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The Holistic Approach To Men's Health: Things You Should Be Trying

Your body is important to you, but you'd rather not spend your life popping pharmaceuticals in hopes of achieving health that way. A holistic approach presents a better option, not only by avoiding unnecessary drugs, but also by putting control of your health in your own hands.

Drink Tea

Drinking green or white tea every day is one of the best things you can do for your body. With just as one cup a day, you'll be strengthening your bones and fighting back against the bacteria that cause oral health problems. Even better, you may also be reducing your chances of a heart attack.

Bump your consumption up to three or more cups a day, and you may also raise your metabolic rate so your body burns more calories. Even better, tea contains catechins that help prevent against a number of cancers, including prostate cancer, but you may need to have four or more cups a day to reap those benefits.

Cut Back On Sugar

Sugary foods are packed full of empty calories. Sugar-laden treats leave less space in your diet for healthy choices that are rich in vitamins and other nutrients, plus they cause your blood sugar levels to spike. High blood sugar is related to weight troubles, diabetes and other complications.

White flour and other processed foods are similar to sugar in the ways that they affect your body. A significant reduction in white sugars and white flours will not only lower your blood sugar levels, but will also free you up to eat more fresh, unprocessed foods, such as fruits and veggies.

Get Outside

Sunshine on your skin provides essential vitamin D for your body, so take a daily trip outside. Not only will a walk around your neighborhood or some yard work provide a valuable burst of exercise, but it will also give your body the sunlight it needs in order to synthesize this vitamin. Without enough vitamin D, you run the risk of depression, rickets, cancer or other health issues. Of course, you must to protect your skin as well, so certainly guard against sunburn.

If you can't get enough time outdoors, take a vitamin D supplement daily instead. Since adequate D is so important for overall health, get your levels tested to ensure that you are meeting your daily requirements.

Stay Hydrated

Your body needs plenty of water to stay in peak shape. Rules of thumb that can help you stay hydrated are to drink twice as much as you eat, or to drink half of your body weight in ounces each day. Your hydration should come primarily from water, not fruit juice, coffee or alcoholic beverages, which may add unnecessary sugar and caffeine to your diet.

Sleep Soundly

Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep a night. If you want to be healthy, make a commitment to getting adequate rest. Guard your schedule against activities that will disrupt your sleep routine, such as staying out too late or watching too many late-night reruns. In fact, turning off screens a few hours before bedtime is ideal for your sleep health. Furthermore, to encourage sound sleep, your bedroom should be a place of complete darkness.

Supplement Well

Even if you eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, supplementation ensures that you get all of the vitamins and minerals your body needs. A good quality multivitamin fills in the gaps in your diet, whether they're caused by less-than-ideal food choices or vitamin depletion that occurs during food processing, storage and cooking.

Also important is a quality source of omega-3 oils, since your body cannot produce this essential fat. Both fish oils and flaxseed oils contain omega-3's, which lower inflammation and triglyceride levels. Fish oil, in particular, has been linked to a decreased risk for prostate cancer.

By making conscious choices about what you put in your body and how you spend your days, you can be in control of your health in a holistic, natural way.

Meghan Ross is a freelance writer covering all things home and living. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.

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