Health Tips for Men

Five Surprising Health Tips for Dudes

By: Dr. Roger Landry

Author of Live Long, Die Short: A Guide to Authentic Health and Successful Aging www.livelongdieshort.com

Okay, I've been hauling this Y chromosome around now for more than 65 years, all through medical school, 23 years in the military, medical practice on five continents, and just life in general. Along the way, I've learned a few things about being healthy and about being a guy (and no, that's not an oxymoron). Not all of being healthy is about lifting weights and downing protein shakes. Emotional Intelligence can positively (or negatively) affect health too. Indulge me here and read on.

Elements of Health We All Share

Dr. Roger Landry

Obviously, some of the basic elements of being healthy we share with the double X's. For example, as humans, we have an uncompromising need to move, and move a lot; a beyond-the-gym-alone requirement to keep our bodies in motion a good part of the day, and not many of us are doing well with that one. And then there's eating … we all need a daily dose of fruits, nuts, vegetables, whole wild grains, fish, and some meat. That's what the trillions of cells that make us the magnificent beings we are must have. Other good stuff is okay, and makes life a lot more fun, but when we begin to bulge in places, then there's a problem. And, of course, we need sleep, to be with each other, have a purpose in life, and to learn new stuff to keep that brain in top shape. We all need these things.

Five Health Tips for Men

So, what about we dudes? We have an average life expectancy approximately five years less than women. Yes, heart disease and cancer are big concerns but unintentional injuries are a bigger player in ending our lives or causing us problems.
Here are the tricks I've learned along the way about being all you.

1.  Build Strength of Character – Seek out your maleness in building strength of character rather than taking crazy risks, violent behavior, or collecting stuff you think makes you look badass. With women doing just about anything from triathlons to mountain climbing, flexing your Y is harder, but believe me it doesn't come by getting messed up and trying to defy gravity or the laws of good sense.
2. Be Flexible – Give up the need to be right all the time (ladies this doesn't mean you're right all the time, only that we're not going to fight about it). This is the single greatest cause of losing wives, friends, jobs, and sometimes our lives. Be cool and accept there's lots of different kinds of people and opinions out there and we don't need to beat them to a pulp verbally to get them to believe what we believe. Differences are good.
3. Be Social – Keep connected to others, particularly guys. As we move through life, most men spend less time with other men. That's life. Family and job begins to take up much more time. There's an ancient and powerful bond in being with a band of brothers. It's satisfying on many levels and makes us better husbands, fathers, and friends. It's true ladies; they need dude time. I've even written prescriptions for guys to spend time with other guys!
4. Listen More Than You Talk – This is the secret ingredient of solid friendships. It's related to number two above, but it is so powerful a trait that it needs to be stated clearly. Yes, conversations are good things, but verbal boxing matches where no one is really listening to the other person is just ego jousting. Listen, you'll be very surprised what happens.
5. Don't Compete Blindly – Yes, competition can make us better, but it can become an obsession that threatens our friendships, our health and even our lives. Consider the value of the competition. What will winning or losing really mean? Blind competition is just that. It's being blind to the dangerous and ugly side of competing. Compete to be a better, not a worse person.

There it is. I don't have to turn in my man card for telling you this, and neither will you by considering these tips. Live long and well, bro.

About Dr. Roger Landry

Dr. Roger Landry, MD, MPH received his MD at Tufts University School of Medicine and his Masters in Public Health at Harvard University School of Public Health.  He is a retired, highly-decorated full colonel, former chief flight surgeon at the Air Force Surgeon General's Office in Washington, preventive medicine physician who has spent over a decade smashing stereotypes of aging, and redefining the possibilities of older adulthood. 

Dr. Landry has appeared on ABC, FOX and CBS TV affiliates across the United States, several NPR shows and a regular contributor for US News & World Report. This article doesn't focus on the obvious health factors but makes you think more of the "Emotional Quotient" involved in getting and staying healthy.  Dr. Landry is presenting across the United States at Adult Living facilities, hospitals and, yes, gyms discussing the critical nature of changing men's mindsets.  His message is condensed into five practical tips.

