Yoga results in a marked decrease in stress level. IF MEN are becoming more concerned and proactive about their health and nutrition, it's a change that's imperceptible.
The comment may be a cynical one, but so far as nutritionist Paul 'Tehuti' Johnson is concerned, it is true. "In all the experiences I have had, both personal and the observed experience of other practitioners, women are by far the major participants. They are the ones who are playing the assertive roles in taking responsibility for their health.
"When men do participate they are dragged into it by a woman, or they are at death's door. Very rarely does a man come on his own with a desire to improve his lifestyle," the nutritionist says.
Paul Johnson points out that the most important reason why this should change, lies in the significant increase in chronic degenerative diseases which are lifestyle related and which can be prevented.
Become empowered
"It is in the interest of men from a very early stage, to become empowered and prevent the scourge of chronic diseases."
In prostate cancer death rates, in obesity, hypertension, heart disease and stroke on the increase and men make up significant numbers among those affected.
Heart disease studies, produced as early as 1990 showed that improved lifestyle, including a vegetarian diet, yoga, meditation, aerobics and group behavioural therapy session and cessation of smoking, result in an 80 per cent reversal of that condition.
Heart disease by and large can be reversed using lifestyle means. Men need to start making adjustments to their diet as well as their exercise patterns as two major factors to control risk.
Exercise is important and needs to be consistent. One needs to be doing at the very least half an hour of exercise daily or one hour four times a week on alternate days.
Stress management is another issue for men, related to many chronic ailments. In as early as the 1970s studies have been done on yoga which, along with biofeedback have been used in the management of hypertension. Yoga results in a marked decrease in stress levels.
The advantage of yoga lies in the fact that one does not require heavy or expensive equipment. The activity also tones the muscles and gives a lot of benefit so other exercise forms. All exercise will help to reduce stress though not as dramatically, Johnson states.
Another stress reducing technique is meditation or stilling the mind. "A peaceful mind is a focused mind. Meditation has been documented as one of the most effective methods of stress management and is now listed in the Oxford Textbook of Medicine."
Johnson states that men also need to find ways and means to take a more loving approach to life. No matter how well you eat and exercise, the body will disintegrate if you do not learn to forgive, to control your judgement. Your attitudes are a vital part of lifestyle programme to come to internal peace which is the state needed for body to heal. Stress begins the catabolic mode. Healing is building or anabolic mode.
Getting adequate sleep which is the amount of sleep which leaves you really refreshed is a very important part of lowering risk for chronic diseases and improving lifestyle. Sleep is the only form of recharging the nervous system of the body.
Sleep is also a fast which, like all fasts, loosens and processes the toxins and place them at export point. Awake, we are then prepared to remove them from the body.
- Outlook Team
