Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2018 i Men's Health

In the 2012 novel Calico Joe, John Grisham describes the fateful moment when a Major League fastball connects with the face of a player at bat. Unlike the sound of a ball striking a batting helmet, which is frightening enough, “What we heard was the sickening thud of the baseball cracking into flesh and bone,” he writes. “For those of us in the crowd close enough to hear it, the sound would never be forgotten.” Giancarlo Stanton can testify. In 2014, the 6'6", 245-pound slugger, then with the Miami Marlins, was wheeled off the field after an errant 88 mph pitch hit the left side of his face, leaving him with bone fractures, broken teeth, and grisly lacerations. But unlike most players who sustain an injury of such magnitude (including…

At what age will my son be old enough to watch Good-fellas with me? Peter, Fort Collins, CO Wait until he’s at least 11, says Rutgers psychologist Paul Boxer, Ph.D. That’s about when a boy’s social behavior beliefs start to crystallize; they remain fairly stable after that. And once adolescence hits, vetoing violent, profane, or sexual content is likely to prompt him to shut you out, says pediatric psychologist Carl Pickhardt, Ph.D. In preadolescence, practice “co-viewing.” As you watch a movie, note inconsistencies between it and real life, says Boxer. When a battle breaks out in The Avengers, say, “You know that’s totally fake, right? That’s not how real people solve problems.” For more realistic, intense, or graphic violence, maybe wait a bit longer. But don’t just say no. Try:…

Fewer than two in 100,000 people die each year during triathlons (mostly from drowning) and four in 1 million during marathons. You’re literally more likely to be struck by lightning. If you’re over 35, your chances are still small but it’s more likely to be due to risk factors like high BP or family history, says cardiologist Paul Dorian, M.D. If you ever feel dizzy, faint, or tight in the chest, see a doc. Do I need to gargle? Dan, Tulsa, OK The American Dental Association doesn’t insist on gargling. But can it make your mouth happy and healthy? Sure. So we recommend it (and so does your wife). The rinse reaches spots your brush and floss can miss, flushing out debris. And mouthwashes with alcohol help battle bacteria that…

Reverse Lung Damage If you used to smoke, eating two tomatoes or three apples a day may help repair your lungs, suggests a new study In the European Respiratory Journal who tracked 680 smokers, ex-smokers, and never-smokers for 10 years found that In all three groups, the lung function of people who ate more tomatoes or apples was significantly more preserved than that of people who ate less fruit. Antioxidant compounds may be responsible. So even If you've never smoked, the experts speculate, tomatoes and apples may help slow your lungs' aging process. DETECT LYME FASTER Good news in the war on tick-borne diseases: New tests are faster and more accurate than never for deter-mining the presence of Lyme antibodies. Ask your doctor about2-EIA (enzyme immunoassay)testing, which can be more…

95/5 That’s lean! You’ll also see 92/8, 96/4, and 98/2. It’s best for meals that have many supporting ingredients and added fats. (Think chili and tacos.) 90/10 This nicely balanced beef blend is perfect for Italian ragu and meatballs. There’s enough fat to impart a rich taste, but not so much that your meal is swimming in a grease slick. 80/20 The 20 percent fat isn’t the highest on the market (70/30 is), but it’s the right combination for creating juicy, flavorful burgers and meat loaf. Hey, want to keep cooking delicious, nutritious one-pan recipes? You’ll love our new cookbook, A Man, A Pan, A Plan: MensHealth.com/manpanplan…

After years on the margins of fashion, sneakers are now the world’s most important street shoe. Nothing is more versatile or more comfortable. Or more collectible. Or more emblematic of the great cultural shift toward all-casual-everything. They go wherever you go, no questions asked: to the office, to restaurants, or even to meet the parents. And they look sharper than the shoes you used to wear for these kinds of occasions. To create this lineup, we scoured the vast sneaker landscape and chose our favorite new models from 25 different brands. Some are made from premium materials and come at premium prices; others cost less than a night at the bar—and you’ll get more for your money than a hangover. So Fresh, So Clean ▸ Keeping your kicks box-fresh is…