Try SweetLeaf Stevia in your 4th of July Drinks

                                                    

SweetLeaf Stevia^® Sweetener Debuts 4^th of July Drink Menu
Choose these summer drinks to refresh naturally this Independence Day with zero carbs, zero added calories, no artificial ingredients.

Gilbert, AZ (June 19, 2014) – Summer's sweetest holiday is on its way – one of food, fun and drinks. Indulge in a fruity, refreshing summertime liquid treat guilt-free with SweetLeaf Stevia^® Sweetener's cooling drink recipes.

Each creation cuts the calories and sugars so you can be sure not to turn a few drinks into a few pounds. Do away with high calorie counts and replace your favorite sugary soda treat with better-for-you options. SweetLeaf's set of specialty 4th of July refreshments help you celebrate smarter and healthier.

SweetLeaf^® is the natural stevia liquid sweetener with zero calories, zero carbohydrates, zero chemicals and zero glycemic index. Because there are no artificial ingredients to interfere with its pure, sweet taste, nothing gets between you and your favorite beverage.

For those who want a healthy and sophisticated alternative to sodas without any of the added sugars, there are a number of variations on classic Independence Day favorites and refreshments. Including:
Southern Style SweetLeaf^® Tea

• Black tea
• 2 quarts water
• 10 packets SweetLeaf Stevia^® Sweetener

Bring 2 quarts water to a boil; remove from burner immediately. Add black tea and steep for 10 minutes. Remove tea and cool. Pour into glass pitcher and stir in 10 packets SweetLeaf Stevia Sweetener into a pitcher of tea. Stir until sweetener has dissolved. Add remaining water and cool. Sweetened tea is more perishable than unsweetened – store it well-sealed in a glass (not plastic) container in the refrigerator.

The SweetLeaf Advantage: Southern Style SweetLeaf Tea cuts calories from sugar.

Picture from glutenfreehope.blogspot.com/

SweetLeaf^® Home-style Lemonade

• 6 lemons
• 12 packets of SweetLeaf Stevia^® Sweetener
• 6 cups cold water

Juice the lemons to make 1 cup of juice. To make your labor easier, FIRMLY roll the lemons between your hands and counter top before cutting in half and juicing. In a gallon pitcher combine 1 cup lemon juice, SweetLeaf Stevia Sweetener, and 6 cups cold water. Stir. Adjust water and SweetLeaf to taste. Chill and serve over ice.
The SweetLeaf Advantage: SweetLeaf Home-style Lemonade cuts carbs from sugar.

SweetLeaf^® Magnificent Mojito Mocktail

• 2 oz. club soda
• 2 oz. lime juice
• 1 packet SweetLeaf Stevia^® Sweetener
• 4 mint leaves
• 1 dash orange bitters
• 1 sprig of mint for garnish

Place mint leaves into a long Collins-style glass. Squeeze lime juice over leaves. Add SweetLeaf and orange bitters and gently muddle. Add crushed ice, and stir. Top off with club soda, lightly stir again and garnish with sprig of mint. For additional sweetness, add more SweetLeaf to taste.
The SweetLeaf Advantage: SweetLeaf Magnificent Mojito Mocktail cuts calories from sugar.

SweetLeaf^® Watermelon Spritzer

• ½ of a lime
• 8 oz. sparkling water
• 8 drops of Watermelon Sweet Drops^TM
• Ice

Squeeze lime into 10 oz. glass and add 8 drops of Watermelon Sweet Drops^™. Fill glass with ice and sparkling water and stir. Serve immediately.
The SweetLeaf^® Advantage: A natural fruity taste with fewer calories and fewer carbohydrates.

