1. Five Tips for Men's Spring Health
1. Nourish the Mind
Do you think that health only depends on diet? Actually, the wellness of health also requires attention to nurturing the mind. In spring, nature is full of vitality and everything is renewed. In terms of nurturing the mind, we should follow the natural order and focus on the concept of "life". In spring, our will should be in harmony with the energy of growth. We should avoid anger and depression, maintain an optimistic mood, have a broad mind, relax our body, and let our emotions and spirits flourish. This is particularly important for middle-aged and elderly people. If they can avoid anger and resentment, maintain a positive mood, their vital energy will not easily dissipate, their organs will not easily age, and their bodies will not easily weaken, which will help prevent diseases and promote longevity.
2. Windproof and Cold Prevention
Facing the unpredictable weather in spring, you should pay attention to your clothing to prevent cold. In terms of clothing, although spring is warm, you should not rush to reduce your layers of clothing. The temperature in early spring fluctuates between cold and warm, just like a child's face that changes three times a day. Cold waves often come unexpectedly.
Elderly people have weak energy and bones, and poor resistance to diseases. They are more susceptible to chronic illnesses if exposed to cold. Sudden cold can cause blood vessel spasms, increased blood viscosity, slower blood flow, and organ ischemia. As a result, colds, pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, arthritis, migraines, and coronary heart disease may follow. Therefore, in this season, windproof and cold prevention is necessary.
Proper warmth is also important in spring. You should choose appropriate measures based on your physical condition. The style of clothing in spring should be loose and comfortable. Cotton fabric is a suitable material for underwear due to its good moisture absorption and warmth. Since the cold comes from the bottom up, the traditional health concept suggests that spring clothing should be "thick on the bottom and thin on the top" to promote the nourishment of yin and yang. Young women, in particular, should not switch to wearing skirts too early, as this can lead to arthritis and various gynecological diseases. In the warmth of spring, sweating should be wiped off in time. Avoid exposing your chest to the wind. Properly covering yourself in spring can reduce the occurrence of diseases, especially common respiratory infections.
3. Dietary Adjustment
Dietary adjustment is also an important aspect of health. You should pay attention to healthy eating habits to prevent abnormal bodily conditions. In spring, metabolism is accelerated, and the diet should be sweet and warm, rich in nutrients, and focus on strengthening the spleen and nourishing yang. You should choose foods that are sweet, slightly spicy, warm, light, and delicious, and avoid oily, raw, sour, astringent, sticky, hard, spicy, and hot foods to prevent excessive heat. Zhang Zhongjing, a famous health practitioner in the Han Dynasty, said, "In spring, the taste of food should be less sour and more sweet. Do not skip meals in a day to nourish the spleen and temper." Sun Simiao, a famous physician in the Tang Dynasty, also said, "In spring, the diet should be less sour and more sweet to nourish the spleen and boost qi." Therefore, in spring, the diet should be sweet and less sour.
Dietary considerations are also important in spring. It is best to choose foods that are suitable for the body's development. Due to the scarcity of fresh vegetables in winter and insufficient intake of vitamins, it is necessary to consume fresh vegetables in spring to reduce internal heat. Some recommended foods for spring include soybean sprouts, mung bean sprouts, tofu, fermented black beans, barley, wheat, jujubes, lean meat, fish, eggs, peanuts, sesame seeds, oranges, bananas, honey, ginger, scallions, and garlic.
4. Exercise and Fitness
Engaging in regular exercise is an effective measure for health, but you should also choose appropriate fitness activities. Spring is the best season for physical investment. The fresh air in spring is most conducive to revitalizing and nourishing the organs. Life depends on movement. Exercise shapes the body and promotes blood circulation. Regular and moderate exercise has been a secret to longevity throughout history. However, there are active and passive types of exercise. To adapt to the vitality of spring, active exercise should be the focus and persistence is key. In terms of exercise, the movements should be relaxed, smooth, and slow, like sprouting grass, swaying willow branches, and dragonflies skimming the water. Exercise intensity should not be too high or excessive. Sun Simiao, a famous ancient Chinese longevity expert, pointed out, "The way to health often requires moderate exertion." Therefore, excessive exercise should be avoided to prevent excessive sweating and depletion of yang energy, which contradicts the purpose of "nourishing yang in spring and summer".
5. Preventing Spring Drowsiness
Spring drowsiness is a common phenomenon. It is best to take preventive measures to avoid this bodily abnormality. In spring, the weather is pleasant and nature presents a scene of vigorous growth. However, people often feel drowsy and sleepy during this time. Combined with the shorter nights in spring compared to winter, people may feel "spring sleepiness" or lethargy, lack energy, and have a poor mental state. This phenomenon, known as "spring drowsiness" in traditional Chinese medicine, is not caused by lack of sleep or illness, but by the "circadian rhythm shift" caused by the body's inability to adapt to the temperature rise and other environmental changes, resulting in physiological changes in blood circulation.
2. Diseases Men Should Prevent in Spring
1. Prostate Diseases
Spring's temperature rise can relax the muscles around the prostate, reduce swelling and congestion symptoms, and make the urethra relatively unobstructed. This makes it easier to achieve treatment effects when combined with medication. Therefore, spring is the "golden season" for treating prostate diseases.
2. Sexual Dysfunction
Men's sexual functions tend to become more active in spring, so they should be cautious about the occurrence of such diseases. After the winter, men's various functions gradually become active. At this time, men's sexual desire can be particularly strong. Many men, relying on their physical strength, allow their desires to run wild, which can easily lead to excessive sexual activity and the appearance of functional disorders such as erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.
3. Reproductive Infections
Spring brings about many diseases, so men should pay attention to their reproductive organs. With the arrival of spring, people's sexual activity frequency gradually increases, and genitourinary diseases follow. At the same time, due to the fluctuating temperatures in early spring, there is a large difference between day and night temperatures. If clothing is not adjusted accordingly, it can easily lead to a decrease in the body's resistance, resulting in urinary tract infections.
