Concerned about your family's health? Dr. Manny has you covered. Manny Alvarez, MD, better known as Dr. Manny, is senior medical contributor for the Fox News Channel and author of The Checklist: What You and Your Family Need to Know to Prevent Disease and Live a Long and Healthy Life. Dr. Oz talks to Dr. Manny about some of the most important health issues families should consider at the different stages of their lives.
To kick-start a healthy life, Dr. Manny recommends breast-feeding infants. According to Dr. Manny, babies who are breast-fed—especially babies born prematurely—do better than those who are not breast-fed. "One of the essential keys is that those kids who get breast milk do get an incredible boost in proteins and the essential fatty acids that they need," he says.
In the teen years, Dr. Manny says acne has less to do with the foods you eat, and more to do with the bacteria on your skin, which can be combated by using topical treatments or antibiotic creams. While Dr. Manny says chocolate and greasy foods won't cause acne, the right diet can contribute to better looking skin. "If you do have a very balanced diet, that will also compliment your immune system and that [will] help you fight the bacteria in your skin," he says.
In your 20s, Dr. Manny says young adults should beware of the "geek lifestyle." He says a lifestyle dominated by computer time, cell phones, Blackberries and iPods can lead to recurrent headaches, back pain and sleeping problems.
Past your 30s, Dr. Manny says there's a gradual drop in hormones in both men and women, which can result in lower energy and decreased libido. Men can counteract these changes by naturally increasing levels of testosterone with the proper diet (including eliminating refined sugars) and exercise, Dr. Manny says. In fact, he says that decreasing body fat in men increases natural testosterone levels and decreases natural estrogen levels, thereby giving them a boost in energy and sex drive.
