The Canyon Ranch Guide to Men's Health

February 22, 2016
Brewer, medical director at Canyon Ranch Health Resort in Tucson, Ariz., and a specialist in preventative and integrative medicine, encourages men to take a good look at the state of their health and become accountable for it. The book is divided into four parts, with part one, "Where You Are Now, and Where Can You Be?", highlighting the importance of an annual "maintenance check," i.e., physical exam. Part two, "Your Health at Different Times of Life," analyzes physiological status and makes recommendations for five separate age groups, from age 18 to 80-plus. Part three, "Your Health by Function," addresses individual systems of the male body, covering such topics as sexual function, cardiac disease (the leading cause of death in men), dementia, prostate cancer, and exercise injuries. Part four, "Your Health by Strategy," explains the vital need for quality sleep and outlines an "almost vegetarian" diet with vitamin and mineral supplements. This section also introduces epigenetics and looks at how sustained healthy habits can "turn genes on or off in a positive way." This accessible handbook is equal parts factual and friendly, and it will help men conquer their health fears and make wise choices for healthy, long lives.

March 1, 2016

Physician Brewer (medical director, Canyon Ranch Health Resorts) has compiled a concise manual covering men's wellness from the perspective of both adult male life cycles and select body functions. The life stages include important age periods when the health requirements for males change. For example, the needs of men in the 18- to 30-year-old bracket are going to be different than those of 51- to 65-year-olds. Brewer explores these various age ranges, identifying key milestones for which to prepare. Topics considered by chapter include brain, heart, muscle, and sexual well-being. The author also examines prostate cancer, nutrition, sleep, weight loss, epigenetics, and meditation. Brewer applies his wealth of expertise of family practice and integrative medicine to address issues specific to the male body. Altogether, he has composed an approachable manual in which men and their significant others can benefit from reading without too much time commitment or previous medical knowledge. VERDICT This guide addresses the dearth of literature on men's health and is recommended to readers interested in male preventive care.--Scott Vieira, Rice Univ. Lib., Houston

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