SUBSCRIBE
Monday, May 12, 2025
Health For Mzansi
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes
No Result
View All Result
Health For Mzansi

Guys, here’s how to fire up your health engines

by Noluthando Ngcakani
22nd November 2022
in My Health
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
Guys, here's how to fire up your health engines

November is Men’s Health Month and presents the opportunity to support and celebrate the men in our lives. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Let’s face it bafethu, even though the life expectancy gap between men and women has narrowed, the girlies are projected to outlive men by five years. Men tend to die younger and more often from ailments including heart disease, cancer, stroke and unintentional injuries.

This is according to Dr Abdul Sungay from the Metro Men’s Health Centre in Cape Town. Sungay encourages every man who is coming of age to take care of their health and support each other to lead healthy lives.

“Young boys should be encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle by their caregivers. We should teach and show our boys how to respect each other and especially all girls and women. With a growing number of gender-based violence cases in South Africa, the place to start is with young men and teaching them the importance of respect. It is equally important that we teach young men how to care for their health to protect their futures.”

Four tips for healthy living

Adopting healthy habits when you’re a boy can add years to your life. Whether you’re 13 or 50, Sungay and mental health practitioner Marcus Frieslaar share tips to help you make healthy choices:

Take care of your mental health: 

Mental health is important for all boys and men. Frieslaar says it’s important for boys and men to acknowledge their feelings.

“I speak to men every day about their mental health and support people from all walks of life. As men, it’s important to remember that we are human, we have feelings and there may be times when some things become unbearable or stressful. I encourage you to seek help. Try not to bottle up your feelings,” says Frieslaar.

Mental Health practitioner Marcus Frieslaar

Society puts pressure on boys and men to believe that they cannot be vulnerable or seek support.

“It’s important that we protect all boys as they are the men of tomorrow. It is also important that parents and caregivers are mindful of their boys’ mental health,” he says.

“It’s okay to seek help to ensure you don’t collapse or burn out. If you take care of your mental health, you can take care of the things that matter to you, whether it’s school, your career or family interests.”

Talk to your children

It is also important to talk to your children every day, especially if you detect any changes in their behaviour.

 â€śTry not to scare your boys when you talk to them. You want them to feel safe and to trust you. It’s important to listen when they speak, hear them out. Pay attention to their behaviour in different settings. This can help you to detect if, for instance, perhaps your child is experiencing bullying.”

With mental health, you need to know when and where to help. You can’t pour from an empty jug. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi
Get active bro

You don’t have to go to gym or own a treadmill to take care of your physical health. You can make physical activity part of your boys’ daily routines. Sungay says that children who are five and older can participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

“Activities can include walking, running or dancing. Find an activity you can do together with your children and have fun.”

Dr Abdul Sungay

Men aged 18 and older should do at least 150 minutes of exercise every week. This can increase your energy, help you to sleep better and reduce your risk for developing illnesses.

“It is important to make time to exercise daily. This reduces your risk of developing lifestyle diseases and can help you to maintain your health,” shares Sungay. 

Keep your plate lean and clean
Mental health practitioner Marcus Frieslaar. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Healthy eating is critical as boys develop and grow into men. Boys and men should have a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, a variety of protein foods, and low-fat dairy products. Do your best to avoid junk foods and fizzy drinks.

Sungay says men should not take their health for granted. “Eating healthy food is critical. It’s always taken for granted until one has a chronic illness such as diabetes.”

Healthy food doesn’t need to be expensive. It is important to include foods that are high in fibre in your diet. Foods to include daily are foods that are unrefined such as whole grains, like oats and lentils, a variety of vegetables, lean meat or beans, limited amounts of starch and starchy vegetables, and fruit.

Visit your clinic or local doctor

It’s important to seek help if you are ill. Sungay says warning signs that you need urgent help with includes: “Feeling short of breath, reduced effort tolerance, slurred speech or a sudden weakness in arms and legs.”

If you are living with a chronic condition, you must take your medication every day and do your best not to miss your clinic appointments, Sungay adds. If you have missed any appointments, visit your clinic as soon as possible.

ALSO READ: Revolutionary breast cancer care will save lives

Get the Health For Mzansi newsletter: Your bi-weekly dose of kasi health, wellness and self-care inspiration.

Tags: Healthy LivingLifestyle diseasesmenMen's Health
Noluthando Ngcakani

Noluthando Ngcakani

Related Articles

Pregnancy
My Health

Fighting pregnancy fatigue: What your body might be telling you

by Vateka Halile
9th May 2025
Thyroid health: When weight gain isn’t just about food
My Health

Thyroid health: When weight gain isn’t just about food

by Vateka Halile
24th April 2025

Stories

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites
Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics
Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy
Canola oil: A heart-healthy choice for your kitchen
No more pain! Tackle the torment of toothaches
How smoking causes harmful bacteria in your mouth
Discover delicious, healthy dishes that will make your heart sing
Rediscover the joy of creamy pap with chicken livers
No Result
View All Result

Latest

Pregnancy
My Health

Fighting pregnancy fatigue: What your body might be telling you

by Vateka Halile
9th May 2025

Feeling constantly tired during pregnancy? It might be more than just hormonal changes. We explore common causes of pregnancy fatigue,...

Read moreDetails
Lung disease

Beyond the cure: Many TB survivors face lung disease

8th May 2025

Time to revive Mzansi’s nutritious indigenous crops

7th May 2025
Indigenous foods

Indigenous foods: Nature’s wisdom in every nourishing bite

6th May 2025
UCT

Art meets medicine: Mother and daughter share grit and glory

5th May 2025
Health For Mzansi

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824

News: hello@healthformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

Awards & Impact
Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy
Copyright

Somagwaza

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites

cropped-scott-webb-yekGLpc3vro-unsplash.jpeg

Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics

Dr Sinethemba Makanya

Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy

Fighting pregnancy fatigue: What your body might be telling you

Beyond the cure: Many TB survivors face lung disease

Time to revive Mzansi’s nutritious indigenous crops

Indigenous foods: Nature’s wisdom in every nourishing bite

Art meets medicine: Mother and daughter share grit and glory

Battling burnout: When caring takes its toll

error: Content is protected !!
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes

© 2021 Health For Mzansi | Farmers For Change Pty (Ltd)

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy Canola oil: A heart-healthy choice for your kitchen No more pain! Tackle the torment of toothaches How smoking causes harmful bacteria in your mouth Discover delicious, healthy dishes that will make your heart sing Rediscover the joy of creamy pap with chicken livers