Men’s Health Month
June is Men’s Health Month. As women, we are very often the CEOs of family health, while the men we love have a habit of putting preventative care on the back burner.
Statistically, men are far less likely than women to visit the doctor for regular checkups. But early detection doesn’t just save lives—it protects the daily energy, vitality, and longevity of the people we care about most.
This month, let’s use our influence to lovingly nudge the husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons in our lives to get their essential screenings on the calendar.
Here is a Preventative Health Checklist for Men
Dr .B and I talk about the importance of enhancing one’s healthspan by integrating the power of 5 elements in the forefront of your daily activities … REDUCE your Sweets (to improve healthy eating) and your Stress; Get MORE Sleep, Sweat (exercise) and Socialization.
Furthermore, encourage the men in our lives to schedule an annual physical, as well as these critical, non-negotiable screenings they need to discuss with their physician. Think of it as a routine tune-up for their healthspan.
- Colonoscopy: Colorectal cancer screenings are crucial. Current guidelines recommend starting at age 45 (or earlier if there is a family history). It is one of the most preventable forms of cancer when caught early.
- Cardiovascular Check (Blood Pressure & Cholesterol): High blood pressure and high cholesterol are often entirely silent. Routine checks are the only way to catch them before they impact heart health.
- Metabolic Screening (A1C & Blood Sugar): Checking fasting blood glucose or A1C levels is vital for catching insulin resistance or early-stage diabetes before symptoms surface.
- Prostate Health: Depending on age (typically starting at 50, or 45 for higher risk factors), a conversation about PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) screenings is a key piece of the preventative puzzle.
Medicine on the Plate: Fueling Men’s Health
Scheduling the appointments is Step One. Step two is what we do every single day in the kitchen. We know (my favorite saying) that Food Is Medicine, and a vibrant, nutrient-dense, Mediterranean or Whole Food Plant-Based diet are the most powerful tools we have to protect blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, and keep metabolic markers exactly where they should be while enhancing heart and metabolic health.
Let’s make a PACT this June: Don’t let the men you love skip their checkups. Book the appointments if you need to, cook up delicious, vibrant clean healthy plant forward meals to celebrate taking control of their health, and let’s ensure we all enjoy a long, vibrant healthspan together.
Enjoy the following SuperPower Buddha Bowl recipe. It’s filled with fresh vegetables, dark greens, protein, grains, healthy fats, fiber, antioxidants, and micronutrients. It is designed to appeal to the men in your life while flooding their bodies with preventative nutrients. Celebrate the men in your life by making this yummy bowl, for the health of it! I guarantee that it won’t be the only time you make this meal.
To Healthy Cooking and Eating!
Melissa Bernstein
Author, Chef, Healthy Lifestyle Advocate
Please Note: This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a medical professional.
SuperPowered Buddha Bowl
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Grains of your choice – choose 1 grain, such as short-grained rice, black rice, brown rice, quinoa, bulgur wheat, barley, etc.
- 6oz Protein of your choice – tofu, chicken, salmon, shrimp, eggs, etc.
- 1/4 cup Edamame more to taste
- 1/2 sliced Avocado
- 1/4 cup Green onions, chopped or diced purple onions
- 1/2 cup Red cabbage
- 1/2 cup Dark greens of your choice – choose as many as you wish – kale, spinach, broccoli, spring mix, asparagus, zucchini, Brussels sprouts, and/or peppers (yellow, red, green)
- 1/4 cup Herbs – parsley, cilantro, basil
- 1/2 cup Beans of your choice – there are so many healthy choices – chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans, lentils (green, yellow or red), pinto, navy bean, etc.
- 1 medium Sweet potato – sliced, roasted
- 1 -2 Tbsp Seeds to sprinkle on top such as sesame, chia seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin, or sunflower
Dressing your Buddha Bowl – Ginger Garlic or Tahini? Your Choice!
Ginger Garlic Dressing
- 2-3 tsp Chili garlic sauce
- 3 Tbsp Tamari sauce or 1/4 cup coconut liquid aminos
- 1 Tbsp Maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp Rice vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Ginger, minced or crushed more to taste
- 2 clove Garlic, minced or crushed
- Pinch Red pepper, crushed add more to taste
Tahini Dressing
- 1/4 cup Tahini sauce
- 1 clove Garlic, minced add more to taste
- 1 1/2 Tbsp Lemon juice from fresh lemon or already squeezed
- 2-5 Tbsp Water as needed for desired consistency
- Pinch Salt
Instructions
- Choose your vegetables, grains, greens, seeds, and dressing.
- Prepare the vegetables that need to be chopped, diced or sliced.
- If you add protein, prepare as needed.