How do I turn her bad day at work into a hot night? Step one: Stand up to greet her—that simple act means a lot. It shows energy; you’re excited to see her. Keep the TV off and your attention on her. Help with dinner. Dishes done? Make your move. Don’t be coy—you want her to catch on. A back rub always works for me. And use the world’s oldest, cheapest sex toy: a candle. Dim the lights and fire up that sucker. You’re in. David, Seattle, WA Big romantic gestures—yea or nay? Joseph, Orlando, FL Yea. But don’t overthink this, Joe. Those cinematic gestures don’t always translate to real life—a boom box outside her window, racing to the airport before she boards the plane, the Grand Central flash mob…

MATIAS FERREIRA AGE: 29 OBSTACLE: He had both legs blown off after stepping on a bomb while serving with the Marine Corps in Afghanistan. COMEBACK: Now, Ferreira is an officer with the Suffolk County Police Department, Babylon 1st precinct, Long Island, NY. TOP COMEBACK TIP “THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO BE POSITIVE ABOUT,” FERREIRA SAYS, WHATEVER THE SITUATION. “THE STORM ALWAYS PASSES.” JANUARY 21, 2011 Marine Lance Corporal Ferreira has just completed a raid on a cold night in Helmand Province in Afghanistan. He jumps off a roof and lands on a concealed IED. Facing Reality “I looked down and saw that my [lower] legs were gone. I saw a mangled boot. But I had so many buddies who had gotten hurt that it was as if I had already…

69% of men hide their masturbation frequency X DON’T TELL How often you masturbate. As long as you have satisfying sex with your partner and feel connected to her, then she doesn’t need to know. (Besides, she probably already does.) 83% have been secretly attracted to a woman other than their partner X DON’T TELL Your attraction to others. No plans to act on it, right? Then keep it to yourself. It may hurt her feelings and isn’t likely to bring you two closer. 14% have had sex with a prostitute without their wife’s/girlfriend’s knowledge X DON’T TELL Your one-night stand. But only if it truly was a one-time thing and you have no intention—like, really, none—of repeating it. Can’t handle the guilt? Confess to a therapist, not her. △…

Just about every summer Friday at the White House, around 5 p.m., I’d set up a beat-up old grill near the North Portico. I’d light wood charcoal, let the grates get screaming hot, and lay on a few steaks. As the meat sizzled, reporters would file out of the press briefing room, smiling as they located the source of the fragrance of caramelizing beef. Without fail, someone would crack, “Hey, Sam, what time’s dinner?” They’d just finished grilling the president (by way of his press secretary, at least) and now they wanted what I was grilling. So I’d holler back: “Whenever the president told you to come by.” Sometimes I’d cook hanger or strip steak. Yet like most wise people, President Obama is a rib eye fan. It’s also my…

How can I conquer mosquitoes this year? Preemptive strikes. Your perimeter: 200 yards—most mosquitoes stay within that radius of their birthplace. They live only about a month, out one female can have 200 to 300 baby biters, so early efforts can thwart future generations. When temps hit 50°F during the day and 40° at night, take action: After it rains, flip anything that holds water, says entomologist Elmer Gray Encourage your neighbors to do the same. Keep gutters clear. If you must spray use a natural product containing Pyrethrin (made from chrysanthemums), such as Bonide Products 857 Pyrethrin Spray Concentrate. Skeeters are weak flyers, so a cox fan can blow away patio stragglers. (Citronella candles work in enclosed areas only) As for body armor, use a spray or lotion with…

