Virtual Medical Centre

Nutrition in Men

• Introduction to nutrition
• Essential nutrient requirements
  • Energy
  • Protein
  • Fats
  • Carbohydrates
  • Water
• Glycaemic index and glycaemic load
  • Glycaemic load ranges
• Special features about men and nutrition
  • Medical conditions
  • Obesity
  • Diet

Introduction to nutrition 

Over the past few decades, there have been conflicting ideas about what constitutes healthy eating. This has resulted in many opinions on what makes up healthy food choices and good nutrition. Nutrition is defined as the processes by which an animal or plant takes in and utilises food substances. Essential nutrients include protein, carbohydrate and fat in varying amounts, as well as electrolytes (substances like sodium). Normally, 85% of daily energy use is from fat and carbohydrates and 15% from protein. In humans, nutrition is mainly achieved through the process of putting foods into our mouths, chewing and swallowing it. The required amounts of the essential nutrients differ by age and the body's state. In men, required components of nutrition are affected by physical activity, composition of diet, diseases present (eg. prostate cancer), and drugs.  

Essential nutrient requirements

Energy

For weight to remain stable, the total amount of calories that are consumed must not exceed the total that we use up through metabolic processes (such as exercising, sweating and breathing). Energy intake must match energy output.

The average energy intake is about 2800 kcal/d for men, although these estimates vary with body size and activity level.

Protein

Dietary protein includes both essential and nonessential amino acids that are required for protein synthesis. The nine essential amino acids are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine/cystine, phenylalanine/tyrosine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. Protein is important for the production, maintenance and repair of tissues in the body. When energy intake is insufficient, protein intake must be raised. This is because ingested amino acids are preferentially directed towards pathways of glucose (formation) synthesis and oxidation.

For adults, the recommended dietary allowance for protein is about 0.6 g/kg body weight per day. Animal proteins tend to include highest amounts of proteins, followed by legumes (beans), cereals (rice, wheat, corn), and roots.

The male human body requires more protein during growth and when recovering from a state of malnutrition. In some disease states such as liver disease and kidney disease, the amount of protein consumed must be watched. In liver disease such as cirrhosis (increased fibrous tissue, nodules and disruption of the liver structure) normal protein intake can result in a state of confusion.

Fats

Fats are a concentrated and rich source of energy. It is recommended that fat intake total no more than 30% of calories. Saturated fat and trans-fat should be limited to less than 10% of calories, and polyunsaturated fats to less than 10% of calories. The rest of the fat intake should consist of monounsaturated fats.

• Trans fats: These fats are artificially created through a chemical process. This solidifies the oil and limits the body's ability to regulate its cholesterol. These fats are considered to be harmful to your health. Trans fats are found mainly in deep-fried fast foods and processed foods made with margarine.
• Saturated fats: This type of fat is found in foods such as butter and beef fat.
• Polyunsaturated fats: This group includes omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids (EFA's).There are high levels found in fish oil, vegetable and nut oils.
• Monounsaturated fatty acids: This is found mainly in chicken fat and vegetable oils such as olive, canola and peanut oil.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates should make up at least 55% of total calories. The brain is a special part of the body that depends primarily on glucose for its energy and requires about 100 g/day of glucose for fuel. In some situations, the body can compensate for decreased levels of carbohydrates, by using alternative energy pathways, such as burning fatty acids.

Water

For adults, 1 to 1.5 mL water per kcal of energy expenditure is usually sufficient to allow for normal changes in physical activity, sweating, and solute load of the diet.

Water losses consist of 50 to 100 mL/day through the faeces (stools), 500 to 1000 mL/day by evaporation, and approximately 1000 mL/day in the urine. If external losses increase, we must increase the amount of water we ingest. In special circumstances such as diarrhoea and vomiting, water requirements further increase.

Glycaemic index and glycaemic load

As discussed above, carbohydrates should make up at least 55% of total daily calories. In more recent times, the quality and also quantity of these carbohydrates has been shown to be important in blood sugar control. Even though different foods may contain the same amounts of carbohydrates, the effects on blood sugar control may be totally different. This has lead to the development of measures such as the glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) of a food product.

