I still remember the time when I'd rush to may dad when he got back home from work, all tired. I'd rain him with my demands and expect him to play with me or just talk. I never realised that he needed time to himself, to unwind and relax. But now that I'm older and a bit wiser, I know that even dads have it tough, almost as much as the moms, if not more! In fact, modern-day dads are more hands-on and now their work doesn't end when they come back home.
Take Rajeev Roy, 34, a bank employee. Dad to a cherubic one-year-old, he returns to tasks of feeding, burping and cleaning up kiddo. His favourite pastime is to follow his daughter's exploits at the end of the day and feed her and put her to bed. Dads now sure have their plates full. Brimming over, in fact! From helping their tots with homework to assisting their better halves clean up after them, they willingly do all these chores and more. Yet, men's health or dad's health is still a pretty neglected area. But much as you would like to believe that your dad is indeed Superman, well he's not. So, all you daddies out there start treating yourself well. Because you are worth it!
EAT TREAT
Eating right can help you keep a lot of lifestyle diseases at bay. Eat a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Why? Because a poor diet increases your risk of weight gain and mental breakdown. And it's time to stub that cigarette out. To kick depression, eat 1 tbsp of ground flaxseed everyday. Rich in healthy fat, it improves the functioning of your brain. Folate is another must-have for men. It helps healthy cell growth and leads to better reproductive health and higher sperm count. Beet, chicken liver, green leafy vegetables, dried beans and dried peas are also rich sources of folate.
TESTING TIMES:
Most men baulk at the mere mention of a doctor. It's just a gut reaction but research proves that men are at a higher risk of developing obesity, heart diseases and cancers of the colon, lung and rectum, as compared to women. So going in for annual tests like prostate specific antigen to check on prostate cancer, cholesterol check-up, abdomen ultrasound, liver function test and colonoscopy (the American Cancer Society recommends it once every year after age 40) will actually do you a world of good. So, this gift yourself this extra care, because it's all about loving your family!
