening. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “What price can you put on your health?

For the next few weeks we will concern ourselves with simple self care actions that we all can do to be Healthy by Choice.