Keep
Invaders Out
•THE WEAKNESS Men are
more likely than women to catch
most infectious diseases. This
may be because testosterone
generally suppresses immune
function, while oestrogen tends
to enhance it.
•STRENGTHEN IT Eat fibre-rich
cereal and top it with berries.
In a study in the Journal of the
American College of Nutrition,
people who ate the most cereal
were less likely to die of an
infectious disease than those
who ate the least. Fibre digestion
creates compounds that knock out
bacteria. Plus, antioxidants (which
berries are loaded with) eliminate
the oxidative stress that inhibits
immunity, says Howard Petrie of
the Scripps Research Institute.
FOOD
David Beckham
Whiskey Wisdom
Perfectfor:Single-malt
devotees,serious collectors
and impromptu celebrations.
Every so often,Balvenie’s
malt master,David Stewart,
pulls together his favourite
single-malt casks and
combines them in a huge
barrel called a tun.hen he
releases the blend in small
batches. His latest,Tun 1509
Batch-2,is a cask-strength
ass-kicker.You’ll taste a heavy
sherry inluence with hits
of cinnamon,nutmeg
and dark fruits.
Proof:100.6
US$350Develop
X-Ray Vision•THE WEAKNESS By the time
you hit age 45 or so, your contrast
sensitivity function – the ability to
discern different shades of gray- may start to go downhill,
Australian research suggests. You
may notice it when you try to read
or drive at night.
•STRENGTHEN IT Playing video
games, specifically action games
like first-person shooters, can
actually help sharpen your vision,
according to research from the
University of Rochester.Love
Your Lips•THE WEAKNESS As you get
older, your lips thin out and
produce less of the oily substances
that keep them plump and moist. ItSTRATEGY
can be tempting to lick your lips,
but this actually accelerates the
drying process. “Saliva’s purpose
is to break down carbohydrates,
proteins, fats and basically
everything the skin of your lips
is made of,” says dermatologist
Dr Adam Friedman of George
Washington University School of
Medicine. Even worse: licking your
lips and then applying lip balm.
This locks in the degrading saliva
and exacerbates the problem, Dr
Friedman says.•STRENGTHEN IT Wet your
kissers with water and then apply
some petroleum jelly or a wax-
based balm that contains
sunscreen. You’ll seal in hydration
and also provide a layer of
protection from dry air.58 JUNE 2017 MENSHEALTH.COM.SG