Low GI and GL foods have been shown to be associated with health advantages such as a decrease in blood sugar levels. In men, required components of nutrition are affected by factors such as physical activity, composition of diet and diseases present (eg heart disease and strokes). Long term control of blood sugar levels helps control risk factors for these conditions, such as high cholesterol and blood pressure.

The glycaemic Index (GI) is obtained by measuring the effect that a carbohydrate containing food has on blood sugar levels, compared to the effect of the same amount of pure sugar, on blood sugar levels. The following ranges are usually applied to determine the GI of a particular food:

• Low GI - 55 or less.
• Medium GI - 56 to 69.
• High GI - 70 or more.

Foods with a low GI (less than 55) means that they cause a slower and lower rise in blood sugar levels. These include: breads such as mixed-grain and oat breads, barley, pasta, noodles, beans, sweet potatoes, green peas and milk. Foods with a high GI (greater than 70) means that they cause a faster and higher rise in blood sugar levels. High GI foods include: white bread, steamed white rice, chips and coffee.

By aiming to incorporate low GI foods into your diet, this will help bring down the average GI of your meal and prevent sudden increases in blood sugar levels. Foods with a low GI are often more healthy and nutritious. These foods allow blood sugar levels to be sustained at a lower level over a longer period of time.

After we consume carbohydrate containing foods, the body signals the pancreas to secrete a hormone called insulin to break it down. Insulin acts to lower the body's sugar levels. When the blood sugar levels decrease to a particular level, the brain is sent a signal and we become hungry again. By consuming low GI foods, you are more likely to be satisfied and feel full for longer periods of time. This helps in maintenance of a healthy weight and avoiding the development of diseases such as high cholesterol, increased blood pressure levels and heart disease. The glycaemic load of a food ranks the effect of a specific serving size of that food on the blood sugar levels.

GL ranges

The following ranges are usually applied to determine the GL of a particular food:

• Low GL - 10 or less.
• Medium GL - 11 to 19.
• High GL - 20 or more.

The following values are applied to define the GL per day:

• Low GL - less than 80.
• High GL - more than 120.

Foods with a low GL means that they cause a more steady and lower rise in blood sugar levels. These include: many fruits and vegetables. Foods with a high GL means that they cause a faster and higher rise in blood sugar levels. High GL foods include those such as white rice and refined snack foods such as chips and sweetened drinks. Generally, foods with a low fibre content and high carbohydrate levels have high GI and GL values, whereas those with high fibre contents have lower GLs.

For more information on the glycaemic index and glycaemic load, and tips on how to incorporate foods with a low GL into your lifestyle visit other articles on Glycaemic Index (GI) and Glycaemic Load (GL).

Special features about men and nutrition

Medical conditions

There is strong evidence that Western style diets rich in fatty foods, red meats, high salt and sugar levels, are associated with a substantially increased risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Men are most at risk of developing diet related diseases:

• Men have approximately 1.5 - 2 times the death rate of total cardiovascular diseases as women.
• Men have approximately 1.5 times the death rate of total cancers compared to women.
• Men have approximately 2 times the death rate of lung cancer compared to women.
• Men have approximately 1.5 times the death rate of colorectal cancer as women.

This increased incidence of diet related diseases emphasizes the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle in men, to decrease both morbidity and mortality. There is worldwide evidence demonstrating the link between a high fat diet and the development of invasive prostate cancer. The tendency for growth and metastases of prostate cancer is highest in countries with high fat content in their diets, such as Western Europe and the United States.

In particular, studies have shown a strong association between saturated fat intake and prostate cancer. Data from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study supports the link between a high fat diet and increased risk of developing clinically significant prostate cancer. This study involved a group of 51,529 men, who work in the health professions. Total fat consumption was directly related to increased risk of advanced prostate cancer for high versus low fat intake. This association was due primarily to animal fat.

Obesity

This occurs when the total amount of calories that are consumed exceed the total that we use up through metabolic processes (such as exercising, sweating and breathing). Excess weight is associated with many medical conditions on its own such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. More than two thirds of men are overweight or obese.

Diet

Studies have revealed that men eat insufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables. They may also be less aware of the benefits of eating healthily and maintaining good nutrient intake. It is recommended that men eat up to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day recommended as part of an active lifestyle.