JONATHAN FRIED AGE 39 HEIGHT 5'7" BEFORE 190 AFTER 145 THE SETBACK Growing up, Tourette Syndrome made me feel incredibly less “able.” I was never athletic and was bullied. As an adult, I was never in shape. I’d eat huge meals, like a big plate of meat and carbs and then cereal and fruit with milk for dessert. Then I’d often eat again. My calorie intake was way high. I didn’t like how I looked, but I felt there was nothing I could do. THE WAKE-UP CALL I was unemployed, playing a lot of World of Warcraft, and living at home when three of my closest friends abruptly joined the military. All I thought about was how much I’d miss them and how different they’d be after boot camp. The…

Hardly. Two legit startups, Roman and Hims, offer online prescriptions for ED meds, mailed monthly and inconspicuously. You have to fill out a survey, but it saves you a doctor’s visit and an awkward exchange at the pharmacy. Plus, it may cost way less: Hims is $20 a month for generic sildenafil, versus $700 a month for Viagra if it’s not covered by insurance. That leaves plenty for the female version—a candlelit dinner. One caveat: If you’re under 40, ED might signal diabetes or heart trouble, so see a doctor.…

Your Longevity Menu THE NUMBERS ARE IN: People who improved their diet by 20 percent over a 12-year span—by eating more whole grains, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids—reduced their risk of dying in the next 12 years by as much as 17 percent, a New England Journal of Medicine study found. It’s easy: Just take some Sunday time to fix meals that incorporate those three components. That’ll help you avoid weekday takeout. Fight Diabetes with Yogurt You don’t need much of the stuff at all: In a Journal of Nutrition review, people who ate about 3½ ounces of yogurt a day (a typical small cup) lowered their risk of type 2 diabetes by as much as 14 percent. Researchers think the bacteria in fermented dairy products may lower insulin resistance…

Eight years before he had the chiseled physique you see now, Andre Crews was like most guys: an average Joe who wanted more out of life and his body. By day he was a banker poring over financials at PNC’s Pittsburgh headquarters, and by night he was a party animal with a taste for Jameson Irish whiskey. Here and there he’d squeeze in a workout or a run, but his body—at 200 pounds, the same weight he is now—was more flab than muscle. That all changed in 2010, when Crews decided to ditch the desk job. “I wasn’t happy doing banking,” he says. After a stint of bartending, he found his true calling as a trainer. Now he’s in the best shape of his life and co-owns a New Jersey…

DAY 1 / PULLING 1. Front Goblet Squat Stand and hold a 25-pound dumbbell vertically at your shoulders with both hands. Bend your knees and lower your torso until your thighs are nearly parallel with the floor; stand. 2. Pullup Hang from a bar, palms facing away. Pull your chest toward the bar, pause, and lower your torso back down. 3. Hollow Hold Lie on your back, legs straight, arms extended. Press your lower back into the floor; contract your abs to lift your shoulders. Lift your legs slightly. Hold. DAY 2 / LEGS 1. Skater Lunge Keeping your knees soft, leap left, landing on your left foot, knee bent. Hold, then leap back to the right, landing on your right foot. Hold. Uncomfortable? Do side shuffles. 2. Alternating Row…

I met Luke at a professional conference. I’m a public health and behavioral science expert; Luke’s a statistician for a hospital system in New York City. I thought he was brilliant—two Ivy League degrees, decades of experience working with top medical professionals, married to a cardiologist. We stayed in touch. A few months later, after I began speaking out about irrational health beliefs, including the myth that vaccines cause autism, I ran into Luke again. “I read your piece,” he said. I smiled awkwardly. His son had autism, but we’d never discussed it. What came next shocked me. “How can you say vaccines don’t cause autism?” At first I thought he was joking. But no: Luke is an anti-vaxxer, convinced that childhood vaccines are a pharmaceutical conspiracy. He blames vaccines…

