Men’s Health: Tips to Optimize Your Nutrition
(By
Susan Bowerman M.S., RD, CSSD, CSOWM, FAND – Sr. Director, Worldwide Nutrition
Education and Training, Herbalife Nutrition}
The
old saying that “men are from Mars and women are from Venus” seems to apply
when it comes to nutrition.
While
women tend to fret about their weight and pore over food labels, men often have
a more relaxed attitude when it comes to their diets. Maybe it’s because most
guys burn through calories a lot faster than women do – so they figure they can
get away with eating whatever they want.
Going
Beyond Body Weight
The
assumption seems to be that as long as their weight is in check, they really
don’t have to give much thought to what they eat. But that’s not really the
case.
Body
weight is only a part of the picture. How much body fat you have, where that
fat settles on your frame, along with the overall quality of your diet – all
contribute to your wellbeing.
Let’s
say you don’t do much exercise, but your weight is reasonable. Don’t let that
fool you: you could still be carrying around way too much body fat. And while
excess body fat is a concern for everyone, guys are more likely to carry that
excess weight around the middle, which is much more damaging to health than the
fat that women tend to accumulate on their hips and thighs.
So,
while keeping your weight down is key, you need to do it the right way.
What
Should Men Eat for Health and Good Nutrition
Simply
eating less only works when the nutritional quality of your diet is above par.
Eating less of a poor diet may cut calories, but you’ll still be selling
yourself short on nutrition. Instead, you want to pack the most nutrition you
can into each bite by keeping your focus on healthy food: vegetables, fruits,
lean proteins, and whole grains.
Place
an emphasis on heart-healthy foods. If most of your carb calories are coming
from chips and soda, look instead to foods like oats, beans, berries, plums,
broccoli, and carrots. They’re great sources of soluble fiber and can help to
help keep cholesterol levels in check.
Also
consider seafood that’s low in fat and calories, yet rich in heart-healthy
omega-3 fatty acids. These should be on your menu as often as possible.
Finding
Time to Invest in Your Wellbeing
One of
the biggest barriers to taking care of yourself is time. You may find yourself
so busy that it becomes too easy to skip meals or grab something on-the-go. But
skipping meals usually backfires, and you just wind up overeating at your next
meal.
And if
you don’t make the time to exercise, you’ll gain more belly fat and your sleep
will likely suffer, too. Then, you might find yourself turning to sugary foods
and drinks to boost your flagging energy – which just puts more weight on you,
and the cycle continues.
If
you’re breakfast skipper, set a goal of having a healthy meal a few mornings a
week. If you don’t have time to sit down for breakfast, grab a carton of yogurt
and a piece of fruit, or whip up a protein shake with some milk and fruit
and take it with you.
If you
tend to grab meals on the run during the day, think about packing your lunch a
couple of days a week or preparing a home-cooked meal once or twice a week. It
will give you a lot more control over your what you eat…and how much.
Lastly,
try writing down what you eat for a couple of days. It’s the best way to come
face-to-face with your eating habits – for better or for worse. There’s nothing
quite like a good hard look at the skipped meals, the salty snacks or a severe
shortage of fruits and vegetables to spark a diet makeover.
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