About Wisdom Natural Brands^®
Gilbert, Arizona-based Wisdom Natural Brands^® is the parent company of two highly respected consumer brands: SweetLeaf Stevia^® Sweetener and Wisdom of the Ancients^® herbal teas. SweetLeaf^® is the natural stevia sweetener with zero calories, zero carbohydrates and zero glycemic index. The only stevia brand to be named a Top Wellness Company and to win 13 global taste and innovation awards, SweetLeaf is sold in boxes containing 35 or 70 packets, as well as in SweetLeaf Stevia Plus^® Shaker Bottles for easy home use and SweetLeaf SteviaTabs™ Dissolvable Tablets for on-the-go use. SugarLeaf^™, also by Wisdom, bonds stevia with raw cane sugar for a low-calorie sugar alternative perfect for baking and cooking. SweetLeaf^® Liquid Stevia Sweet Drops^™ add flavor without calories or carbohydrates to favorite foods and beverages, and Sweet Drops Water Enhancers add natural flavor to still or sparkling water. For more information about SweetLeaf products, recipes and more, visit www.SweetLeaf.com.

Wisdom of the Ancients herbal teas, from energizing Yerba Maté Royale^® to calming Rooibos and Sympacho come in a variety of refreshing flavors. Select varieties are also available with a touch of calorie-free stevia sweetener.

SweetLeaf and Wisdom of the Ancients products can be purchased online at ShopSweetLeaf.com or at grocery and health food stores throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Your identity theft service maybe inadequate

Most people are not getting the coverage they need from their identity theft service.

According to Nathan Day, who represents Legal Shield, many companies monitor credit reports for people but don't watch other sources of potentional identity theft.

Legal Shield has partnered with Kroll Worldwide, the global leader in risk mediation response, to provide comprehensive coverage that not only monitors the five areas of identity theft but also searches billions of records to protect a person's public persona.

Identity theft has replaced the drug trade as the top money maker for organized crime. It is also the major money maker for terrorist organizations. Your driver's license sells for $150 to identity thieves, birth certificate $150, Social Security card $100, and medical insurance card $50.

The first kind of identity theft is hijacking credit. Only 17 percent is detectable from credit reports. This kind of theft is difficult to detect and resolve because the thieves use every bit of information about a person, including Social Security number and birthdate, only with a new address. Vacant homes are often used as addresses.

Because driver's licenses serve like a U.S. national identity card , they are sold worldwide and used to establish all other kinds of identity theft and fraud.

Employment identity theft is particularly bad because it gets a person in trouble with the IRS. Dozens of people can use the same Social Security number to get work, and at year-end their income is reported as if it were the victim's income.  A person can literally owe thousands of dollars in back taxes as a result.

The fastest growing segment of identity theft is medical identity theft. A medical card can be like a $1 million dollar Visa; there is no limit to the amount that can be charged. The thief hijacks a person's medical history and leaves thousands of dollars in bills.

The final kind of identity theft is character and criminal identity theft. Using someone's driver's license a thief can get speeding tickets, DUI's and even commit felonies. Warrants are issued for the arrest of the victims of the identity theft and it becomes difficult to prove that they didn't commit the cirme.

Kroll Worldwide not only monitors and identifies the theft, but resolves all issues in the five areas of theft. The company monitors daily the three major credit agencies, watches the web for any unauthrozed use of a person's name or credit information, and checks billions of records to detact Social Security number fraud.

For more information about identity theft watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEXgMvwGVUI.

Finding health in art from the heart

SYDNEY– Art and creativity have been shown to positively effect health and wellness, from cancer patients and cardiac health to treating PTSD.

SaraSwati Shakti believes this unique approach to healing can help all individuals foster positivity and resilience. Her new book, “Heart Art mandala’verse,” showcases the unique way individuals can use art and poetry in their own journey.

Drawing from her background in psychotherapy, Shakti reminds readers of the worth of the human heart to assist them in finding their own inner beauty through sacred sentiment and heartfelt meditation.

“This process helped me to cope while undergoing a divorce and learning how to become a single parent to my son,” said Shakti. “I used the hand-drawn mandalas and poetic inspirations as an outlet and tool for overcoming challenges."

 “Heart Art mandala’verse” offers a reminder that beauty can be found in the darkness, as we journey back to the light, while providing support and guidance for others searching for inner peace.

The basic artwork style in Shakti’s book is accessible and readers will be encouraged to become more in tune with their personal inner beauty. Using art to heal allows emotions, such as grief or confusion, to be expressed in a new and healthy way.

