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Thank you to Trent Peek for This guest post for national Men’s Health week, The Ugly Truth about men approaching 40. Check out his info at the end of the post.
They say age is a number, but it seems that when you are in your 40s that number seems to speed up faster than we want.
When we are in our teens, we all think that we are invincible.
Our 20s seem to be a blur as the mental power struggle begins as we have the mentality of a teenager, but the responsibilities of an adult.
We make mistakes, but we chalk them up to life experiences.
By the time our 30s approach, the invincibility starts to wear off as we begin to understand that our bodies are not what they used to be.
It’s when the 40s hit that we understand that if we don’t take control of ourselves now, the bad choices we make could affect us years later.
That’s where I am right now, in my late forties. My metabolism is slowing down and the days are speeding past me faster than I can run.
I started to ask myself if age is a number, why do I feel on certain days that I am 100 years old?
This post is for men who are approaching the age of 40 and what they should expect once they reach this age. Call it an owner’s manual on how to stay healthy and look good for years to come.
By the end of this post, I hope that men regardless of age will have a better understanding of how to win at life going forward.
What Men Should Expect at Age 40
When I hit 40, I knew something wasn’t right.
I’d groan in the mornings as I tried to get out of bed. I was making more trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night than I wanted to. Plus, I was starting to forget where I put my car keys on a daily basis.
When men hit their 40s, there are a lot of physical changes that happen that are out of our control.
A lot of these changes happen to the entire body and unfortunately, that is just part of growing older.
But, a lot of these changes that occur once men hit 40 are controllable, if you are aware of them and stay on top of them.
As men get older, the changes to our bodies are unexpected and sometimes shocking at first.
We start to see grey hair beginning to show, our energy levels begin to decline, we start to develop a bit of a dad bod that wasn’t there in our thirties, and we start to shrink in height.
And let’s not talk about the decline in sexual function that is a secret that we only want to talk to our doctors about. Why do you think Viagra makes a ton of money?
The unfortunate thing about growing older is there are no owner’s manuals to read up on to stay two steps ahead of the game.
But, understanding the body changes that many men will face as we begin to grow older, makes life easier to face.
Body Changes That Men Will Face In Their 40s
Prostate
While I was trying to figure out why I was constantly walking up multiple times during the night to pee, I start to realize that my prostate was not what it was like in my 20s or 30s.
I was right, as I found out that once men hit 25 years old, our prostates slowly begin to grow which eventually creates pressure on the urethra.
How could this happen? Chalk this up to hormone imbalances.
The result of our prostates growing can result in frequent urination, difficulty urinating, and problems with the flow of the stream as well.
The good news is that if men begin to experience situations like this, the good old doctor can subscribe treatment or suggest surgery to elevate these problems.
Energy
There is a thing in our bodies called Mitochondria which is the cell’s energy source.
Mitochondria are important to our cells because without them our bodies are not able to create energy from the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins we eat.
This is the reason why as men get older our energy levels begin to drop, and we enjoy watching golf on our couch at home rather than actually playing golf.
So how can men slow this process down? Simple, start exercising! Cardio and strength training can be your best friend if you wish to maintain the energy you once had in your 20s.
Cardio is fantastic for maintaining good heart health, and I would suggest HIIT training as it can elevate the heart rate fast and keep you healthy in less than 20-30 minutes a day.
As for strength training, this is great for maintaining muscle and as a result makes men less fragile than we want to be.
Hair Loss
I have bad news for you; your hair will start to go. I lost mine in my late teens, so I have come to terms with the fact that I never had a hairstylist in my contact phone list to call every month.
The term alopecia, which is male pattern baldness, starts to hit men in the 30s or 40s.
Why? Because of the decline in testosterone in our bodies.
Plus, our genes come into play here as well, as in my case. How can you deal with it? Simple accept it and move on, or talk to your doctor about possible treatments.
There are some FDA approved treatments out there like Minoxidil which helps promote hair growth, and all you need to do is talk to your doctor.
My suggestion, buy a hair trimmer and shave it off. The comb-over is so 1970s, and if you look at Jason Statham or the Rock, they can pull it off, so why can’t you!
Heck, you will be hitting the gym for HIIT training and strength training to maintain your energy, so why not try to look like them?
Sexual Dysfunction
They say it in the damn Viagra commercial that it’s a secret that we can only talk to our doctors about, and it’s true.
When men hit their 40s we notice something isn’t right, and our 20s are long gone. Sucks right? Well, not exactly because there are ways to help slow this problem from happening.
The key to maintaining sexual health is to increase testosterone in the body.
The simple solution to this is to hit a supplement store and have a daily routine in the morning of taking these pills.
What supplements should you take? When I was at the local health food store I was told the key to maintaining testosterone levels is to take vitamin D, zinc, and D-aspartic acid.
Why these supplements? Because they help promote serum testosterone levels.
While I am not a doctor, and I don’t even play one on TV, and I can’t give a medical option on whether this combination works or not, your body needs these vitamins in your body anyway, so why not just take them.
Who knows, they might add some lead to your pencil. (Sorry for using that term, I like that saying.)
