Disease Prevention the Natural Way

Modern society’s success in both disease prevention and effective medical treatments has increased male life expectancy at birth from only 46 years in 1900 to 67 years in 1960 to over 74 years today. Because of better water supplies and sewage systems, improved nutrition, efficient home heating, improved public hygiene, and medical advances in immunization and the treatment of illnesses, men are leading longer and healthier lives. Not only are we living longer, but we are enjoying life more in our later years. Many baby boomers, now over 60 years of age, have not quit their active lifestyles and continue to travel and engage in physical activities such as tennis, golf, hiking, biking, and even more risky activities like whitewater rafting and sky-diving.

Despite the great advances we have already achieved in length and quality of life, we still can do more in the area of disease prevention. Our increase in lifespan has occurred despite the fact that, as a society, we have become less physically active and fatter. This leaves us with at least two major areas in which to improve. Also, in addition to consuming more food than we need, most of us are at least somewhat deficient in the quality of the food we eat, and better food selection can be of great benefit. We can also do better at disease prevention by avoiding exposure to potentially harmful chemicals in our environment, either by urging our state or federal government to limit or ban their use or by individually choosing to avoid products containing them. In addition, we may get help in disease prevention or reduction of disease risk by using supplemental vitamins, minerals, and herbs that have shown promise in scientific studies. If we put all these things together, we see that there is further opportunity for disease prevention, improvement in quality of life, and greater longevity.

The following are the top ten causes of death for males in the U.S. with cancer deaths further broken down :

1. Heart disease 27.2%
2. Cancer 24.3%
• Lungs and bronchi 30%
• Prostate 9%
• Colon and rectum 9%
• Pancreas 6%
• Leukemia 4%
• Liver 4%
• Esophagus 4%
• Bladder 3%
• Non-Hodgkins lymphoma 3%
• Kidney 3%
• All other 25%
3. Accidents 6.1
4. Stroke 5.0
5. Chronic respiratory disease 5.0
6. diabetes 3.0
7. flu/pneumonia 2.3
8. Suicide 2.2
9. kidney 1.7
10. Alzheimer‘s 1.6

One can see why men have particular concerns about heart disease, lung cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, and stroke. Men are also concerned about high blood pressure as a risk factor for other diseases. And given the importance of sexuality to most men, there is considerable concern about sexually transmitted disease and erectile dysfunction. Based on the statistics, men should also be concerned about accidents, but most assume they are just an inevitable part of life. Yet even accidental deaths can be greatly reduced by taking simple safety measures.

Men lead busy lives, so they want concise and easy-to-read information. They would like to learn how to best avoid the medical problems that afflict them or, if they are already suffering from one or more diseases, to lessen their severity or even reverse them. Most men would prefer natural means of disease prevention like exercise, nutrition, and dietary supplementation. So, in order to provide men with information that is to the point and doesn’t take up too much of their time, Our advice is provided on avoiding or ameliorating the following causes of death:

• Heart Disease
• Lung Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Colon Cancer
• Accidents
• Stroke
• Chronic Respiratory Disease
• Diabetes
• Flu and Pneumonia
• Suicide
• Kidney Disease
• Alzheimer‘s Disease

General Disease Prevention Guidelines

If you don't have the patience to read about each individual disease and how to reduce the risk of developing it, then just take the following disease prevention steps:

• Control Your Blood Pressure: If your systolic blood pressure is above 120 mmHg or your dialostic blood pressure is above 80 mmHg see the most proven methods for bringing your blood pressure under control.


• Control your body fat: Height/weight tables and Body Mass Index (BMI) do not accurately tell if individuals carry too much fat because these methods frequently mislabel stocky but muscular people as overweight or obese. However, the time-honored test of overfatness, "If you can pinch an inch" is as valid today as it ever was. Even if you can't pinch an inch but your belly protrudes, it is likely that you have a sizeable pocket of hidden fat underneath your abdominal muscles. If you determine that you carry excess body fat see our list of the most effective ways to lose body fat.


• If you smoke, quit!: It is clear that most smokers are quite aware that smoking is bad for their health and the health of those exposed to second-hand smoke. Yet the habit is very difficult to break. For help in quitting, see our list of proven ways to quit smoking.


• If you are sedentary, get active: The greatest reduction in health risk is achieved by moving from the least active fifth of the population to the next most active fifth. See our physical fitness program guidelines.


• If you feel stressed, seek ways to reduce it: There are many effective ways to reduce stress, such as exercise, meditation, and developing hobbies.


• If you feel alone, develop relationships: Getting involved in organized activities such as sports, music, dance, religious services, and volunteering are some of the many ways to develop friendships.


• Eat right: The evidence indicates that the best eating regimen for disease prevention is the Mediterranean diet, promoted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in its current Food Pyramid. The diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products. It also includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts. Foods and food components to be minimized or avoided include saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.


• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation: It appears that one or two alcoholic drinks per day does not increase a mans disease risk and may actually reduce it. However, more than 2 drinks per day does increase health risk. It can also increase the risk of accidents, violence, unlawful activity and disruption of family life in addition to being a budget buster.


• Protect your vision: See our tips on keeping your eyes healthy.


• Keep your bones healthy: See our dietary and exercise recommendations for building and maintaining bone health.

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