Light beer is less filling.
It's true. In fact, the lighter the beer, the less chance you'll wear the results on your waistline. Downing a six-pack of dark beer is like drinking the caloric equivalent of 3 1/2 apple fritters. Even a half-sack of light beer has 100 more calories than a banana split.
There's a wealth of news guys can use that relates to their well-being that can be found on the Northern B.C. Man Challenge men's health website -- men.northernhealth.ca -- launched this week.
Perfect timing, considering this is the month of Manuary.
Got a question about about parts of your anatomy contained in your boxers? Are you wondering when you should get in line for that prostrate exam? The website has a forum to discuss questions men might be too embarrassed to ask, with Dr. David Bowering, the chief medical officer for northwestern B.C., offering his medical expertise to users of the website.
Bowering's Northern Health report, Where Are the Men?, released last year, outlined some of the health concerns men in northern B.C. are experiencing, with our higher than average rates of cancer, roadside accidents, occupational deaths and chronic disease. The study was used as a guide to develop the website.
The whole idea behind it is to encourage more northern B.C. men to take more active roles in looking out for their own health. And we need to be prodded into action. According to the website, men typically don't consult a medical professional until a health issue affects their work. In fact, 18.3 per cent of B.C. men don't access any medical services.
We also don't live as long as men in other regions of B.C. That sobering thought should provide added incentive to get males more involved in health education and help reverse that trend.
"A lot of the time, men aren't really talking about their health or accessing services at the same rate as men in other parts of the province, so we have to continue that conversation and also deliver the services," said Brandon Grant, men's health co-ordinator for Northern Health.
"Men in northern B.C., we work hard and play hard, and often it takes a very serious incident for guys to go and talk to their doctor and oftentimes it's too late before we could have done a lot of preventative work. We know a lot of health issues, if there's early detection, the health outcomes are so much better."
Web users can gain access to videos and health articles that allow them opportunity to make comments after accessing the clips. There are tips on ways to get active, and community groups can add their events to the online calendar.
There are healthy food recipes featured for such concoctions as Man Cave Chowder, Halftime Lemon Vodka Chicken Wings and the ever-so-healthy Kale Chips. New submissions will be verified by a team of dieticians before they get posted. Tips can be found on how to read nutrition labels on food, the benefits of kale as a superfood, and other health options to improve lives.
The website also promotes Northern Health's mobile men's health screening clinic used to test men for cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes. Businesses, community groups and other organizations can schedule the screening clinics to come to place of work or to their events.
"It's important to start the conversations early, we want young guys to know what they can do to prevent a lot of the stuff that happens in later life and making sure they have relevant health information," said Grant.
"The challenge is really for guys to start being involved in their health, learning more and interacting with the site and our program and partnering with us. We know we have to do better in terms of our health outcomes in the north and we know we have to do better in getting the message out."
