Patricia Thompson - NUTRITION TALKWHILE IT is accepted that women's bodies go through changes in midlife, it is often not recognised that men also experience menopause. Jack always claimed that he could eat as he pleased because he had no trouble throwing off weight. At 40 years old, he weighed 185 lbs for his 6 feet 1 inch height on a large frame. By 50 he was touching 200 lbs. Now at 60 he has difficulty keeping his weight under 215 lbs, despite daily
exercise.
Jack's increased weight occurred because of his lowered metabolic rate while continuing to eat the same quantity of food he used to, including high fat, high calorie snacks and sweetened drinks. His last blood test showed a
rising cholesterol level and impaired glucose tolerance, both related to an increase in body fat. His prostate test showed increasing levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a marker used to screen for increasing risk of prostate cancer.
He also complained about occasional impotence. In recent times, Jack has started to show more interest in the quality of his diet since he was told that his various conditions could improve
with healthy eating.
IMPOTENCE
Hormonal disturbances or psychological factors may be the prime cause of impotence but physical impotence could be caused by diabetes, hypertension and hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). In atherosclerosis, plaque clog the blood vessels, blocking the flow of blood to the genitals and nerves so interfering with the erection. Fatty foods especially from the saturated fats of meat cause increased plaque production. A rapid gain in weight may also contribute to impotence. With just a 10 per cent loss in weight, many men experience an improved sex life. Nutrients useful for blood and nerve health include vitamins E, A, B complex and the mineral zinc.
PROSTATE HEALTH
The strongest relationship between diet and increased risk for prostate cancer is with a type of fatty acid known as linolenic acid found in butter, red meat and vegetable oils of soybean and rapeseed. As you get older, your body is more sensitive to the effects of meat fat so that adolescents who ate less red meat as adults were less prone to prostate cancer than men who continued to have a high intake. Inflammation of the prostate responds to an increased intake of antioxidant vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals of fresh vegetables more so than fruits.
THE DIET
The usual principles of healthy eating apply equally to men as to women. Portion control is critical for weight loss and alcoholic beverages should not be abused. Dried peas and beans are useful sources of zinc, which boosts immunity and nourishes the prostate gland. Zinc in large quantities taken as supplements, however, may actually increase the risk of prostate cancer. Plant foods also help to increase the fibre content of the diet needed for colonic health while reducing saturated fat related to chronic diseases. Plant foods for protective phytochemicals are especially the green and yellow vegetables, cabbage and seaweed. The red colour of tomato and tomato paste/ketchup, provides lycopene, found to be useful for prostate health
as were nuts eaten at least five times
weekly.
Not much interest has been shown in the past in men's health, yet men are just as prone to chronic disorders as the females. In fact, men suffer a greater degree of heart attacks than women at a younger age and some forms of cancer related to alcohol and tobacco use are greater in men. Men should therefore start early to pay more attention to their nutritional health.
Patricia Thompson M.Sc., Registered Nutritionist, Nutrition
and Diet Services.
