Plenty of men put little thought into what they eat, and that mindset often catches up with them in a hurry. Men need to be conscious of what they eat because, according to the Mayo Clinic, a poor diet increases your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer.
High-cholesterol Foods
Many foods that are stereotypically thought of as "man" foods often are also high in cholesterol. Foods such as sausages, untrimmed red meat, fried foods and egg yolks are all high in cholesterol, and high cholesterol is one of the leading factors in developing heart disease, according to the National Institute of Health.
Alcohol
All foods and beverages need to be consumed in moderation, and this is especially true for alcohol. Besides the short-term effects of alcohol such as dehydration, impaired comprehension and vomiting, alcohol also has long-term effects such as brain or liver damage, as well as an increased chance of stroke, cancer and heart disease, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Fatty Foods
One reason that fatty foods are especially dangerous for men is that they can cause men to gain weight around the midsection, called visceral fat, which can lead to not only stroke, heart disease and diabetes, but also dementia and Alzheimer's, according to an article written by Steve Mitchell of MSNBC. Many dairy foods that are high in fat, such as ice cream, and foods with high concentration of oil, such as deep-fried foods, are bad for men because they increase the chance of developing visceral fat.
High-sodium Foods
Foods that are high in sodium and MSG are generally bad for men as well, as high levels of salt can directly lead to hypertension, according to the Mayo Clinic. Many types of processed foods, such as chips, as well as fast food, chicken, sausage and beer all have high levels of sodium. If men can avoid adding extra salt and cut back on the high-sodium foods they eat, there is a better chance of avoiding high blood pressure levels.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Men's Health: Belly Fat in Men
- Mayo Clinic: Men's Health: Preventing the Top 7 Threats
- NIH: High Blood Cholesterol: What You Need To Know
- Health Nation: Cholesterol Nutrition Part 1 - Foods To Avoid
- Drug Free: Drug Guide - Alcohol
- MSNBC: Bulging belly now could mean dementia later; March 26, 2008; Steve Mitchell
