Published October 20, 2010

Why winter is bad for men’s bones and prostate

Winter is coming, and along with it a higher risk for certain diseases. You already know about colds and the flu. And while the flu can be very serious, there’s another reason for you to be concerned about the coming cold weather. If you’re a man, it could affect your bones and your prostate.

A Finnish study on 48 white men between ages 21 and 49 tells you why. As I’ve told you in the past, vitamin D levels in your blood are lower in the winter than during other times of the year. And, since vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, winter can weaken your bones. Here’s how it works.

Your body needs a precise amount of calcium in your blood. If you don’t get it from intestinal absorption, your body will generate more parathyroid hormone to compensate. This hormone breaks down bone to release needed calcium.

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Published October 15, 2010

Cut this one food to lower your blood pressure

Diet is a major cause of high blood pressure. But changing your diet is difficult. However, if you can cut one food from your diet, you can easily lower your blood pressure.

Dr. Liwei Chen of Louisiana State University led a team that followed 810 adults with borderline hypertension. The study lasted for 18 months. At the start of the study, the participants drank (on average) one 12-oz sugar-sweetened serving each day. The researchers asked the participants to simply cut their consumption.

Those who were able to knock out the sugar drink totally reduced their systolic pressure by 1.8 and the diastolic by 1.1. That may not seem like much, but even a small decrease in blood pressure can significantly reduce your risk of vascular events. And over the years, the drop would be even more significant.

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Published October 14, 2010

Reduce your risk of enlarged prostate by 50% or more

There are few things more irritating for men than an enlarged prostate. The regular trips to the restroom — especially during the night — are really a hassle. But an enlarged prostate is more than a hassle. It’s a serious problem. Fortunately, a new study shows this is one health problem you can easily avoid.

Researchers at the Division of Public Health Sciences in Seattle recently published a study of 4,770 healthy men. They had been following these men for the previous seven years.

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