In this first series of Sugar Daddy Today articles we’ll look at mens’ health. Human beings are wonderful biological machines, a hugely complicated and massively impressive collection of cells and organ systems that have morphed over tens of thousands of years of evolution to turn us into the large-brained, fine motor-skilled, dominant species we are today.

But just like machines, time and wear and tear can take their toll. And like all machines, we humans, as we grow older, see changes in ourselves and require the odd repair job and plenty of TLC.

Men’s Health After 40

Basically, with a certain amount of miles on the clock, we need to look after ourselves more. And for sugar daddies who have hit age forty and over there are significant health issues and degenerative diseases to be concerned about and aim to prevent, from increased risk of cancer, stroke, and heart failure to diabetes and mental health issues.

There are also fundamental changes in their bodies, many of which you might not be aware of. For example, did you know that your testosterone level – the principal male hormone – has been dropping one percent year on year since you were thirty? It may not seem like a large amount – what’s a puny 1% after all, right? – but this reduction gradually changes your body immeasurably.

Testosterone is the rocket fuel in your engine as a male: it controls your strength, mental wellbeing, libido, sex drive and sexual ability. Reduction in testosterone level, and a failure to stop it plummeting even faster, means weight gain around the abdomen (that dreaded spare tire or ‘Dad Bod’), increased difficulty in gaining or maintaining lean muscle mass, general physical weakness, lack of energy and mood swings. It also plays havoc with your sex life, and can lead to erectile dysfunction and loss of sexual appetite.

Add to this our sedentary lifestyles – think games consoles, streaming TV and playing on tablets or phones for hours – coupled with poor diets, environmental changes and a massive reliance on products containing certain chemicals, and men are losing their ‘mojo’ at a increasingly rapid rate.

Depressing and not a little worrying, yes? It doesn’t have to be – there are myriad ways to combat the ravages of age and slow down testosterone loss. Many of them are incredibly simple and require little in the way of change to your daily routine. If you haven’t had one in a while, start by trying one of the Healthy Male Checkups you can schedule online. Let’s take a look…

Sugar Daddy Today: Weight

Always first on the list – lose some pounds. It’s straightforward: maintaining a healthy weight will boost your energy, improve your confidence and keep you in a good, positive mood. Get rid of the blobby, sluggish fortysomething you and fight that testosterone drop. Cut out as many carbs as you can, while increasing your daily amount of protein and healthy fats. Also: lots of veggies and water. How can you maintain a healthy weight? Diet and exercise, which we’ll tackle now…





Sugar Daddy Today: Your Diet

As alluded to above, ditch the carbs. They are not your friend. Completely avoid diets that are too low in fat; the science community have now backpedalled on the ‘all fat is bad for you’ mantra, and have turned their attention to sugar. Avoid this too: sugary drinks, sweets and cakes are a no-no. And try to limit the amount of fast food, junk food or ready-prepared meals you consume, as they are loaded with bad fats and salts. Go back to eating a variety of good quality meats – chicken, pork, beef – albeit in moderation. All three contain carnitine, L-arginine and zinc, which are fantastic for improving blood flow and immunity. Low zinc levels can often lead to low hormone levels and possible impotence. If you’re vegetarian (or even if you’re a carnivore!), look to dairy products, nuts (pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and so on) and whole grains, as well as organic butter, avocados and olive oil, while if fish is your thing then salmon and tuna – rich in omega-3 fatty acids – can prevent your arteries becoming furred and clogged with plaque, thereby improving blood flow to all parts of your body. Fruit-wise, in the supermarket head for the aisle section containing berries, dark grapes, black cherries and apples as they are chock-full of the antioxidant quercetin, which promotes circulation and combats prostatitis. And finally, if you’re cooking for a romantic evening in, don’t hold back on the garlic – it’s a natural anticoagulant that thins the blood wonderfully well while preventing heart disease, hypertension and high cholesterol – and try to enjoy a glass or two of red wine. Studies have shown that the vino increases sexual desire in women!





Sugar Daddy Today: Exercise

To get into shape even more, take up weight training which is scientifically proven to stabilise or even increase levels of testosterone in a man. Resistance training is excellent for regaining muscle mass too, so try core strength exercises – or compound exercises – such as squats, barbell lunges and deadlifts for thirty to forty minutes, three times a week. To maintain mobility and flexibility, try to build exercises such as leg swings, hip rotation and squatting (while holding your ankles) into your day; they don’t take long and the effects are fantastic. As for that all important cardio work, low intensity activities such as walking, swimming or bike riding should be a regular part of your life in middle-age, while high intensity workouts such as sprints and star jumps should factor in your week at least once. All of this burns calories, raises your metabolism, and keeps the heart healthy – but remember to rest well too. Recovery time takes longer the older you get.

Sugar Daddy Today: Smoking

It’s not rocket science: stop. It’s not good for you, not in any way shape or form. It might be hard to quit but the health benefits outweigh the cravings or withdrawal pangs that you get for a few weeks. Take it a day at a time, and if you need a reminder as to why you’ve quit, remind yourself that smoking causes over ninety percent of all cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), more than eighty percent of all lung cancer, increases the chance of you developing Alzheimer’s disease more than if you were a non-smoker, and nicotine inhibits and reduces the production of that all important testosterone. As if that wasn’t enough to keep you off the cigarettes, remember that the damage to your heart is halved after one year of quitting, and the risks of lung disease, cancer and stroke drop immediately upon giving up. Not ready to give it up yet? Look to vapor or electronic cigarettes, as an alternative.





Sugar Daddy Today: Alcohol

People like to drink to unwind, or to release a little pressure after a hellish week in work. But after you hit forty you need to watch the alcohol intake. The evidence is there: heavy drinking raises blood pressure – both instantly and in the long term – and increases the risk of strokes, heart disease and a condition called cardiomyopathy, where the heart loses its ability to pump, which can lead to heart failure. On a basic level too, when you reach middle age your stomach and liver have begun to shrink and cannot metabolise alcohol as efficiently, leading to longer and more painful hangovers. To top it all off, binge drinking or continuous heavy alcohol consumption reduces testosterone levels and lowers sperm quality and quantity – not what you need when your testosterone level is already in decline.

Sugar Daddy Today: Rest and Sleep

We touched on rest while talking about exercise, but it cannot be emphasised enough that resting periods throughout the week, along with a good night’s sleep, can play a huge role in your health and wellbeing. Sleep, in particular, when uninterrupted for seven to eight hours, raises testosterone levels. You also need that mental space, or downtime, to relax and have a quiet period to yourself. If you’re permanently on the go you can become stressed, which is proven to raise your Cortisol levels (giving you a burst of adrenaline) and lower testosterone. Try to spend time relaxing outdoors: exposing yourself to sunlight gives you a dose of Vitamin D, which is essential for healthy sperm development, can increase testosterone and may improve libido. And all for free!

Sugar Daddy Today: Stress and Depression

Depression is a particular problem for older males, exacerbated by the fact many men are unwilling to admit they are suffering from it. A drop in testosterone level has been linked to extreme shifts in mood, with sufferers experiencing depression, chronic fatigue, disproportionate sleep, irritability and anxiety. There are also links to memory loss, inability to concentrate and changes or reduction in appetite. The statistics are troubling: over sixty percent of people suffering major depression commit suicide. Watch out for the warning signs, and do something about that testosterone level!

That covered Sugar Daddy Today for this week – now go have some fun!