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Men's Health |
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Men's Health |
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A
smart man learns from his own mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes
of others. The health disadvantages
of being male start at conception, and continue throughout the man’s nearly 6-year
shorter life expectancy. While women have a backup (XX) sex chromosome
pair, men have an XY pair. This means there is no genetic safety net, no
duplicate backup for gene defects such as hemophilia and colorblindness, and
that is why it is almost always men who have these infirmities. But this is just the
beginning. Males are far more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD; far more
likely to go to prison; far more likely to be victims of violent crime; far
more likely to accept, and die from, a dangerous occupation; infinitely more
likely to be drafted and consequently far more likely to die in service to
their country. Males are more likely to be separated from their children by
their job’s demands if they are married, and separated from their
children by the courts if they divorce. No wonder men die sooner from heart
attacks, and are much more likely (at all ages) to die from suicide. In fact, men are
more likely than women to die of the fifteen leading causes of death,
whether it be accident or disease. Pretty grim stuff, and
these and more facts fill the books of Warren Farrell, PhD. Guys, if you
have not yet read Why Men Are the Way They Are (1) and The Myth of
Male Power (2), you want
to do so without delay. In spite of, or perhaps because of, all the
statistics that Farrell presents (hundreds of references back up his
statements), his books are not downers but are in fact very uplifting. He
offers many insights and much practical advice, which I have personally found
to be genuinely helpful. Here is reading that will make a guy feel better
right away, and be a better man, and a better person. This has to have real
benefits for the ladies in our lives, too.
Notes
from Farrell’s 1999 book, Women
Can’t Hear What Men Don’t Say (3): We “care more about saving
whales than saving males.” It hurts either sex less to be
rejected by an object than by a person. More hate for men will hurt women.
Why? Men will stay away from committing to women even more. Children raised
without fathers are more likely to end up in prison. Companies will fear, not
respect, women, says Dr. Farrell, and, he thinks, will outsource, downsize and
avoid hiring them to avoid legal issues such as harassment. Men feel that they are
“obligated to earn money that someone else spends while he dies
sooner.” This is not power. This is powerlessness. The author’s
father was reduced to selling Fuller brushes to support his family. Criticize so the other will listen. That
is tricky, but Farrell tells you how, very specifically and step-by-step. I
especially value his advice for couples to “identify your loved one’s best intent, the best spirit
of her or his strongest argument, without distortion.” This is
masterfully effective, and you have got to try it. When we feel heard, Farrell tells us, we
feel loved, understood, and secure. We
can then stand valid criticism far better. “Recent studies show that even
when income was the same, both the boy and the girl child did better brought up by a single dad than by a single mom.” (p
63) Statements like that cannot be taken lightly, or made lightly. Fortunately,
Dr. Farrell provides hundreds of research references to support such
statements. That “hundreds” figure is a number not to be taken
lightly, either. Like it or not, and
we shouldn’t like it at all, we currently live in a male-despising
society. Farrell calls for men to
speak up when they are discriminated against. Myths abound. Farrell challenges them
all, taking each one down like metal ducks in a shooting gallery. Here is a
really bold example: The average man, Farrell says, works five hours per week
more than the average
woman…job, commuting, and housework included. And Farrell itemizes a list
of 54 household tasks generally done only by men. (p 100-106) Farrell openly debunks man-bashing
myths with study after study, citing feminist researchers own statistics to
show that headlines and legends alike are simply false. He also exposes misandry at Hallmark/Shoebox cards. This book makes good reading. In fact, they all make good reading: (1) Farrell, (2) Farrell, (3) Farrell, Dr. Farrell's website is http://www.warrenfarrell.com He
has a new book, Father and Child Reunion. MORE ON MEN’S
HEALTH Enlarged Prostate,
Prostate Infection, and Prostate Cancer are topics considered at Male (and female)
fertility (and infertility) is discussed at Dr. Abram Hoffer’s
recommendations for cardiovascular disease are posted at Quickly now: What
animal has the world’s longest sperm? The fruit fly. Yes, the fruit fly: Drosophila
bifurca, to be specific. And each sperm is
about 2.3 INCHES long, 20 times as
long as the fly itself. The fly is found in HYPERTENSION Switching to a good,
near-vegetarian natural diet would certainly be a good place to start; there
is no downside to eating right. More fiber, less sugar and fat, and more
fruits, vegetables and grains is great for the ticker. So are Dr. Jacobus Rinse’s supplement suggestions, which we
will come to shortly. Your BP will be
significantly higher when you are anxious, and a false reading may result in
unnecessary medication. Take your own blood pressure at home, or have a
friend do it. You may find that you already have a partial cure for
hypertension: avoid high-stress doctors’ office visits! This is more than just