▸ Here’s how this works: Pick a leafy wrap for your base, fill it with a protein, and add a topping mix. Then wrap and eat. These recipe combos make eight wraps, or four servings total. You can prepare the components ahead of time and then assemble the wraps when you’re ready to eat or pack your lunch. BASE ❏ Romaine ❏ Bibb (a.k.a. Boston) ❏ Radicchio ❏ Napa cabbage ❏ Collard greens, Trim, boil 5 minutes, dunk into ice water till cool, and dry. PROTEINS ❏ 2 cups cubed rotisserie chicken ❏ 1 lb salmon, baked and flaked ❏ 1 lb ground pork, cooked ❏ 1 cup quinoa, cooked ❏ 1 lb flank steak, seared TOPPINGS ❏ Tex-Mex In a bowl, mix 1 cup canned black beans (drained and…

YOUR DIGITAL SIDEKICKS For News & Reviews ▸ To stay up on release dates (and drool over sneaker porn), visit the website Kicks on Fire. For All Things Nike ▸ Swoosh fiends use the SNKRS app to cop rare finds the moment they're released. For Adidas Freaks ▸ Loyal to Kanye, James Harden, and the triple stripes? Use the Confirmed app. For Foreign Models ▸ London-based Size.co.uk ships must-have sneakers never released in the U.S. For Everything Else ▸ Sneaker retail king Kith stocks big brands and some rare finds. MEN’S HEALTH TWITTER POLL Wear sneakers to work Wear sneakers at least two days a week Own at least six pairs Would rather forgo sex for six months than lose their whole sneaker collection Based on a survey of 6,352…

62 Age of the average American man when he retires $1.8M What the experts say he’ll need to live comfortably until he dies (or turns 92) $124,831 Amount he actually has saved, just 10 years before he hopes to quit Tempted to raid your 401(k) for that $5,000 cruise? Don’t, says Boston College economist Gal Wett-stein, Ph.D. The real cost would be about $25,000, if your retirement is 20 or more years off. There’s a 10 percent penalty, plus taxes and fees (if you’re younger than 59½), and you’ll set your compounding interest back. Two possible penalty-free exceptions: medical emergencies and education expenses. 38 Years it would take to become a millionaire if you save $1,000 a month, starting right now, at a 4 percent annual rate of return (yes,…

The tape may help draw your immune system’s attention, says clinical dermatologist Jules Lipoff, M.D. But you’ll need more. Apply tape over some Compound W to trap the medicine, improving absorption. And once your skin moistens, use a pumice stone to slough off wart layers. Can I use a quick Florida trip to lay down a base tan for summer? Chris, Rochester, NY Please don’t. Any tan is a sign of damaged skin as your body tries to defend against harmful UV rays, says Mona Gohara, M.D., a dermatology professor at Yale School of Medicine. Plus, research shows that the SPF provided by UV-induced tans is negligible—about 3 to 4. (The minimum recommended SPF for sunscreen is 30.) The more tan or burned you are, the more damage your skin…

Philip, Miami, FL Could be an exertion headache—a throbbing around your temples. Before your workout, drink three or four glasses of water; dehydration won’t help. Then warm up—that can reduce sudden rises in intracranial pressure. Feel it coming on? Pour cold water over your head—it may help constrict blood vessels on the scalp, easing pressure. Now a bandlike pain extending from back to front could be a tension headache: Avoid moves that stress your lower neck (barbell squat), lighten the load, or do fewer reps. MEN’S HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD Brain Health P. Murali Doraiswamy, M.D.; David Liebeskind, M.D. Cardiology John Elefteriades, M.D.; Prediman Krishan Shah, M.D.; Eric Topol, M.D. Dentistry Mark S. Wolff, D.D.S., Ph.D. Dermatology Adnan Nasir, M.D., Ph.D. Emergency Medicine Travis Stork, M.D. Endocrinology Sandeep Singh Dhindsa, M.D.…

