For as long as most of us can remember the gender disparities regarding health has always been in favour of women, with the female gender always in the lead of the life expectancy gap. It’s never been exactly proven as to why this is but theories range from biological/environmental factors, to the male population adopting a more risky lifestyle! Whatever the cause for concern may be it’s clear that the majority of guys should certainly be upping their health game. With the help of our experts we’ve compiled some top tips on how to do so when faced with the most common health concern in commemoration with Men’s Health Awareness Week.

“Man Flu” (or Influenza)
It’s unlikely that we’ve not mocked our brother or significant other at one point in our lives when they’ve been complaining of a fever and runny nose, but it turns out that the pejorative term is actually backed by research to prove that men do in fact suffer from the flu more than women. Due to their high levels of testosterone men are more vulnerable to the virus, whilst women are protected as a result of their estrogen, which has strong antiviral properties. Yes, it may seem slightly unfair but that’s genetics for you!

Whilst all of us should be taking daily supplements, it’s even more important for all the men out there. Cassandra Barns, nutritionist, explains: “Taking vitamin D daily can boost your immune activity. Aged garlic, beta glucans and probiotics also have really positive immune effects helping to protect against viruses and bacterial infection and help break down catarrh and shorted the duration of illness.”

Fertility
Without a doubt, it’s likely that this topic is up there as one of the most prevalent concerns within the male population. Potentially caused by a number of reasons, low sperm count and infertility in men is far more common than people think, with it accounting for 30% as to why couples have difficulty conceiving. However, there are certainly ways in which you can proactively try to not fall under this statistic…

The first and probably most obvious way is to cut out alcohol and cigarettes. It’s no revelation that both of these vices significantly impact our health, which consequently includes fertility too. Dr Marilyn Glenville, UK leading nutritionist and author of Getting Pregnant Faster, explains how: “Alcohol can cause abnormalities in the head of the sperm, which is critical for fertilisation of the egg. Alcohol also reduces the level of vital sperm-making hormones, so a man can wipe out his sperm count for several months after a drinking session.” In terms of cigarettes, “the toxins can increase the risk of DNA damage in sperm cell, and also contributes towards erectile dysfnction as it damages the blood vessels,” says Glenville.

Another factor that contributes to infertility is stress. Yes, that’s right – if your partners been having a difficult time at work or is facing some other stressful situation this will impact not only the count, but also the quality of his sperm. It is not fully understood why or how this happens, but research and suggestions have implied it could be because stress triggers the release of steroid hormones (glucocorticoids), which consequently decreases the levels of testosterone and sperm production. As stress is somewhat harder to physically control, it can be difficult to cut it out in the way you would alcohol or cigarettes.

Barns advises boosting your magnesium levels: “The adrenal glands rely on magnesium, which is rapidly depleted when you’re under stress”. Food can also help boost the count and quality of sperm levels, and Barnes encourages incorporating zinc-rich ingredients into your diet.

Skin Concerns
Although it’s normal for teenage boys to go through a bout of acne or pimples, for some the skin concerns don’t cease after puberty and can in fact get worse with age. Whether it’s due to lifestyle, environment or hereditary issues, it can be very distressing for men to have skin issues as it can often result in self-esteem and self-confidence issues. It would be hard (and lengthy) to divulge into each and every skin concern possible, but when dealing with the most common such as acne, eczema and rosacea, we asked Dr Adam Friedman, consultant dermatologist at The Harley Street Dermatology Clinic, which natural ingredient is the most effective. He explains: “Natural ingredients are great as often they are full of antioxidants. Aloe Vera is commonly known for its healing properties in aiding the oxygenated damage.”