Here’s something we already know for sure: healthy is sexy. And yet whether you’re man is in the trenches of parenthood or just constantly on the go, eating healthy seems to be the first thing to go when other priorities get in the way.
Most of the TCM community might be female – but guys, we know you’re out there reading, too. We hit up one of the most wellness-minded men we know, James Colquhoun, a former TCM Guest Editor and founder of Food Matters, to give us some insights about things men should eat every day. Shoot those oysters and whip up some eggs! Here’s James…
Lost your mojo since the kids came along? Try changing up your diet. It doesn’t take a mammoth effort to starting seeing changes. These healthy eating tips are so stealth, the only thing your friends and family will notice is how good you look and how much energy you have:
Eat testosterone-boosting foods
Testosterone levels peak during adolescence and early adulthood and begin to decline after the age of 30. Low levels can also be caused by stress, a bad diet, obesity and other factors. Boost your testosterone naturally by including oysters, broccoli, garlic, brazil nuts, eggs and bananas in your diet.
Sub a section of your plate for more vegetables. Whether you eat a large portion of meat, or a large portion of starchy carbohydrates such as rice and pasta, start by cutting down both of these components to ¾ of what you’d normally eat, and pile on some extra vegetables such as leafy greens, colorful salads, roast vegetables, bean sprouts and other unprocessed vegetables. They’ll help fill you up and keep you lean. Plus the more you add, the more you’ll benefit.
Give green juice a go
It’s really not as crazy as it sounds. If you struggle to stomach leafy greens, add a green juice to your daily routine. It means you’ll spend less time eating greens, and more time feeling energized after consuming their nutrients. Treat it like a natural medicine and drink it first thing in the morning. Simply juice three or four green vegetables you don’t mind eating – e.g., spinach, kale, cucumber and zucchini – and add a piece of fruit or two to sweeten. Once you get used to the flavor, all you’ll notice is how good you feel. Trust me.
Stay hydrated
It sounds simple enough, but we often forget to keep drinking water throughout the day. Staying hydrated is so important for every function in the body, including energy production and weight maintenance. So try and start each day with a big glass of water and continue to hydrate throughout the day. Headaches, excess hunger and tired-looking skin will be a thing of the past.
Look after your gut
Your gut is the powerhouse that breaks down everything you eat into usable compounds for body’s functions. When it’s not working well, you’re not going to feel your best. Curb your soft drink intake with probiotic drinks such as kombucha and kefir. They’ll support your good gut bacteria, helping you to digest your food and get the most benefits out of what you eat. They’ll also help boost your immune system and reduce any sluggishness.
Eat fat, but choose the right kind
Healthy fats are an essential part of a good diet, but refined vegetable oils, deep-fried foods, hydrogenated and trans-fats all contribute to ill health and feeling lousy. Instead, use heat-stable oils, such as coconut, olive, avocado and walnut when cooking. And enjoy extra-virgin olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds, quality butter, and ghee as part of your meals. Fats help to balance your hormones (it’s not just a female problem!), make your skin look better, and helps to slow down the rate you digest your food, helping you to stay full for longer.
Avoid fad diets
Seriously. It’s the quickest way to lose weight and then put on even more than what you had originally. They just don’t work and they put your body under a lot of damaging stress. Stick to eating as many natural, unprocessed, and unpackaged foods as possible and your body will begin to take care of itself.