rhetorical hyperbole, for a daily program of stress reduction (such as
meditation) has repeatedly been scientifically proven to effectively reduce
high blood pressure without drugs. And weight loss almost always helps, too. Let’s consider
cardiovascular health in general: DR. JACOBUS RINSE'S
BREAKFAST WAS ALSO HIS MEDICINE: Only in his early 50's, Jacobus Rinse's doctors told him he had but a few years
to live. Cardiovascular disease had ravaged his body. Medicine had little to
offer him but hope, and not much of that. So Dr. Rinse, a chemist, decided to
look into matters for himself. He hit the books and collected an enormous
pile of nutritional research. Some studies suggested that he might be able to
delay death with vitamins and other food supplements He had little to lose,
so he tried it. His payoff? Rinse would live for another third of a
century. For 50 years, the
following pick-me-up for the cardiovascular system has been used harmlessly
and effectively worldwide. Science continues to uncover why it works, while
countless people are satisfied that it works. (Quantities are approximate:) Lecithin granules, two or
three tablespoons (TBL) Nutritional (or brewer’s)
yeast, one tsp or as much as you can stand Powdered
calcium-magnesium supplement, one TBL (or several tablets) Wheat germ (vacuum packed
or very fresh), two TBL Oil (fresh
mono-unsaturated oil such as olive is ideal); one TBL (personally omit this;
it’s just too early in the morning for me.) Vitamin C powder, 1/2 tsp
or more Vitamin E, more than 400
IU (increase gradually, starting with 100 IU, if you have high blood
pressure. Consult your doctor.) Vitamin B-complex, one
balanced formula tablet And after this you think
you'll be hungry? This food stays with you ‘till lunch and takes only minutes
to mix up in juice. My favorite "carrier" is pineapple juice but
you could use whatever sweet juice you desire. I can go for 6 or 7 hours on
just one good "Doc Rinse breakfast" without feeling hungry. The Rinse formula may not
be as appealing (or should that be "appalling?") as a big bowl of
"Fruit Loops," but it has vastly more to offer a healing heart and
circulatory system. Notes on the Rinse
Formula: * Gradually increase the
quantity of nutritional yeast. It is an acquired taste, and too much too soon
can occasionally cause a skin rash in sensitive persons. No more than a
couple of tablespoons daily would be needed. * Calcium-magnesium
supplements are best taken in the citrate (cheap), gluconate (even cheaper),
or amino acid chelated form. * Smell the wheat germ
and the oil to ensure that it is fresh. If it smells bitter or sour, it is .
. . and don't use it. * Pure vitamin C powder
(ascorbic acid) is about 2,000 mg per 1/2 tsp. Do not take so much as would
contribute to loose bowels or gas.
* If I had the sure cure
for heart disease, For Further Rinse, Jacobus (1978) Cholesterol and phospholipids in relation
to atherosclerosis. American Laboratory Magazine, April. The Numbers You may remember from
history class that You might have already
guessed where I am going with all this: one person really matters. Back in the 1930’s,
humorist Will Rogers was on the board of directors of an airline. At a
board meeting he was attending, corporate big shots were discussing the
possibility of issuing parachutes to passengers for use in case of
emergency. They mentioned that if parachutes were available, most
passengers would not be able to put them on in time, and those that did might
not have time or room to get to an exit. They concluded saying that of
the dozen or so passengers on a flight, probably only one would be saved. Naysayers are fond of
pointing out that natural healing methods do not always, always work on
every, everybody. But they don’t have to: they only have to work on
you, or one of your family, to make the biggest
possible difference. Linus Pauling estimated
that disease and mortality could be reduced by at least 25% if people took
large daily quantities of essential vitamins. Let’s say he was way
off, and it the improvement was only 5%. If upwards of two million Americans
die each year, a one percent improvement will save 100,000 people. That is a
lot of funerals that will not occur. When I die, I would very
much like to know that I saved a life or two. 100,000 would please me
better. Linus Pauling was right, though. The real savings in life will
be in the millions. So be a health nut, and
show the world. You really do make a difference, and don’t you forget
it. Copyright 2004, 2003 and
prior years by Andrew W. Saul. Andrew Saul is the author
of the books FIRE YOUR DOCTOR! How to be
Independently Healthy (reader reviews at http://www.doctoryourself.com/review.html
) and DOCTOR YOURSELF: Natural Healing that Works. (reviewed at http://www.doctoryourself.com/saulbooks.html
) For ordering information, Click Here .
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AN IMPORTANT NOTE: This page is not in any way offered as prescription, diagnosis nor treatment for any disease, illness, infirmity or physical condition. Any form of self-treatment or alternative health program necessarily must involve an individual's acceptance of some risk, and no one should assume otherwise. Persons needing medical care should obtain it from a physician. Consult your doctor before making any health decision. Neither the author nor the webmaster has authorized the use of their names or the use of any material contained within in connection with the sale, promotion or advertising of any product or apparatus. Single-copy reproduction for individual, non-commercial use is permitted providing no alterations of content are made, and credit is given. |
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