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MEN’S HEALTH:
Our Nutritional Needs Examined
By Mark Rojek
Advertisements and information abound regarding men’s health. The major concerns include cardiovascular disease, alcohol and drug abuse, prostrate cancer, psychological and sexual issues. Fast cars and alcohol ads assure us anyone with a little extra money can have it all. Commercials and internet spam read like a Who’s Who of pharmaceuticals designed to give men unending pleasure. That is if we don’t have a heart attack first or drive that sport utility vehicle off the mountain side. While the lighter side of media is amusing, we need to discern what is factual when it comes to men’s health.
It has been stated, that stress is the only disease. How bodies react and deal with stress will manifest symptoms in the weakest organ, gland or body system. The display of symptoms also relate to nutritional requirements not being met. A body that is receiving all its nutritional necessities will have few signs of stress. The three major forms of stress are:
- Emotional / mental
- Mechanical / structural
- Chemical / nutritional
Prolonged stress alters normal hormonal levels of cortisol. This negatively impacts the body, contributing to disease. Stress management works well for emotional stress but other forms require attention too. Mechanical stress creates structural problems like fallen arches of the foot or spinal problems. Nutritional stress results from poor digestion or lack of appropriate nutrition. Getting down to basics in the field of nutrition can be frustrating since we are exposed to many opinions. Nonetheless, every body is different with unique requirements. Men have distinct nutritional needs. Obviously, consumption of carbohydrates, fats, fiber and protein need to be from nutritionally dense whole foods.
Of greater importance though, is the ability to digest that food. In the early 1940’s, Dr. Edward Howell the pioneer of enzymes, postulated chronic degenerative disease is the result of “enzyme starvation.” He stated over consumption of cooked, processed food and the associated enzyme deficiencies lead to disease. All raw food contains food enzymes, but when cooked are completely destroyed. This adversely affects digestion to the point of food being minimally utilized. It forces the body to produce an unnatural amount of digestive enzymes, draining the pancreas and other organs of metabolic enzymes.
Generally, men are more active requiring greater energy production. Whereas men need more protein and fat they also need to digest them efficiently. Sugar and simple refined carbohydrates, commonly known as snack or fast foods, lead to alkaline mineral depletion, particularly of potassium. The sodium/potassium balance is essential for a healthy cardiovascular system and heart. Symptoms of elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels along with consumption of “fast food” can result in cardiovascular disease. Potassium deficiency and accumulation of lipo-proteins in arterial walls are the mechanisms. Lipo-proteins are a group of fat-protein compounds responsible for fat transportation in the blood.
The consequences of a history of incomplete digestion of fats and protein often are cardiovascular disease. In the end though, preventing disease by modifying dietary intake of certain foods to accommodate individual needs and ensuring complete digestion by using enzymes is essential. Other ailments not only have a direct relationship to what we eat, but more importantly how well we digest food may determine the outcome of our health as we grow older. Using enzymes for digestion we may avoid later unnecessary disorders.
Mark Rojek is a certified acupuncturist and Enzyme Nutrition therapist and is currently writing two books. He continues his practice in Dexter, MI. He can be reached by phone or fax at: (734) 433-9267. |
