Optimal Care | Incontinence
10 Health Tips For Men To Ensure You Feel Your Best
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Maintaining good health is essential to living a fulfilling life, but it can be challenging to know where to start. With so much information about what’s best for our bodies, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. That’s why we’ve put together this guide with ten practical health tips for men. Regardless of age, there is always time to prioritise your health and well-being; we’ve got you covered. From diet and fitness to mental health and medical check-ups, these essential men’s health tips will help you feel your best.

Eat A Healthy Diet
Eating healthily is the best health tip for anyone, but it’s not as black and white as it may seem. Unfortunately, no one-size-fits-all diet will cater to every man’s body; your healthy diet will depend on your lifestyle and body. However, the NHS provides the following guidelines to help you to put together the best diet for you[i]:
● Eat more fruits and vegetables - Aim to eat at least five portions (80g) of a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. Fresh, canned, frozen, dried, and 150 ml of unsweetened juice all count.
● Eat plenty of whole grains - Aim for at least three servings of whole grains everyday, including whole wheat bread, brown rice, quinoa, and oats.
● Limit saturated and trans fats - These are in foods like processed foods, red meats, and high-fat dairy. Instead, choose lean proteins like chicken, fish, and beans for protein and iron without the added fats.
● Drink water - Men should aim for at least 1.5 litres of water every day. Water helps to keep the body hydrated, flush out toxins and keep the digestive system functioning.
● Eat more fibre - Base your meals on high-fibre and whole-grain foods like whole-grain breakfast cereals, whole wheat pasta, and brown rice. Include pulses like lentils and beans, unsalted nuts and seeds in your diet.
● Keep track of your red and processed meat intake - If you eat more than 90g of red and processed meat a day, cut down to 70g a day (less than 500g a week). Red and processed meat has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
● Eat more fish - Eat at least two portions of sustainably sourced fish a week, one of which should be oily, like salmon, mackerel, sardines, or trout. Fish is an excellent source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for heart health.
●
Watch your salt intake - Aim for less than 6g daily. Check the nutrition label on foods,
choose reduced salt versions, and do not add salt in cooking or at the table.
High salt intake increases the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
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Health Tips For Men To Ensure You Feel Your Best
- Eat A Healthy Diet
- Limit Your Alcohol Intake
- Maintain A Healthy Weight
- Exercise Regularly
- Quit Smoking
- Develop A Healthy Skin Care Routine
- Get Enough Sleep
- Ask Your GP About PSA Testing
- Protect Your Mental Health
- Get The Necessary Screenings For Mens Mental Health
- Mens Health Tips To Help You Feel Your Best
- Sources
Limit Your Alcohol Intake
Too much alcohol can cause
severe effects on the body, including a heightened risk of injuries, high blood
pressure, liver diseases, heart problems and certain types of cancer. Excessive
alcohol consumption can also lead to poor decision-making, risky behaviour, and
mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Therefore, reducing your
alcohol intake is vital to stay healthy, particularly as you age.
To promote good health and
reduce the risk of harm, men should consume no more than 14 units of alcohol
per week. You should spread this across three days or more, equivalent to
approximately six 175ml glasses of wine or 6 pints of 4% beer weekly[ii]. While
there is no completely safe level of drinking, staying within these guidelines
can help lower your risk of health problems associated with alcohol
consumption.
Maintain A Healthy Weight
Being overweight can put you at risk for developing several health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and other mental health problems. Additionally, obesity can also reduce fertility. On the other hand, being underweight can also increase your risk of developing health issues, such as osteoporosis, anaemia and a weakened immune system. So, maintaining a healthy body weight is a vital element of healthy ageing.
Here are some tips to help you maintain a healthy weight:
●
Eat a balanced diet
●
Incorporate
calorie-dense foods into your diet
●
Focus on
nutrient-dense foods
●
Practice portion
control
●
Stay hydrated by
drinking plenty of water and low-calorie beverages
●
Avoid sugary drinks,
processed foods, and foods high in saturated and trans fats
●
Incorporate physical
activity into your daily routine

