On Being a Healthy Dad

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In honor of Father’s Day, let’s talk about how to be a healthy guy.  With all of the challenges in today’s world, it isn’t easy.  Evidence is beginning to show that our existence on this planet is being threatened by exposure to excess estrogen and estrogen mimicking chemicals.  Both males and females are affected by these dangerous hormones that are found in tap water, fast foods, health care products, cosmetics, colognes, plastic containers, and many commercial foods, especially meats.  This is a huge problem because hormones must be in proper ratios for our bodies to function properly.

 
According to Ori Hofmekler, author of The Anti-Estrogenic Diet, these unnatural estrogenic foods and chemicals in our environment are making us “fat and sick.”  They also affect our ability to think clearly.  Estrogen dominance causes a myriad of problems from unstable moods, weight gain, and increased risk of cancer.  Estrogen is also responsible for female traits in animals, fish and people, low sperm counts, and reduced size of male organs.

 
Hofmekler advocates consuming foods that are either non-estrogenic or anti-estrogenic as the first line of nutritional defense against excess estrogen.  The most important anti-estrogenic foods and most potent plant estrogen inhibitors include cruciferous vegetables, omega-3 oils (flaxseed and hempseed), wild-caught fatty fish, and raw organic dairy products, such as butter and aged cheese.  The most effective protocol to reverse the risk of cancers and other diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity is based on combining these foods with plant estrogen inhibitors, such as passion flower, chamomile flower, and cruciferous vegetables.

 
The next line of nutritional defense he recommends is to consume foods that promote progesterone in women and testosterone in men, both of which will help balance estrogen.  These include raw nuts and seeds, and other plant derived sterol rich foods, such as avocados, olives, stabilized rice germ and stabilized wheat germ, and their oils.

 
Foods that assist with liver detoxification to neutralize the estrogenic chemicals include green vegetables, fruits (berries, pineapple, papaya), oat and barley  grouts, legumes (other than soy), and spices and herbs such as turmeric, oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, milk thistle, dandelion root, ginger, & gotukola.

 
There are so many choices when it comes to diet. Yet, it only makes sense to feed our bodies the foods our ancestors ate for thousands of years.  Since it’s important to build more muscle, we need to eat high quality proteins.  Some of the best sources include organic free-range meats, and plant based proteins, such quinoa, Chia seeds, and rye.

 
After addressing our diet, we need to start exercising.  A good diet helps to give us the energy we need to exercise.  Exercise builds muscle which supports structure and helps to burn excess estrogen.  Epigenetic studies are beginning to show that active people don’t express the genes for degenerative diseases, making exercise one of the most important things we can do for our health.  Exercise challenges our muscles and increases muscle mass, helping us become more resilient to stress and less prone to disease.

 
Proper structure enables us to have a fully functioning nervous system; we shouldn’t forget how important it is to maintain our nervous system that sends out over three trillion nervous system signals every second throughout our body to control and coordinate its functions.  Chiropractic care helps ensure proper communication and structural balance, also helps balance body’s chemistry and our hormones.
No matter what someone’s weight –whether overweight, normal weight, or even underweight -a body fat percentage that’s near or over 50% puts them at risk for degenerative disease.  This is why we utilize a Fat Loss Monitor in my office to help patients monitor progress when making lifestyle changes.

 
Men tend to have about 10% more muscle mass than women and do more heavy physical labor.  While a great deal of satisfaction may be obtained from engaging in physical work, making time for recreation is just as important.  I personally enjoy bicycle riding, swimming, hiking, walking and kayaking, and plan to spend more time enjoying these activities this summer.

 
The other major male problems, erectile dysfunction[ED] and prostate are highly influenced by hormone disruption and may be positively influenced by taking good care of the body.  Specific foods and herbs are beneficial but each person needs to be checked for what his body needs to achieve what he wants. Saliva testing for hormones is an accurate way to assess your free hormone balance.

 
Guys are notorious for taking care of themselves poorly and not living as long as women.  Don’t be part of that statistic. Start making your plan to live long enough and be healthy enough to enjoy your retirement.

 

Happy Father’s Day!
Dr. William H. Karl, D.C.

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