17 Aug Mens how to’s for enhanced performance (if you know what I mean)

As the girlfriend of an Australian man I am more than aware of the “she’ll be right” attitude these men seem to have ingrained in them from birth. It’s a fine art trying to get a man to go to the doctor and to understand that you should probably eat more than just meat and bread. But come on boys, if not for you, for the ones you love, right?

The leading cause of death for Australian men is currently heart disease which we know is directly related to lifestyle decisions. So if we can start to encourage men to make a few small lifestyle changes we’ll be on our way to a healthier nation (if not because of decreased heart disease because of less nagging wives, am I right boys?).

A healthy diet is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) lifestyle factors that directly correlates with long term longevity and wellness. So below are four foods that should be a staple in any Australian man’s pantry.

Oats for the colon: Swapping out your morning cereal with wholegrain rolled oats not only substitutes out the sugar, it also substitutes in the fibre which is protective against colon related illnesses. Having faecal matter remain in the colon for too long allows for bacteria and fungi to present themselves and potentially find their way back into the bloodstream. Fibre assists in moving things through at a faster rate.

Tomatoes for a productive Prostate – Tomatoes naturally come fully loaded with a powerful antioxidant called Lycopene. This antioxidant is best digested and absorbed when the tomatoes are cooked and served with good fats such as fish or olive oil. Try adding fresh tomatoes to your meals instead of tomato based sauces as these sauces can be riddled with nasty additives and bucket loads of salt and sugar.

Citrus for Sex – Citrus fruits are beneficial for so many systems in the body but in men the vitamin C, folic acid and antioxidant content make them a dream for the reproductive system.  Squeeze lemon on top of any meal to add extra benefits, use it as a salad dressing or even try a glass of warm water and lemon in the morning to kick start the metabolism and keep the digestive system ticking over nicely.

Nut Butter for Heart Health – Nuts are oozing with monounsaturated fats (the good kind). These fats help to increase our HDL cholesterol (also the good kind). But when it comes to nut butters you have to keep an eye on the ingredients. Peanut butter should ideally be nothing but peanuts. A lot of peanut butters on the market have a very high vegetable oil content, are high in sugar and have a long list of additives and preservatives which counteracts the benefits we’re hoping for.

In case you hadn’t realised by now… this article isn’t really about enhancing sexual performance, but instead, performance as a whole. But you’ve read this far so you may as well finish it off, right?

Hopefully these tips are something that can be useful for all men, no matter what their level of interest in health. Small changes add up and I’ve always believed that a lot of small steps will get you a hell of a lot further in the long run than none at all.

Written by Kristy West, Lifestyle Author