Here we are – another Father’s Day. It’s an extra special day for me, because my Dad was in my life for an amazing 50 years, until he passed away in 2017 at 91. But we almost lost him 12 years earlier.
Dad, a U.S. Navy veteran who fought in World War II, suffered from diabetes and was in generally poor health. As far as his doctor was concerned, at age 79, my father was “a lost cause” and thought we shouldn’t expect too much more of him. He had no idea that he was an incredible individual who still had a long life ahead of him. But I knew it and my Dad knew it.
I was convinced that his chief issue was one of diet, lifestyle and hormones - so my father agreed to let me take charge of making changes in those departments. I helped him upgrade his diet, gave him supplements and hormones, and took him off three prescription medicines.
He went on to live another twelve good years, with a quality of life that surpassed every one of his younger brothers, and exceeded his parents ages by over 2 decades!! I.e. It was against all odds!
With Father’s Day around the corner, and Men’s Health Month being recognized in June, one of the greatest gifts you can give your Dad, yourself, or any man in your life, is to help him get on track with his health. Nothing comes close, and nothing ever will.
I’ve put together some tips on what you can do to honor your favorite guys this month:
- Go Keto-Green as a family. This is an effective diet for many conditions, including hormonal balance (men and women), diabetes, weight control, even cancer. When eating Keto-Green, you stick to whole foods with lots of good healthy fats, adequate protein, lots of alkalinizing veggies like greens, and very few carbohydrates. With fewer carbs to use for fuel, the body relies on fat.
My book, The Hormone Fix, outlines the Keto-Green Diet with easy-to-follow meal plans and delicious recipes. My family and I followed a much earlier version of it with Dad when he was 79 and in 30 days he lost 30 pounds, and decreased from 120 units of insulin to 20 units! Plus, he went from needing a wheelchair for long walks due to easy fatigue, to getting out on the tennis court!
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Buy your man some nutritional supplements. These can be as simple as a daily multi-vitamin/mineral pill for general good health, or omega-3 supplements and Q10 coenzyme for heart and vascular health. I had my dad on a supplement protocol, including my superfood formula Mighty Maca Plus, which helped him with blood sugar control and boosted his energy.
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Consider male hormone therapy. Men need hormone help too! Research is now showing that testosterone injections can be of considerable value to men over age 65. Testosterone works on a lot of areas in a man’s body, including muscles, the brain, bones, and sex organs. I gave my dad testosterone injections once a week. They normalized his declining testosterone levels and made him feel more vibrant. DHEA at 25 to 50mg per day is also an option. Men should talk to a physician about whether testosterone replacement would be appropriate for them. But remember, a little testosterone goes a long way and should be used with caution, because too much can cause side effects including, anger, mood swings and novelty seeking behaviors … if you know what I mean!
- Encourage other positive lifestyle actions. If a spiffy new tool is on your man’s wish list this Father’s Day, that’s fine, but a better gift might be a health screening, personal training sessions or a gym membership. These can help your man maintain his quality of life as he ages. Guys are less likely to visit a doctor for annual physicals or get health screenings, which means they are more likely to have a treatable disease they don’t know about – so don’t let your dad wimp out on this! And, regular exercise – as little as 30 minutes a day - is key in preventing common conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
As a result of taking care of his health, my father was able to return to his home in Pennsylvania, and live on his own - driving, shopping, travelling, and loving life! When he turned 89, however, the long-standing complications of diabetes took their toll on his kidneys. He ended up in the ICU with kidney failure and was put on dialysis. According to statistics, when someone is put on dialysis over age 70, the average life expectancy is 6 months. But Dad lived two more years - to 91!
My experience with my father taught me a lot: It’s not too late to turn someone’s health around (even your own) and put more life into those years. Be grateful if your dad is still around. Nurture that relationship. And if you’ve lost your father, appreciate the great guys who are left.
Although one day is not enough to celebrate all the great dads out there, here's to hoping that this Father’s Day is a meaningful and memorable one – and a time to take charge of your health so that you can celebrate many more Father’s Days to come!
I would love to hear about your favorite memories with your father! Share a funny or meaningful story with me via email or on social media. I can’t wait to read them.
Email: team@drannacabeca.com
Facebook: @DrAnnaC
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Celebrating your man with a cookout this weekend? These grilled beef kabobs are a must-try! They’re delicious, Keto-Green friendly and easy to make. Win-win-win!
Beef Kabobs
Ingredients
- 1 pound grass-fed steak, cubed
- 1–2 green, red, or yellow bell peppers, cut in chunks
- 1–2 tomatoes, cut in chunks
- 1 cup whole mushrooms
- 1 onion, cut in chunks
- Onion salt
Directions
- Marinate or season the steak to your liking, if desired. Place cubes on skewers, alternating with the vegetables. Sprinkle with onion salt.
- Grill to desired doneness.
- Serve with a side of fresh greens.
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
P.S. If you're looking for a simple way to keep the man in your life healthy...
Consider the gift of Keto-Green® Shake! This balanced protein shake is an easy way to keep the men in your life healthy and happy.
