OrganicAuthority.com - Organic Blog » men’s health

Cambridge Study Finds Major Health Benefits in Decreased Meat Consumption

Jill Ettinger — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:24:35 +0000

New research coming out of Cambridge University suggests cutting meat consumption in half would lead to significant health benefits including a reduction in the number of cases of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Nutrition & Gender

Barbara Feiner — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 16:34:35 +0000

When shopping for organic food, keep in mind that men and women have not been created equal in the nutrition department. The distinctions are subtle, but worthy of careful consideration, reports the September issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch.

Fat
Monounsaturated fats are healthful for both men and women, and olive oil is a good source. So are the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish.

But a vegetable-based omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), found in canola and flaxseed oils, may pose a problem for men. ALA is good for the heart, but some studies suggest it may increase the risk of prostate cancer. For men with cardiac risks, ALA may be a good choice—but men with more reason to worry about prostate cancer should get their omega-3s from fish and their vegetable fats from olive oil.

Alcohol
In both men and women, low alcohol intake appears to reduce the risk of heart attacks and certain strokes, while larger amounts increase the risk of many ills. But while drinking responsibly doesn’t seem to cause any health problems for average men, even low doses of alcohol may increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer.

Calcium
A high-calcium diet may protect women against osteoporosis. There’s far less evidence that dietary calcium has the same benefit for men. In fact, large amounts may increase their risk of prostate cancer. The solution is moderation. The vitamin D in a daily multivitamin may also help offset the possible risks.

Iron
Men need less iron than women do and should avoid excess amounts. In the presence of an abnormal gene, excess iron can lead to harmful deposits in various organs.

Despite these points, men’s and women’s overall nutritional needs are more similar than different, Health Watch reports.

A Healthy Diet for Men

Barbara Feiner — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 14:28:35 +0000

Making dietary changes can be more difficult for guys. One of the barriers is a preoccupation with specific choices: Can I eat eggs for breakfast? Is oatmeal better than raisin bran? How much red meat can I eat?

Individual choices are meaningful, but if they fit into a sound overall dietary pattern, there’s plenty of wiggle room, according to the July issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch.

A report from Harvard’s Health Professionals Follow-up Study examined the effect of dietary patterns—rather than individual foods—on men’s health. The results: Men who ate a lot of red meat, processed meat, refined grains and sweets were 64% more likely to develop heart disease than men with the most prudent diets.

The best diet features generous amounts of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, olive oil and fish, Health Watch notes. A healthful diet is also low in saturated fat from meat and whole dairy products, trans fatty acids from fried foods and snack foods, salty foods, refined grains and concentrated sweets.

But this doesn’t mean you have to eat spinach every day or turn down both hamburger and bun.

What should you do?

Evaluate your current diet. Then set goals based on the pattern that will keep you healthy. Change slowly, but steadily.

By focusing on an overall pattern, you’ll be able to find healthful foods you like. And you’ll also be able to eat the less healthful foods that matter to you most—as long as your portion sizes are reasonable and your overall dietary pattern is sound.

The bottom line: When it comes to diet, men who pay attention to the big picture can occasionally eat “bad” foods they love.

Note: OrganicAuthority.com recommends eating certified organic food to maximize flavor and nutrition, while minimizing your risk of exposure to pesticides, chemicals and preservatives.