FLY IN HIGH STYLE The drone market is soaring, with offerings that look like props from a futuristic Black Mirror set (minus the malevolence). The latest from the folks at DJI is the Mavic Air, a powerful, ultraportable folding drone that goes anywhere and captures pro-grade aerials. This model adopts some user friendliness from DJI’s mini drone, Spark—like gesture recognition control and programmed shooting modes—and adds improved filming chops from the high-end Mavic Pro. A three-axis mechanical gimbal means rock-solid ultra high-def 4K video, 120 fps slow-motion, and crisp 12MP stills. On some of our test flights (it can go for 21 minutes), we tried to crash it (“obstacle avoidance” works!) and lose it (“return to home” works!), so it’s literally a keeper. $799, dji.com IT’S ALL ON THE WRIST…

The Key to Great Running Form You don’t need to run like a Kenyan. The most efficient stride length is likely to be the one that’s most natural to you, suggests a small study in the International Journal of Exercise Science. So just enjoy your run and don’t worry about how you look. $14,662 Average annual health care costs you could avoid by getting fit. Stanford researchers who compared the cardiovascular fitness of nearly 10, 000 veteran to their medical bills found that the higher the vets 7 fitness level, the less likely they were to have and costly diseases. Join the Band: Get Stronger Power training has made quantum leaps with the use of resistance bands. In a recent Iranian study, bands secured to the floor and ceiling for…

WARMUP Perform 3 rounds of these two moves, which stretch and strengthen your lower back, readying your body to row. After each round, rest for 60 seconds. PVC Good Morning Stand with your feet hip-width apart, holding a PVC pipe or broomstick (overhand grip) across your upper back. Keeping your knees slightly bent and back naturally arched (no rounding), push your hips back and take 3 seconds to lower your torso. Stop when you feel a stretch in your hamstrings. Pause, and stand back up. That’s 1 rep; do 10. Scorpion Lie facedown on the floor with your arms extended so your body forms a T; this is the starting position. Now bend your left knee, raising your left foot off the floor. Slowly bring your left foot across your…

Do you avoid the pullup bar? Have flashbacks of gym class humiliation? You’re not alone. The pullup remains daunting for plenty of guys. And that’s too bad, because few exercises can strengthen your entire upper body, challenge your core, and improve your posture the way the classic pullup can. Learning this move is a challenge worth undertaking. This is an exercise you can do anywhere, from your gym’s pullup bar to city construction scaffolding to the sturdy tree branch in your backyard. We’re here to show you the way. Whatever challenges stand in the way of your pullup success—matchstick arms, heavy legs, weak grip—we’ll help you fight past them so you can master this staple body-weight exercise. And even if you’re still haunted by gym class nightmares, you’ll learn new…

▸ Step 1 Understand When and how did the belief arise? Was it formed or inherited in youth without much independent exploration of the truth? Is it shared by family or friends? Was it formed under heightened emotion? Knowing the motivation for maintaining a belief is the first step in reevaluating truth. ASK YOURSELF “What’s my earliest memory of this belief?” ASK THEM “How did you come to this idea?” ▸ Step 2 Evaluate List all the reasons you’re holding on to this belief, even if there’s mounting evidence to the contrary. Then make another list of how keeping the belief could hurt you. Do this objectively, as you would any other pro/con list. People often cling to opinions without ever evaluating the evidence. ASK YOURSELF “What does this belief…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED 1 TSP OLIVE OIL2 GARLIC CLOVES, MINCED½ LARGE YELLOW ONION, CHOPPED1 RED BELL PEPPER, DICED2 MEDIUM CARROT S, D I C ED1 LB LEAN (95/5) GRAS S-FED GROUND BEEF1 TBSP TOMATO PASTE1 CAN (28 OZ) CRUSHEDT OMATOES1 TBSP BROWN SUGAR2 LARGE SPRIGS THYME (LEAVES ONLY)6 HAMBURGER ROLLSSHREDDED CHEDDAR CHEESE (OPT IONAL) 1. In a large nonstick pan, add the oil, garlic, and onion. Turn the heat to medium high and cook until aromatic, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the bell pepper and carrots. Cook, stirring occasionally, till slightly softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. (You can drain the fat at this point if you need to. Be careful—it’s hot!) 2. Adjust the heat to…