Taking responsibility for our own loving psyche journey has powerful effects on our world, our families, workplaces and communities.

Read more at http://lovingpsycheblog.blogspot.com

“Heart Art mandala’verse”

By SaraSwati Shakti

Softcover ISBN: 978-1-4525-9478-1

Retail Price: $33.95

Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Balboa Press

About the author

SaraSwati Shakti is a qualified and experienced psychotherapist, educator, adviser and coach with success leading personal and professional change. She received her graduate Diploma of Counseling and Psychotherapy from Jansen Newman Institute and a Bachelor of Business and graduate Certificate in Adult Education Training from University of Technology Sydney. She is a single mother of one son.

Aquadopa using Dopamine to improve focus and motivation

                                                  

 

Aquadopa Bets on Dopamine in an over-caffeinated industry
Mucuna Pruriens steps into spotlight for its effects on Dopamine, promising to deliver more than energy
 

Albuquerque, N.M. (June 12, 2014) – Mucuna pruriens, an under recognized herb in western culture, brings hope to the booming, yet stigmatized, energy drink industry with the introduction of a new herbal supplement: Aquadopa. Aimed at stimulating focus, motivation and mood, Aquadopa was created by dopamine expert Dr. Andrew Hemmen and uses Mucuna Pruriens as a primary ingredient to deliver customers an experience beyond just energy.

What is mucuna pruriens? Put simply, an herb native to tropical climates that is the only known naturally occurring source of levodopa, or L-dopa, a biochemical precursor for the brain hormone and neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is the key brain chemical responsible for feelings of satisfaction, reward and motivation.

Practitioners of the ancient Hindu traditional medicine Ayurvedic have used mucuna pruriens for centuries for treatment of a variety of ailments, including Parkinson's disease. A 2003 study by researchers in England showed the natural L-dopa in mucuna pruriens may work faster than a synthetic version of L-dopa in the treatment of Parkinson's patients.

Mucuna pruriens

Aquadopa is an herbal supplement beverage that provides numerous benefits from its main ingredient – mucuna pruriens, and its supplemental ingredients: ginkgo biloba, which increases blood flow to the brain; taurine, an amino acid that helps provide energy; and tyrosine, which is an amino acid that is a precursor to dopamine production. All of these combined helps the Aquadopa consumer have greater mental sharpness and enhanced creativity, greater motivation and focus, leaner muscle mass, increased libido and an overall increase in energy.

"People are working harder and they're working longer. People are putting greater and greater demands on themselves. With all this repetitive stress and demand, it's no wonder we sometimes fall short. But when we feel rejuvenated, when we feel uplifted, strong and clear, that's when opportunities emerge. And from that vantage point, creativity can follow" said Dr. Hemmen, a board-certified internal medicine physician. "It's all about the vision, the focus and the execution, again and again.

"I created Aquadopa as an herbal supplement to enhance the brain's dopamine system. I find dopamine as the most fascinating chemical in our brains. It enables our motivation and reward system. I believe it is dopamine that has driven humanity to the success it has achieved," Dr. Hemmen said.

"It enables our executive functions. That means thinking into the future, seeing ahead, and then planning and acting on those plans to reach our goals."
While there are pill versions of mucuna pruriens, Aquadopa is the first supplemental drink that has been built around a significant dose of mucuna pruriens and with "dopamine enhancement" as its primary function.

Aquadopa is available at Sprouts Farmers Market or through Amazon.com.


ABOUT AQUADOPA
Aquadopa is an herbal supplement beverage that is a natural alternative to sugary energy drinks. It enhances mood, energy, motivation and creativity. Aquadopa is derived from the ancient Indian herb mucuna pruriens with tyrosine, ginkgo biloba and taurine. In 2011, Dr. Andrew Hemmen, board certified in internal medicine, became interested in the neurochemistry associated with motivation and success. He began to consider natural ways to support and enhance the motivation and reward system, based on natural herbs and amino acids. The concept of Aquadopa – to take people "beyond energy" – was born. For more information, go to www.aquadopa.com.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Aquadopa is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.