If you are worried about your testosterone levels, go see a doctor, as they can prescribe testosterone injections for you if they feel that it will help your body function better.
Immune System
The sad thing about getting older is our immune system starts to decline. Those aches and pains that we begin to feel in the mornings are because of inflammation. Inflammation doesn’t just hit the muscles and bones, it hits our organs as well.
Sucks right? But, a lot of our body’s inflammation is due to stress levels. Plus, with the way the world is today, I am surprised that a lot of 40-year-olds don’t look 80 right now.
So how can you avoid this? I always go back to my favorite tip from someone in their 90s, who looked like they were in their 70s: “It’s all about diet and exercise”. I agree with this statement.
I’ve already mentioned how important exercise is to our bodies, but following a great nutritional diet and taking supplements like zinc, vitamin E, and probiotics maintain a healthy immune system.
Also, do some yoga! I always thought yoga was not for me at all until I was forced to go to a class. Being told to relax made a huge difference in my stress levels.
Again, I am not a doctor, but I want to play one on TV if I have the chance.
What Should a 40-year-old Man Eat?
I have mentioned there are some great supplements that you can take to help maintain a working body for men in their 40s, but why not eat them instead? Who doesn’t love food?
So, what type of foods should men eat in their 40s to maintain a healthy body? Here is a list of great nutritional options for you that will help your body for years to come and please your belly!
Omega-3s
Salmon: Omega-3 fats help in reducing the risk of heart disease, and heart disease is one of the leading causes of early death for men over the age of 40.
By supplementing your diet with salmon, not only are you eating a lean protein, but providing the essential Omega-3s your heart needs to function.
My suggestion is to add at least one serving of salmon a week, and then supplement the rest of the week with a good Omega-3 supplement.
Zinc
Red Meat: If you are not a vegan, red meat like steak is a great source of zinc which is a key mineral your body needs for the immune system.
Don’t overdue your meals with red meat throughout the week, and on your off days add some other sources of zinc into your diet like green vegetables, nuts, and mushrooms.
Veggies
Vegetables: I have been looking lately into changing my diet lifestyle and getting away from eating red meat. Even though I love a good steak, it’s not particularly popular in the vegan household I live in right now.
So what vegetables have I been focusing on lately? Well, I have incorporated a lot of green vegetables like kale, mustard greens, and chard into my diet for the added zinc.
But, I have been adding red peppers and tomatoes into my diet for the high content of vitamin C they bring to the diet, as well as the lycopene which is an antioxidant that helps reduce cell damage.
Calcium and Vitamin D
Calcium/Vitamin D Products: My go to for my daily intake of calcium and vitamin D is milk.
Calcium and vitamin D are very important in any person’s diet to promote bone density which helps us avoid being a fragile piece of glass in our 80s.
If you are looking for other alternatives to milk for your calcium/vitamin D intake, there are some great tasting choices available like oat milk, soy milk, and coconut milk.
Multi-vitamin
Side Note: Take a multi-vitamin daily!
Your body needs it because of the amount of artificial garbage we tend to eat while on the go. Our bodies need help in getting these minerals and vitamins into our bodies to function.
A multi-vitamin is extremely important.
What Men Should Stop Wearing ASAP
I know we all are trying to reclaim the fountain of youth as we get older, however fashion is not the way to do it. I have seen men in their 40s who are trying to pull off fashion styles that even 20 year olds wouldn’t try.
What types of clothing am I talking about? Here are the following clothing items that men in their 40s need to stop wearing now!!!
Sports jerseys and hoodies – Everyone likes to show his/her team pride when heading off to a game in a sports jersey of choice, but they don’t exactly work outside a stadium.
As for hoodies, unless you are coming back from the gym after a great HIIT and strength-building workout, they don’t work well in an office environment.
Hightop sneakers – Please don’t wear these unless you are called up to the NBA to play with Lebron James and the Lakers. High-ups are for teens who can’t afford a belt and are always pulling up their pants.
Focus on casual sneakers if you are out and about as they go with pretty much everything, and don’t make you look like you are trying hard to stay young.
Skinny jeans – For the love of God! Stop wearing skinny jeans! Unless you are on top of your game in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and have skinny legs. When it comes to jeans, wear something comfortable that look good on you.
When in doubt, go into a clothing store and say these words “I am 40, I have no fashion sense and I am looking for a pair of jeans!” You will get the help you truly need.
Conclusion
I know that hitting 40 years old is tough, and I get that age is just a number, but there are ways to avoid getting old.
By following a proper diet, seeing a doctor regularly, and dressing the part, the years following will only get better. At least that’s what I keep telling myself every morning.
The information in this post has not been evaluated by any medical body. Information is provided for educational purposes. You should consult your doctor before acting on any content on this post.
About the author, Trent Peek – There are things that could be said about me, and there are some that can’t. Wannabe screenwriter, director, actor, and full-time coffee drinker. A man of mystery and power, whose power is exceeded only by his mystery. I was born intelligent, but education ruined me.
Check out Trent’s blog, Peek At This.
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