Spring’s great for your mood, but not so great for your face and hair. Months of whipping winds and blasting heat give way to moister, warmer days and often increased production of sebum (a.k.a. oil). That sheen isn’t ideal—and it’ll reflect poorly on you, especially in the light of your camera’s flash as you snap stories and selfies. Don’t be a slave to a filter when you can look sharper in real life. 1. Oars + Alps Cleansing Wipes ▸ Keep some at work for an instant refresher. The caffeine livens puffy, tired skin; the scent gives you a lift. $16, birchbox.com/men 2. Every Man Jack Volcanic Clay Face Scrub | Oil Defense ▸ This cleanser goes deep to slough off dead winter skin and sop up excess goop from…

FOR RUNNERS THE ROB KRAR ULTRA CAMP FLAGSTAFF, AZ (FLY INTO PHX OR FLG) Situated beneath northern Arizona’s snow-capped San Francisco Peaks at 7,000 feet, Flagstaff has experienced a culinary renaissance and also evolved into a trail running mecca that attracts some of the country’s top ultra runners. Two-time Western States 100 winner Rob Krar hosts weeklong intensive camps where runners can hone their trail skills and max out their fitness. Offset your long daily runs through aspen and ponderosa pine forests with meals at Pizzicletta, a wood-fired pizzeria, and Tourist Home, an all-day cafe specializing in gourmet brunch food. Camp registration (from $2,150) includes six nights at downtown’s Embassy Suites by Hilton, and all meals. robkrar.com FOR UNPLUGGING DISAPPEAR IN A PUREPOD GREATER CHRISTCHURCH AREA, NEWZEALAND (FLY INTO CHC)…

ROMANIAN DEADLIFT + KETTLEBELL SWING ▸ HOW TO DO IT Stand with a loaded barbell. Keep your knees slightly bent as you hinge at the hips; take 5 seconds to lower your torso until it’s almost parallel to the floor. Keeping your back straight, raise your torso. That’s 1 rep; do 5. Then do 10 kettlebell swings. ZERCHER SQUAT + BOX JUMP ▸ HOW TO DO IT Hold a loaded barbell in the crooks of your arms, keeping it close to your chest. Push your hips back and bend your knees to squat. Hold the “down” position for 5 seconds; then explosively stand. That’s 1 rep; do 5. Then do 5 box jumps. OFFSET CABLE PULL + PLANK ROW ▸ HOW TO DO IT Stand with the cable machine to…

IN THE DUNGEON, I LEARNED JUST HOW AFRAID PEOPLE ARE TO SPEAK UP IN BED. For two years after college, I led a double life. By day I was Jenny, the glorified office secretary—but by night I became Mistress Scarlett, a dominatrix at an L.A. sex dungeon, where I learned a lot about secrets. Of course, I’d already had lots of personal experience keeping my own. When I started having sex, I felt overwhelming pressure to please my partner and to be pleased by the same motions that got him off. If I couldn’t achieve climax, then there must be something wrong with me, right? For years, I faked it with my partners, too insecure to tell them what I needed. Sex was about pleasing them; masturbating was about pleasing…

How many times a week do you absolutely lose your shit—that is, have either a private or public outburst of some kind? When something great happens to you, how long does the happiness last? What’s your biggest source of unhappiness? How many really close friends—guys who will always be there for you—do you have? Compared with a year ago, rate your overall level of irritability. How does your number of close friends compare to 10 years ago? How frequently do you feel lonely or isolated? When you’re feeling down, what’s your go-to for boosting mood? How would you grade your mental health? “A” means you’re happy and have excellent mental health; “F” means you’re depressed and have poor mental health. If you suspect you have a mental health problem, where…