English: Bald head (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Let’s face it, the scariest thought ofthe average man is that one day his luscious locks will thin, and that he will have to wear glasses as thick as coke bottles. While it’s not wrong to be bald or to needto wear glasses, it is still hard for many men to accept simply because of their own self-image. Sure, some people get dealt a bad genetic hand, but there are plenty of lifestyle choices that can prevent or at least put off hair loss and deterioration of sight. If you start early on, the following ideas will help you keep your hair and your eyesight for just a little longer.

Baldness:

Millions of men suffer from male pattern baldness (and even some women). What many people don’t realise, however, is that baldness can be avoided and slowed down in many cases. While genetic baldness may be inevitable, by keeping your body healthy you may be able to avoid it for many years. Here are some tips:

1. Care for your Scalp. The root of the problem is in your scalp. Oily scalps are often a cause of premature hair loss as it leads to dandruff and psoriasis, which weakens the hair follicles. So make sure the shampoo you are using is not too harsh for your scalp and hair because if you irritate the skin on your head, it’s less likely to grow strong, thick hair.

2. Care for your hair. Using thick and harsh chemicals in your hair – such as colour treatments or excessive use of product – is literally abusive for your hair. These products make your hair weak and brittle, and also reduce the amount of circulating air that reaches your scalp. Additionally, try not to use brushes and combs too much, don’t scrub your hair with a towel following a shower, and avoid wearing hats as much as possible.

3. Stay healthy. Stress and diet are major players when it comes to hair health. A balanced diet that includes all of the essential vitamins, minerals and fats is important to keep your hair follicles strong, and can help to slow or even stop hair loss. Drinking plenty of water is also important as water helps cellular function, which promotes the growth of new hair. Exercise is also important as it gets the blood circulating to the scalp, which helps to make hair grow stronger and fuller.

Blindness:

For many people, nothing is more important than preserving their eyesight, and there are several ways you can do just that:

1. Healthy Eating. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that are essential for good vision, including Vitamins A and E. Fish, eggs and nuts also contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that are essential for preserving the nerves in the eye and vision centre of the brain. Reducing your intake of fried foods will also help to preserve your eyesight as fried foods are loaded with free radicals, which contribute to vision loss.

2. Protect Them. It is important to protect your eyes throughout your life to keep your vision clear and sharp. The sun can do a lot of damage throughout a lifetime, so even wearing sunglasses or contact lenses during the day will help to slow down or prevent vision loss.

3. See Your Optometrist. A great way to keep your eyes healthy throughout your life is to make regular visits to you optometrist. Eye doctors can help you maintain good eye health and prevent problems such as macular degeneration, glaucoma or cataracts.