Men's Health Australia August 2021

★ There’s simply no denying it: we are living in an age of nostalgia. From classic television reunions to cultural styles, there’s a collective yearning for the comforting memories of yesteryear that’s perhaps unsurprising given the slog we’ve all endured these past 18 months. And our enthusiasm for reminiscence makes perfect scientific sense – according to a study published last year in Frontiers in Psychology, nostalgia assists in combating loneliness in times of crisis. An earlier pre-pandemic study went deeper still, identifying nostalgia as a useful resource for optimal psychological health and overall wellbeing. And while we indulge in a trip down memory lane, you need look only as far as your favourite streaming service to know which era reigns supreme: the early 2000s are back, in all their post-Y2K glory. Perhaps…

Once upon a time, it was almost universally accepted that the lower the number on the bathroom scale, the better shape you were in. But according to the flawed logic of the body mass index (BMI), bodybuilders are “overweight”. And the Rock? “Clinically obese”. Now that we know better, the BMI’s days are numbered, and body fat percentage has stepped up to the plate to tip the scales in your favour. Tracking your fat-to-muscle ratio can do more than melt away the male muffin top: it’s a reliable marker of health. It doesn’t matter what the scales say – the more body fat you have, the greater your risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and death from all causes. If more than a quarter of your bodyweight is fat,…

Q I love my four-year-old but struggle on my stay-at-home-dad days. How do I cope with the tedium and silliness? A The great man is he who does not lose his child’s heart. – Mencius; b. 373 BC TEXT A TRAVEL AGENT SHOULD I BOOK A WINTER GETAWAY THIS YEAR? – TY The Hawaiian shirt in my wardrobe isn’t going to wear itself. Can I ditch my desk for a sunshine break? The uncertainty about travel means holidays are very cheap. Book now. Prices can only go up! I’ve heard horror stories about chaotic cancellations. How can I safeguard my wallet? If you book an ATOL-protected package holiday and your trip is cancelled, you’re entitled to a full refund. You can also choose a credit voucher for the next time. It doesn’t bear thinking about but … What…

My girlfriend says I’m a passenger in our relationship, that I never plan anything “nice”. Any tips on taking charge? –RO Nikolina: You know, something my husband always does is, a free day comes around and he’ll say, “You know, I was going to arrange this, but then I didn’t because I wasn’t sure you’d like it”. So, my advice in those circumstances would be, just take the initiative – take the risk. Lizza: Yeah. No matter what you come up with, it’s almost certain she’ll appreciate the effort. Nikolina: The other thing you can do is check in with a friend of hers – maybe she’ll know better than you do what your girlfriend’s idea of a fun day out looks like. But failing that, just go for it. Unless it’s sky diving…

YOUR MONTHLY DOWNLOAD OF THE LATEST LIFE ENHANCING RESEARCH IF YOU WANT to make strides in your cardio performance, traditional Chinese medicine may not be the first thing you turn to. Ancient, herbal alternatives to caffeine-loaded pre-workouts are often written off as placebos, but newer doesn’t always mean better. After all, some of the medicinal plants used for centuries in Asia have benefits that are supported by the latest science. According to researchers at the University of Hong Kong, supplements containing extracts of ginkgo biloba and rhodiola rosea – both easily available online and in health stores – can improve the physical endurance of active young men without requiring them to make any other adjustments to their training plans. In their study, a group of 35 volunteers took four tablets containing 270mg of…

THE SEMI-NORMALITY of life after lockdown has its benefits – a chance to grab a beer with your colleagues after work; a lunchtime sandwich made by someone other than yourself. But for those of you who commute to busy towns or cities, a return to the hubbub of pre-pandemic life can also have a detrimental effect on your stress hormones – which is bad news for your waistline, too. Back-to-work weight gain isn’t just an inevitable consequence of PE with Joe ending. Multiple studies have linked urban noise pollution with adverse health outcomes. According to a study in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal, higher 24-hour noise levels are associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms. Another paper linked daytime clamour to poorer heart health. More recently, a study by the University…