How men optimize their health

By Susan Bowerman M.S., RD, CSSD, CSOWM, FAND – Sr. Director, Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training, Herbalife Nutrition

A few simple steps can go a long way toward improving your health. If you’re trying to live a healthier life, don’t just focus on the foods you eat. Exercise, sleep, and social relationships are also important.

While women tend to fret about their weight and pore over food labels, men often have a more relaxed attitude when it comes to their diets. Maybe it’s because most guys burn through calories a lot faster than women do – so they figure they can get away with eating whatever they want.

• Going Beyond Body Weight

The assumption seems to be that as long as their weight is in check, they really don’t have to give much thought to what they eat. But that’s not really the case.

Bodyweight is only a part of the picture. How much body fat you have, where that fat settles on your frame, along with the overall quality of your diet – all contribute to your wellbeing.

Let’s say you don’t do much exercise, but your weight is reasonable. Don’t let that fool you: you could still be carrying around way too much body fat. And while excess body fat is a concern for everyone, guys are more likely to carry that excess weight around the middle, which is much more damaging to health than the fat that women tend to accumulate on their hips and thighs.

So, while keeping your weight down is key, you need to do it the right way.

• What Should Men Eat for Health and Good Nutrition

Simply eating less only works when the nutritional quality of your diet is above par. Eating less of a poor diet may cut calories, but you’ll still be selling yourself short on nutrition. Instead, you want to pack the most nutrition you can into each bite by keeping your focus on healthy food: vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains.

Place an emphasis on heart-healthy foods. If most of your carb calories are coming from chips and soda, look instead to foods like oats, beans, berries, plums, broccoli, and carrots. They’re great sources of soluble fiber and can help to help keep cholesterol levels in check.

Also consider seafood that’s low in fat and calories, yet rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. These should be on your menu as often as possible.

• Finding Time to Invest in Your Wellbeing

One of the biggest barriers to taking care of yourself is time. You may find yourself so busy that it becomes too easy to skip meals or grab something on-the-go. But skipping meals usually backfires, and you just wind up overeating at your next meal.

And if you don’t take the time to exercise, you’ll gain more belly fat and your sleep will likely suffer, too. Then, you might find yourself turning to sugary foods and drinks to boost your flagging energy – which just puts more weight on you, and the cycle continues.

If you’re breakfast skipper, set a goal of having a healthy meal a few mornings a week. If you don’t have time to sit down for breakfast, grab a carton of yogurt and a piece of fruit, or whip up a protein shake with some milk and fruit and take it with you.

If you tend to grab meals on the run during the day, think about packing your lunch a couple of days a week or preparing a home-cooked meal once or twice a week. It will give you a lot more control over your what you eat…and how much.

Lastly, try writing down what you eat for a couple of days. It’s the best way to come face-to-face with your eating habits – for better or for worse. There’s nothing quite like a good hard look at the skipped meals, the salty snacks or a severe shortage of fruits and vegetables to spark a diet makeover.

Herbalife Nutrition has more than 8,300 employees worldwide. To learn more, visit IAmHerbalife.com.

About Herbalife Nutrition

Herbalife Nutrition is a global nutrition company whose purpose is to make the world healthier and happier. The Company has been on a mission for nutrition - changing people's lives with great nutrition products and programs - since 1980. Herbalife Nutrition offers high-quality,  science-backed products, one-on-one coaching with an Herbalife Nutrition Independent Member, and a supportive community that inspires customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Herbalife Nutrition’s targeted nutrition, weight-management, energy and fitness and personal care products are available through its Independent Members in more than 90 countries.

Herbalife Nutrition supports the Herbalife Nutrition Foundation, a non-profit organization that       assists community organizations focused on providing good nutrition. Herbalife Nutrition is also proud to sponsor more than 190 world-class athletes, teams and events around the globe.