June is Men’s Health Month, a national health care awareness month to focus on encouraging boys, men, and their families to increase healthy living practices, such as exercising and eating healthy.
Men in the United States, on average, die 5 years earlier than women. Men also die at higher rates from the three leading causes of death, heart disease, cancer and unintentional injuries (CDC). Roughly 50% of men die from complications related to heart disease or cancer (CDC).
Here are some health tips for men to start practicing in June – but keep them up for the year!
- Use Men’s Health Month as a reminder to schedule your annual physical.
- Focus on your eating habits. Heart disease and cancer are both linked to poor diets.
- Increase your intake of dark colored fruits and vegetables (ex: berries, squash, kale)
- Try switching one meal a week to a meatless meal like this vegetarian quesadilla.
- Drink more water.
- Focus on whole grains. Include a whole grain instead of processed at a few meals a week. Try this recipe for Lentil, Kale, and Quinoa Soup.
- Check in on your prescriptions.
- Are they still the right dose?
- Are you still taking them correctly?
- Keep up with vaccines. Talk with your doctor to make sure you are up-to-date on recommended vaccines.
- Exercise! Try including your family or friends in activities that you can stick with for life. Go for walks, throw around a ball, or go on a bike ride.
Do you have a favorite health tip or recipe? Let us know!
Written by Rachel Caty, MPH, RDN, LDN