The second week in June marks Men’s Health Week – a time intended to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of diseases among men and boys. We’ve highlighted five ways to dive into a healthy lifestyle this week.
Stay active
Grab a buddy and join a local sports league, or pledge to bike to work once a week. The benefits of an active lifestyle include reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Exercise also helps you to control your weight and strengthen your bones and muscles.
Take your vitamins
According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, only 5 percent of Americans follow the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for taking vitamins or dietary supplements. For optimal results, doctors recommend multivitamins specifically formulated for men, as well as vitamin D and calcium to keep your bones strong and prevent osteoporosis.
Revamp your diet
It’s often said that a healthy lifestyle begins in the kitchen. Vow to pack a balanced lunch at least few times a week, rather than opting to eat out for every meal. Add more fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains to your diet and cut back on excess fat, salt and sugar. Finally, keep track of your food intake so that you can be sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need to stay healthy.
Quit smoking
Smoking cessation has both immediate and long-term benefits, including lowering your risk for different types of ailments and health conditions. Quitting smoking also means you won’t be exposing others to harmful secondhand smoke.
Set up time to visit your doctor
It can be easy to overlook your health amid your busy schedule, but many health conditions can be detected early if you stick to regular annual check-ups. You should also use this time to discuss health goals and potential lifestyle changes with your doctor, as well as ensure you’re up to date on all of your vaccines, medical tests and additional preventative screenings.
For more information about men’s health and how to keep yourself healthy, visit CDC.gov.