It probably doesn’t matter whether I understand them, or their desire to watch baseball. I still love them, and want them to be happy. I also want them to be healthy. According to menshealthweek.org, “men die at higher rates than women from the top 10 causes of death — and die almost six years earlier.”
We need to find a way to help men stick around longer and be healthier. Congressman Bill Richardson notes, “Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men’s health is truly a family issue.” Given that families make up communities, men’s health is a community issue as well. For this reason, June 9-15 has been designated National Men’s Health Week.
How can we help celebrate National Men’s Health Week? By enabling men to engage in enjoyable, health-enhancing behaviors. First, we need to find out what makes the men in our lives happy. My husband likes to read and cook. My dad likes to garden and hang around with the grandkids. My son, my husband, and my dad enjoy watching and playing sports. Once we know what our guys like, the rest is easy:
Encourage your sports-loving lad to get in the game. Contact your town’s recreation department to learn more about local softball and soccer leagues.
Present your gardening guru with some tomato and basil plants, so he can make heart-healthy marinara and pesto come August.
Give your kitchen god the ultimate man-toy: a sharp, shiny new knife to slice up his summer veggies (we like our LamsonSharp Santoku).
Bring granddad a book to look over with the little ones. Raising Readers (www.raisingreaders.org) recommends “Summer’s Vacation,” by Lynne Plourde, Simon & Schuster, 2003. And don’t forget to bring over the little ones, as well — studies show that social ties have a positive impact on health.
Finally, give your favorite men your love and the blessing of your presence. It is guaranteed to help their well-being.
It’s really all that men want anyway. It’s all than any of us wants.
I may not understand baseball, but I understand this.
P.S. Happy Fathers Day!
Dr. Lisa Belisle is a family physician and advisor for the MaineHealth Learning Resource Centers (866-609-5183). She practices medical acupuncture in Yarmouth. For delicious man-healthy Father’s Day recipes and ideas, visit www.bountiful-blog.com.