It’s easy to get distracted with day-to-day life and neglect our health, and this practice is more common in men than women. Women are more frequently taught from a young age about the foods that can support their wellbeing, men are often not as educated on food as medicine.
In reality, men can improve their overall well-being significantly by adding just a few fresh herbs into their regular diets. Herbs have tons of health benefits, including prostate health, libido, and vitality. Here’s some information about the top 6.
Ashwagandha
The name can be a bit of a mouthful, so, for our benefit, we’ll call ashwagandha by its other name: winter cherry. This amazing herb significantly helps increase energy levels and vigor. Studies have shown that it reduces cortisol levels by 28% which helps reduce stress and improve sleep. It can also help to lower glucose levels, so it is often used as a treatment for diabetes and hypertension.
Pine Bark Extract
Pine bark extract has been used as a natural form of medicine for years. It is best known to offer tons of nutritional support for prostate health. It specifically promotes healthy cells and helps reduce the life of harmful cells. Pine bark can also help support reproductive health: studies have shown it can even improve fertility up to 38%.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a great herb to cook with and is pretty easy to grow. Full of antioxidants, it can help soothe muscle and tissue soreness, as well as ease urinary difficulties and prostate issues. Studies have shown that turmeric supplements showed significant, long-lasting, improvement in urinary ease and frequency.
Saw Palmetto
Saw Palmetto has been used by Native Americans for millenia to help remedy reproductive issues. Today, it helps normalize testosterone levels, which, in turn, can regulate weight and improve moods. Researchers have shown that saw palmetto can also help protect against hair loss because of the conversion of testosterone.
Nettle
Last, but not least, let’s talk about Stinging Nettle. Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) affects many men as they age. Studies have shown that nettle can significantly reduce the symptoms of BPH including frequent urge to urinate and the potential for developing more serious prostate issues. It can also help reduce prostate size and improve reproductive health overall.
Rosemary
Rosemary protects against age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and according to an Iranian study it also helps men with ‘performance anxiety.’
If that’s not enough according to research performed in Northumbria university, there are compounds in rosemary that improves cognitive function and memory
Gardening and Mental Health
Mental health and men– ”Anxiety and depression are the most common challenges for men today,” affirms Mary Spillane, Clinical Psychologist and Headspace App’s Mental Health Expert. Men tend to be less likely to seek professional support than women, which can also lead to challenges around managing their mental health.” Many organizations are bringing unique well-being benefits to their Company, looking at mental health from a new perspective. “Gardening experiences have proven mental health benefits, most notably in dealing with anxiety and depression.” WebMD
How do you plan on using herbs to help support your overall health?
