Men get their health news from many sources: friends at the gym, their doctors, current publications and the Internet. A lot of the information is accurate. Some of the info mixes truth and rumor. Some of it is just plain wrong. Let’s take a look at eight popular myths about men’s health:
#1 Myth: Get a base tan to protect your skin from sun damage.
Fact: Think of it this way: A tan is proof that your skin has been damaged. The UV rays from tanning beds are just as damaging as the rays at the beach. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer recently declared that tanning beds are carcinogenic to humans.
More than 9,400 Americans will die this year from melanoma, a lethal form of skin cancer. Melanoma is now the fifth most common cancer among men in the U.S., with 45,000 men expected to be diagnosed this year. Protect your skin with sunscreen and limit your time in direct sunlight.
#2 Myth: A high protein diet keeps a guy trim.
Fact: Eat too many calories and you’ll gain weight, whether you eat fat, carbs or protein. Americans already eat more protein than just about any group in the world, and we’re among the most obese. In Asia, diets are much lower in protein, yet obesity is rare. And which region do you think has less cancer and heart disease? If you said the U.S., guess again.
#3 Myth: Don’t wear a seatbelt. You’re better off if you’re thrown clear from the car in a crash.
Fact: The idea of being thrown from a car and gently landing in a grassy area alongside the road is pure fantasy. The task of the seat belt is to stop you with the car. Seat belts work because they prevent the trauma of being thrown from the car. If you’re not wearing a seat belt and are thrown from a moving vehicle, your chances of a serious injury increase by 25 times. Your chance of death increases by 6 times.
#4 Myth: Wearing a cap for too long can make a guy go bald.
Fact: There is no evidence to support this hair loss myth. If wearing a cap for too long caused male pattern baldness, the 162 games of the regular baseball season would leave every Major League player hairless. Balding is linked to a man’s genes. In 2005 researchers identified one baldness gene. This discovery confirmed that hair loss could be passed from a maternal grandfather to his grandson via the mother. But in 2008, a second baldness gene was found. Now male pattern baldness can be traced to either side of the family.
#5 Myth: Men are more likely than women to get high blood pressure.
Fact: Over the course of a lifetime, men are no more likely to develop high blood pressure than women. However, high blood pressure affects more men than women under 45 years old, and more women than men over 65 years old.
High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. You can have it for years without knowing it. During this time, high blood pressure can damage your heart, blood vessels and kidneys. Prevent high blood pressure by reducing
sodium (salt) intake, eating plenty of potassium-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, and being active and keeping a healthy weight.
#6 Myth: Stretching before exercise prevents injury.
Fact: You’ve been trained to stretch before exercise since your very first tee ball practice. All your super-jock friends swear by it. Yet research shows little evidence that stretching does anything important. Stretching does not appear to prevent muscle soreness or reduce injuries. Stretching will make you more flexible and probably make you feel good. Just try not to stretch your expectations.
#7 Myth: The master of the outdoor grill does not need a thermometer to know when the meat is done.
Fact: The only sure way to know that a piece of meat or poultry is safely grilled is to check its temperature with a food thermometer. Color, texture and steaming are not reliable indicators that a grilled piece of meat is safe to eat. Use a digital instant-read thermometer. This not only helps ensure that your food is safely cooked, it helps prevent overcooking.
#8 Myth: Vasectomy significantly increases a man’s risk of prostate cancer.
Fact: Having a vasectomy will not increase your risk of developing prostate cancer. Many studies have confirmed this. There is no link. However, having a vasectomy usually leads a man to have a prostate exam during visits to the urologist. Consequently a pre-existing tumor may be detected during those visits.
Grilled Teriyaki Pork
Makes four servings
Low-sodium teriyaki sauce is richer and slightly sweeter than standard teriyaki blends because extra seasonings have been added to compensate for the salt reduction.
Ingredients
4 boneless pork loin chops, 4-5 oz. each
¼ cup low-sodium teriyaki sauce, preferably Kikkoman
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 heaping tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 big pinch Aleppo pepper or dried red pepper flakes
3 cloves garlic, minced
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
Preparation
1 – Trim visible fat from the meat. Place in a lock-tight plastic bag. Add the remaining ingredients. Close bag and shake to distribute the marinade. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.
2 – Preheat a gas grill or a stovetop grill pan. Remove the chops from the marinade. Grill about four minutes per side, until cooked through. The meat should register 145 degrees.
3 – Serve on a bed of fresh arugula or baby spinach, with grilled peppers alongside.
Nutritional info
(per serving)
222 Calories
11g Fat
4g Saturated fat
0g Trans fat
29g Protein
4g Carbohydrate
0g Fiber
379mg Sodium
Source: Healthy Living Kitchens
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