The male body is more than meets the eye.
Here are 5 surprising facts about men’s health that you may not know.
- Men Experience Inguinal Hernias More Than Women
Inguinal hernias are far more common in men than in women, and occur when a piece of tissue bulges through a weak spot in the abdominal muscle. More often than not, these types of hernias are a product of fat or a part of the intestines slipping through the muscle in the groin region.
While some men are naturally susceptible to inguinal hernias, others will experience them due to lifting heavy weights or straining.
Whether or not you have battled an inguinal hernia before, there are a couple of things that men can do to help prevent them from occurring:
- Core exercises
- Execute proper form in your workouts and don’t lift too heavy
- Eat a fibrous, balanced diet to aid digestion (aka prevent straining on the toilet)
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Lengthy Workouts May Negatively Impact Your Testosterone Levels
You read that right. Workouts that are longer than an hour can cause men’s bodies to increase the production of cortisol, a stress hormone. Research has shown that high cortisol levels can result in reduced testosterone in the blood.
So men, keep your workouts under an hour to optimize your testosterone levels as you build muscle.
- The Male Body Requires Different Nutrients than Female Bodies
When shopping for comprehensive multivitamins, you will notice that there are different supplements for men and women.
This is by design.
Men and women require different proportions of certain vitamins to effectively maintain their health.
For example, multivitamins for men will contain more vitamin C and less iron than multivitamins for women.
- Men Experience Stronger Flu Symptoms
Men are more inclined than women to experience intense, typical flu symptoms.
Want to know the best way to prevent being out of commission due to illnesses?
It is simple… avoid the flu. The most effective way to do so is to take ongoing action that will support your immune system. This includes washing your hands frequently, getting your flu shot and taking a comprehensive multivitamin that is tailored to men’s health.
- More Calories, More Protein
Generally speaking, men require a higher caloric intake than women. This means that men also require a higher intake of protein.
It is recommended that adult men get approximately 56 grams of protein a day. While it isn’t necessary that you micromanage your daily protein consumption, you should ensure that you are getting protein at every meal.
An effective way to meet this nutritional requirement is to introduce a high-quality protein supplement into your daily routine.
Need inspiration on how to shake up your shakes? Check out these seasonal, protein smoothie recipes to spice up your summertime.