VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 6 • JUNE 2016
Refreshing Your Health
FATHER’S HEALTH IS FAMILY HEALTH • The obese (fat) father • The malnourished father • Be a good example • A healthy marriage for a
healthy family
Father’s health is family health NEW RESEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT THE HEALTH OF PAPA CAN AFFECT THE HEALTH OF HIS FAMILY.
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Everyone knows that the health of the mom, especially during conception, can affect the health of the infant. Maternal factors such as smoking, drinking caffeine or alcohol, low vitamin D intake, and viral illnesses can all affect an infant’s health and mental and physical development.
A SLICE OF ORANGE
VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 6 • JUNE 2016
A HEALTHY MARRIAGE FOR A HEALTHY FAMILY
The obese (fat) father
How to lose weight as a father?
Now, two studies have shown that the health
Losing weight can be difficult for a busy
of the father, especially during conception,
father. Here are important tips for you to
could affect an infant’s health too. One of
make it easier.
the studies found that fathers with obesity can increase the likelihood of a child developing diabetes later on. In particular, the study found that the sperm of obese men have molecular signals that lead to the offspring’s diabetes risk.
Stress can be detrimental to your children’s emotional and psychological well-being, and nothing could be as stressful as mom and dad fighting. Avoid fighting in front of the children as much as possible: • If possible, avoid fighting. Take a time out and practice deep
• Avoid junk food.
breathing—together if possible.
• Lessen your carbohydrate intake. This
• Learn how to fight properly. Never
includes rice, pasta, sweets, cakes,
hit each other physically. Never do
and breads.
name-calling. Never curse.
• Increase your protein intake. This includes
• Time your fights. For example,
healthy meats such as grilled meats,
just allow yourselves 3 minutes to
chicken and fish, as well as eggs.
fight it out, and then call it out to
• Fill up on water. When you find yourself
stop: “It’s three minutes already.
hungry, drink a glass of water first and
We need to stop.”
then wait for 5 minutes. If the hunger
• Remain objective—do not deviate
goes away, it means you were thirsty,
from the issue.
not truly hungry.
• Fight to resolve an issue, not to
What to do?
• Stay active. Walk, run, and do sports.
show who is right and wrong.
LOSE WEIGHT. EXPERTS RECOMMEND
• Include your wife and kids in your
• Learn how to make up after fighting.
THAT ASIANS SHOULD AIM FOR A BODY
physical activity.
MASS INDEX (BMI) OF 22 OR LOWER. BMI IS COMPUTED FROM THE WEIGHT (IN KG) DIVIDED BY THE SQUARE OF THE HEIGHT (IN METERS). FOR EXAMPLE, A MAN WITH A WEIGHT OF 50 KG AND A HEIGHT OF 150 CM (1.5 M) WOULD HAVE A BMI OF 50/(1.5 X 1.4) = 22.2.
The malnourished father
vitamins and minerals. This study examined
The second study focused on malnourished
fathers who were low on the vitamin called
fathers. Malnutrition can mean that a person
folic acid. They found that these fathers had
is not getting enough macronutrients, such as
an increased chance of having offspring
calories or proteins, or micronutrients such as
with birth defects.
A SLICE OF ORANGE
VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 6 • JUNE 2016
How to prevent malnutrition as a father?
• Never smoke. • Never drink to inebriation.
• Join in the grocery shopping and ensure that the food your family buys is rich in variety.
• Live an active lifestyle and tag your kids along. • Drive carefully.
• Be a good example to your children by not being a picky eater. • Try juicing as an evening meal
• Control your temper and stress level. • Learn to relax.
replacement to load up on different What to do?
vitamins and minerals.
GET ENOUGH MICRONUTRIENTS
• Take a multivitamin, one that contains
IN THIS DAY AND AGE, IT MAY SEEM
the nutrient you feel you are lacking. For
UNLIKELY FOR SOMEONE TO LACK NU-
example, if you eat a lot of junk foods
TRIENTS, CONSIDERING THE AVAILABILITY
or fast foods, you could be missing out
AND ABUNDANCE OF FOOD. HOWEV-
on a lot of vitamin C and minerals. Take
ER, MALNUTRITION IN SOME NUTRIENTS
a supplement with adequate amounts of
CAN OCCUR IF A PERSON’S DIET CON-
these nutrients.
SISTS OF THE SAME FOOD TYPES.
• Go vegetarian once a week. This will force you to eat more fruits, vegetables, nuts and beans.
As many fathers could be busy, they could end up eating the same things again and
As a father, your role is not only to bring
again, usually in the form of fast foods. To
Be a good example
combat this, be mindful to eat a diet with
The family would usually look up to the father
ily in living right. Being a good example of
variety—one that contains most or all of the
as an example of how to live. Therefore, es-
healthy living will help your family develop a
food groups. There should be meats, fruits,
pouse a healthy lifestyle so that your kids will
similar lifestyle, while you also gain a healthy
vegetables, nuts, beans, and dairy.
follow suit.
mind and body.
home the bacon, but also to lead your fam-
Helping Your People in the Path to Progress Benefits Made Better Email us at inquiries@activelinkbenefits.com or call us at 8174606, and let us know when we can share our strategy. Let us help you make your benefits better!
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelinkbenefits.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2015 ActiveLink
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A Slice of Orange is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD