pose the question : “ Are we man enough to stand up and take control of our health ?” Yes , the future of our generation depends on it .

Men pay less attention to health-related complaints than women , and often do not consult doctors before their problems have persisted for a prolonged period . This might be one of the reasons why the specific health problems pertaining to men have not been addressed adequately for a long period in time . However , it is a fact that :

• Men die younger than women . In 1920 , women outlived men only by one year . Today , CDC figures show the life expectancy gap has widened : On average , women survive men by over five years .

• Men are disproportionately affected by non-genderspecific diseases such as Cardiovascular Disease , Liver Cirrhosis and Lung Cancer .

Heart disease is the leading killer of both men and women but almost twice as many males die of conditions that affect the cardiovascular system . The average age of a person having a first heart attack is 65.8 for men and 70.4 for women . Risk factors for heart disease include : increasing age ; smoking ; family history and race ( folks with family history of the disease have greater risk ); Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; a sedentary lifestyle ;

diabetes ; and obesity . Besides smoking , the following are risk factors for lung cancer : exposure to secondhand smoke ; exposure to asbestos or radon ; personal history ; and air pollution .

The risk of committing suicide is four times higher for men than for women . Men are more prone to suicide because they ’ re less likely to openly show depression and have somebody else recognize it early enough to treat it , or to have themselves recognize that they ’ re in trouble ; I support Prof William Pollack ( PhD ), assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School ’ s , statement that depression may play out in the following ways in men : anger ; aggression ; work ‘ burnout ’; risktaking behaviour ; midlife crisis ; and alcohol and substance abuse ;

To help men with depression and to reduce the risk of suicide , doctors , loved ones , and men themselves , need to recognize society ’ s model of masculinity :

• Men ‘ feel ’ more healthy ( norm of society re masculinity );

• Men account for the majority of victims of road traffic and serious accidents at work that lead to permanent injury and ;

• Consult a general practitioner less often than women .

Overweight and obesity in men is markedly on the rise as seen in the age group from 45 to 64 . Excessive weight , a frequent indirect consequence of unhealthy patterns of behaviour , considerably increases the risk of contracting diseases such as cardiovascular diseases or diabetes .

A healthy diet strongly contributes to the preservation of health and well-being . Studies revealed that a healthy diet plays a significantly less important role for men than for women . Men tend to eat fruit and vegetables less often than women and prefer rich meals with large quantities of meat .

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in men . It is the second leading type of cancer death in men , after lung cancer . There is not enough known about what causes prostate cancer and how to prevent it , yet the disease is treatable if found in early stages . This can be a challenge , since prostate cancer can show no symptoms until it has spread to other parts of the body . A prostatespecific antigen ( PSA ) blood test and digital rectal exam should be offered annually for healthy men starting at age 50 or older . Men who are at high risk – such as those who have family history of prostate cancer – should begin testing earlier . A multi-disciplinary approach works best in treatment . A Medical Herbalist ( Phytotherapist ), Urologist , Oncologist , Psychologist and Dietician can all play a major role in prevention and treatment . Have your prostate checked today .

The majority of men spend approximately two thirds of their lifetime in working life . Therefore , work-related stress factors are of central importance for the health of men . Considerably more men than women indicate that their health is affected because of their occupation ( massive pressure of time , heavy physical work , conflicts at the workplace ). Invest in some ‘ me ’ time : a yoga session , hot stone massage , a walk in the park , gardening or start a new hobby .

Botanical medicines are known for their efficacy in treatment of sexual desire , low libido , premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction . Consult a Registered Medical Herbalist ( Phytotherapist ). I treat the majority of males in my practice with great success . My favourite herbs include Mucuna Pruriens , Withania Somnifera , Tribulus Terrestris and Curcumalonga . There are contra indications with allopathic medicine as well as certain health conditions . A proper consultation is of fundamental importance .

Knowledge comes from learning . Wisdom comes from living … Take action and start living !

Dr . Pierce van Tonder ( D . Herb )( SA ) is a Board Certified Medical Herbalist ( AHG : USA ) and Phytotherapist . He is in private practice with a special interest in Chronic disease and General-Well Being of Society . He is a qualified Iridologist , Nutritionist , La Stone Masseur , Reiki Master & Dance Movement Therapist . Visit us at Life Roseacres Hospital , Cnr Castor Rd & St . Josephs St , Symhurst , Primrose . Call 011-842-7651 for appointments or 079-346-0001 . Email : drvantonder @ gmail . com or read the blog : http :// drvantonder . wordpress . com

Greek

• 1 / 2 cup olive oil

• 1 / 2 cup lemon juice

• 2 tablespoons fresh oregano chopped ( or 1 tablespoon dried oregano )

Food writer Anél Potgieter ’ s blog was announced the winner of the 2014 and 2013 Eat Out Food Blog of the Year Award – the first time that someone has won twice in a row . She won SABC2 ’ s first season of Dinner Divas in January 2013 . She also writes a weekly food column for Rapport and is a regular face on SABC3 ’ s breakfast show , Expresso .

For recipes , visit www . lifeisazoobiscuit . com