Exercise Regularly
Exercising has many benefits for
mental and physical health, including strengthened bones and muscles, improved
brain health and reduced risk of diseases. Moreover, exercise increases the
number of calories your body uses and, combined with a healthy diet, will lead
to weight loss. So, a varied exercise routine is vital to maintaining your
health.
Ideally, when it comes to
exercise, you should aim for:
●
At least 30 minutes
of moderate exercise every day
●
Two strength
training sessions per week
●
Regular stretching
Read More: The
Best Exercises To Do With Incontinence
Quit Smoking
Even if you’ve smoked all your
life, quitting is never too late. And, as your body begins to heal from the
damage smoking causes, you’ll instantly start seeing the changes to your
physical and mental health. For example, once you quit smoking, you’ll notice
that you have more energy, can breathe easier, have a better sense of taste and
smell, and lose your ‘smoker’s cough’.
For an ageing man, quitting
smoking will give you a new lease on life. You will lower your risk of strokes,
heart disease and high blood pressure (common conditions in men over 50) and allow
yourself to enjoy the next half of your life with good health.
Develop A Healthy Skin Care Routine
Maintaining a healthy skincare
routine is vital for overall skin health and preventing skin problems. Here are
some tips to help you get started:
●
Consider your skin type - Choose skin care products that suit your skin type. For instance,
if you have oily or acne-prone skin, look for oil-free or non-comedogenic
cleansers and moisturisers that won’t clog your pores.
●
Wash your face daily
- Use a mild facial cleanser and lukewarm water to wash your face at least once
daily, ideally in the morning and before bed. If you exercise, it’s also
essential to wash your face afterwards to remove sweat and oil that can clog
pores.
●
Be gentle when shaving-
If you’re prone to razor bumps, burns,
or ingrown hairs, consider using a single- or double-blade razor instead of a
multi-blade razor. Shave in the direction of hair growth, and don’t pull your
skin taut.
●
Moisturise daily -
Moisturising is essential for keeping your skin hydrated, smooth, and healthy.
Apply moisturiser to your face and body immediately after showering, bathing,
or shaving while your skin is still damp.
●
Check your skin regularly - Regularly inspect your skin for any unusual spots,
moles, or growths. If you notice anything suspicious, see a dermatologist. Men
over 50 are at higher risk for skin cancer, so they need to have regular skin
exams.
●
Wear sunscreen -
Protect your skin from sun damage by wearing sunscreen whenever you’re outside.
Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply every
two hours or after swimming or sweating.
● Protect your skin if you have incontinence - Incontinence skin care is also important for maintaining healthy skin, particularly for older men. Urine and faeces can irritate and damage the skin, so keeping the affected areas clean and moisturising is important. Use gentle cleansers and moisturisers designed explicitly for incontinence skin care and avoid using harsh soaps or rubbing the skin too vigorously.
View our range
of incontinence
products for men for comfortable and discreet incontinence
solutions.

Get Enough Sleep
Getting adequate sleep is one of the most important men’s health tips, as it contributes to overall health and well-being. Good sleep helps your body repair and regenerate, boosts your immune system, and improves cognitive and emotional functioning. On the other hand, lack of sleep can lead to various health problems, such as an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and depression.
To maintain good sleep hygiene, you should stick to a consistent sleep schedule, where you sleep and wake at the same time every day. This will regulate your body’s natural cycle and improve the quality of your sleep. Additionally, you should limit your caffeine, alcohol and nicotine intake, exercise regularly and manage stress, as these can affect how well you sleep.
Ask Your GP About PSA Testing
The PSA test is an important
blood test that can help detect prostate cancer in men. Although it is not a
perfect test and may not identify all cases of prostate cancer, it is still a
valuable tool in monitoring and assessing the health of the prostate. The test
measures the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level in the blood, a protein
produced by the prostate gland. Depending on age and prostate health, PSA can
leak into the bloodstream at varying levels.
Since there is no national
screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK, men need to be proactive in
discussing the PSA test with their GP and practice nurse. If you have a family
history of prostate cancer, are of black ethnic origin, or are overweight or
obese are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. You may need to be
especially vigilant in getting regular PSA tests. By detecting prostate cancer
early, you have a better chance of receiving timely and effective treatment,
ultimately leading to better health outcomes.
Protect Your Mental Health
Protecting your mental health is
an essential aspect of overall health and wellness. It is crucial to identify
and manage sources of stress in your life to maintain good mental health. This
can involve setting healthy boundaries, practising relaxation techniques such
as deep breathing or meditation, and seeking support from friends, family, or
mental health professionals when needed.
Additionally, staying physically
active and engaging in activities that bring you joy and fulfilment can help to
boost your mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Prioritising
adequate sleep, a healthy diet and regular exercise can also improve overall
mental health and well-being. Finally, remember that seeking help for mental
health concerns is a sign of strength, not weakness, and can lead to a happier,
healthier life.

Get The Necessary Screenings For Mens Mental Health
There are several screenings and
tests that you can get to prioritise your health. However, your GP will
recommend additional screenings depending on your age, lifestyle and medical
history. Regularly going for the appropriate screenings and tests will ensure
that your health remains a priority and allows you to quickly deal with any
unforeseen issues.
Some of the health screenings
you can get as a man include:
●
Complete physical
examination, including testicles and prostate
●
Body Mass Index
(BMI) and body fat check
●
Blood pressure check
●
Cholesterol test
●
Thyroid analysis
●
Full blood count and
urine tests
●
Diet, fitness and
lifestyle assessment
●
Eye test
●
Heart scan (resting
ECG)
●
Chest X-ray[iii]
Mens Health Tips To Help You Feel Your Best
Taking care of your health is
vital to leading a happy and fulfilling life. As a man, it’s essential to
prioritise your well-being and implement healthy habits into your daily
routine. By following the health tips for men outlined in this article, you can
maintain good physical and mental health. Remember that small changes can lead
to significant improvements; every step you take towards a healthier lifestyle
is a step in the right direction.
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Sources
[i]NHS. (2021, May 13). The Eatwell Guide. NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/the-eatwell-guide/
[ii]Drinkaware. (n.d.). Low Risk Drinking Guidelines. Drinkaware. https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/alcoholic-drinks-and-units/low-risk-drinking-guidelines
[iii]HCA Healthcare UK. (n.d.). Men's Health Screening. https://www.hcahealthcare.co.uk/our-services/tests/mens-health-screening