Digests for Him

Strangely, I am a big fan of Men’s Health Magazine and thought I really should tailor one of my posts to suit their short and sharp, yet factual and practical style of writing.

So for the many SNAG’s out there who really do value their health and love to get straight to the point, todays blog is for YOU :)

Not so sweet for the Heart

Researchers in Canada have found that soft drinks and sugar laden snacks, increase your risk of heart disease. By analyzing the diets of more than 600 people, they found that those who ate the most sugary foods had the lowest levels of heart protective HDL (good) cholesterol. They were not sure why a higher sugar diet lead to lower HDL levels, however, noted that low HDL is related to high triglycerides- another type of blood fat that accumulates when excess blood sugar is converted into fat in your liver.
Low HDL & high triglycerides = a recipe for future heart trouble, since HDL cholesterol helps to remove the harmful arterial plaque laid down by LDL (bad) cholesterol.
So swap the coke and donut for a fresh juice and fruit bran muffin today!

Spice up your Brain

Researchers at the National University of Singapore examined the eating habits of over 1000 people, aged 60-93, and asked them to complete a series of cognitive tests. The results showed that those who ate curry at least once a month achieved better scores than those who didn’t.
Why? Tumeric- the rich yellow orange spice that gives Indian dishes their rich colour, enhances mental function.
So, try a regular korma to really enhance what’s between the ears!

Blow the Fat

Chewing sugarless gum may aid in weight reduction, British researchers have speculated. Their study showed that when people chomped on sugarless chewing gum for at least 15mins, 1 hr after eating, and again at the 2 hr mark, their desire for sweets decreased by 11% compared with those who didn’t work their jaws. The study author Dr Marion Hetherington, believes that perhaps, since it exposes your taste buds to sweetness, sugar-free gum could send a hunger-reducing signal to your brain. Get chomping!

Did you know?

Pecans and Walnuts are the healthiest nuts you can eat, boasting the highest level of antioxidants? These nuts are also a great source of the very healthful omega 3 fatty acids.
Hazelnuts and Almonds also rate highly in the anti-oxidant department.
For optimal health benefits, include a serve of raw, unsalted nuts daily!


I think that’s about enough content for this one ;)

Just so you know- the information and digests here are sourced from the May edition of Men’s Health.

I highly recommend a subscription to this magazine as the support, information and motivation it provides is fantastic!!

You can call 1800 658 242 for subscription enquiries.

Finally, I wanted to let you know of a feature in the magazine, “Gutless Wonders”. This section features men who have successfully lost weight and describes how they did it. Another great source of inspiration, motivation and information.

NB. I have NO affiliation with this magazine- just think it is really great for not only men, but also women looking for quality food, fitness and health information! :)