Health lessons we can learn from men

When it comes to healthy living, we may feel we have the upper hand over the opposite sex. However, there are some instances where it can pay to take a leaf out of their book. To help give your health and fitness a boost, check out these top health lessons we can learn from men.

GET INTO SPORT

Statistics show that men are more likely to participate in group sports than women, which means that women could be missing out. Sports such as soccer and hockey are great for improving heart health and building bones, with research published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports showing that regularly playing soccer can increase bone mass and density as well as improving postural balance and muscle strength. Not only that, the competitive nature of team sports is great for boosting motivation, while being part of a team can help build social bonds.

DITCH THE FAD DIETS

With women's magazines packed full of weight loss plans and an estimated 70 per cent of women having been on a diet in the past 10 years (compared to just 30 per cent of men), fad eating has become a way of life for many women. Unfortunately, rather than helping you stay trim, yo-yo dieting can mess up the metabolism - causing your body to gain weight more easily - and lead to nutrient deficiency. Rather than obsessively counting kilojoules and ignoring your hunger, try seeing food as fuel (rather than the enemy) and adopting healthier male eating habits of regular, substantial meals.

LOSE THE EXCESS BAGGAGE

While women are prone to leaving the house with an entire bag full of gadgets and accessories weighing them down, men are generally content with a wallet and bunch of keys shoved in their pockets. Although few women would be happy to completely follow suit in this one, by slightly cutting down on your handbag contents you could drastically reduce your risk of serious back problems and neck pain. Make like a man and ditch all the non-essential items before you leave the house and you could be doing your health a big favour.

STOP DWELLING ON PROBLEMS

As a rule, women tend to be led by their emotions more than men and therefore react in a more emotional way when things go wrong or hurdles present themselves in life. Women are far more likely to want to go over their problems with friends, over-analyse situations and dwell on things. However, obsessing over a problem rarely makes it go away and too much dwelling can simply lead to anxiety, stress disorders and depression. Next time you are tempted to dwell, think like a man and engage your analytical side to try to find a practical solution to your problem instead.

DRESS FOR COMFORT

From skyscraper heels to skin-tight jeans, women are renowned for their restrictive fashion choices. However, this could be bad news for your health. Wearing restrictive clothing such as tight jeans, corset tops and tummy-control underwear has been found to be responsible for a host of health problems such as nerve problems, yeast infections, heart burn and abdominal pain, and wearing high heels can lead to poor posture, arthritis, hammer toes and back pain. Look after your health by taking a leaf out of your man's style book and dressing for comfort every once in a while.

WORKOUT WITH WEIGHTS

Many women shun the weights at the gym due to the fear they will bulk up. However, unless you lift weights excessively, it is very unlikely this will be the case as women do not have the testosterone levels to build big muscles. However, weight lifting will give your health a boost. Whether or not you desire toned arms, lifting weights has many other health benefits, including the ability to reduce risk of osteoporosis. On top of this, lifting weights can help with weight loss as the more muscle your body has, the more kilojoules you burn - whether you are exercising or not.

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