Benefits Of Nitric Oxide for Penis Health

Benefits Of Nitric Oxide for Penis Health

Not many people may know this, but Nitric Oxide, amongst other things, is highly important for penis health. While it is a free radical molecule produced naturally in the body, with several benefits, including proper circulation and health of the blood vessels. As of late, researchers have found that nitric oxide also plays a vital role in sexual issues like erectile function; there is a consistent mountain of evidence to suggest that lower nitric oxide production can contribute to erectile dysfunction in addition to various other vascular problems.

You can think of nitric oxide as being a molecular biological messenger produced by cells in the body, but in particular, the cells that line the surface of our blood vessels are medically referred to as the endothelium as well as the cavernosal nerves. When produced in enough quantities, nitric oxide will expand the blood vessels helping to raise blood flow and thus lowering the growth of plaque while reducing instances of blood clotting. The cavernosal nerves are also what makes an erection possible. The use of nitric oxide helps play a significant role in helping cells within the body, work with others to perform a laundry list of functions, some of which we’ll examine in this article, in addition to penile health.

How High Cholesterol Damages Your Sex Life?

Put another way, it is an unhealthy lifestyle that damages your sex life, but how does it work? Well, when the endothelium senses that there is beyond normal cholesterol levels caused by smoking, high blood pressure, stress, it will produce far less nitric oxide than it usually should. Having a condition like heart disease can further exacerbate the issue.

We’ve already established that penile erection mainly depends on having high nitric oxide. That’s why drugs like Viagra are used to improve conditions like erectile dysfunction. The drug and similar ones work by helping improve the nitric oxide pathway. However, the effects are short-lived.

Not Experiencing Intense Erections?

One of the reasons you may not be experiencing a hard erection is that there is a lack of nitric oxide production. While you could use a drug like Viagra, it isn’t a long-term solution for 99% of the men who need it. After a while, the body does not respond as well as it used to the drug. That’s why it is essential to look at natural ways of increasing nitric oxide production. For starters, you will want to get rid of bad habits like smoking and a lack of physical activity. If you have a condition like high blood pressure, then make sure that you exercise to bring it under control, and the same goes for having high cholesterol levels.

Back in the day, people took nitro-glycerine to relieve instances of chest pain, which also worked wonders when it came to helping the body produce nitric oxide. Think of nitic oxide being the body’s nitro-glycerine. That said, we’re not advising that people with erectile dysfunction take nitro-glycerine; in fact, we’ll discuss how to naturally increase the body’s production of nitric oxide throughout the second half of this article.

The Increase in Inflammation

Research has found that instances of smoking, high cholesterol, and obesity can all take their toll on the body and lead to chronic arterial injury. Not only does it lead to a decrease in nitric oxide, but it also increases inflammation.

Sure, inflammation can be helpful in many instances; for starters, it can save your life if you have been severely injured or when your body is invaded by a viral infection or perhaps some other type of bacterial infection. The body’s natural response leads to the white blood cells rushing into the area to fix things. The build-up of scar tissue is accelerated, leading to healing instances of scrapes and cuts. That’ s why without inflammation, we can’t survive even a simple flu infection or a paper cut. Our evolutionary history is rampant, with the body protecting itself using vigorous inflammation, which has allowed our bodies to evolve. During early human history, injury and infections were more of a threat than they are today.

Today, we’ve developed a host of easily available antibiotics, with no threat of being attacked by a wild tiger, for instance. However, if left unchecked, inflammation can lead to numerous degenerative diseases, including arthritis, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer’s.

Perhaps the only difference between a regular type of inflammation and the type that triggers atherosclerosis is high cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure, and being obese. These health issues can trigger inflammation, which can be harmful as opposed to the ones triggered by trauma. Furthermore, these health risk factors are more longstanding as opposed to a scratch or a cut. That’s why they will lead to plaque and chronic inflammation. The build-up of active plaque will lead to small abscesses within the arteries. This can then possibly lead to future heart attacks.

The Benefits Of High Nitric Oxide Production On Men’s Health

Over the past few years, a mountain of evidence suggests that there are many benefits associated with nitric oxide, especially on men’s health. Here is a couple:

  • Higher nitric oxide levels can help widen the blood vessels as they relax, increasing oxygen levels and blood flow to all necessary parts of the body.
  • Nitric oxide also relaxes the muscles in the penis, which leads to a hard erection.
  • It helps to reduce inflammation (as discussed earlier).
  • Improve the quality of sleep.
  • Improve athletic performance for those who exercise and also their strength in the gym.
  • It helps to improve the immune response to infections.
  • Decreases instances of muscle soreness after intense exercise.

How Nitric Oxide Helps Address ED?

Most men don’t have a problem maintaining an erection or developing one. However, it also isn’t entirely uncommon for men to be struggling to maintain their erection. While the odd issue once every month is perfectly normal, men experiencing frequent erectile dysfunction need to seriously consider addressing it.

ED is defined as the inability to sustain or achieve a hard enough election for sexual intercourse. However, it can have a knock-on effect leading to numerous other emotional and physical issues such as:

  • Neurological and nerve issues
  • Psychological issues like stress
  • Circulatory issues
  • Vascular problems

The male body needs nitric oxide for the muscles that help the penis harden to relax. As these muscles relax, the chambers within the penis start opening up and then be filled with blood, which leads to an erection.

Nitric oxide production can drop as men get older, especially those with lower levels of activity and a poor diet. An unhealthy diet can lead to not getting enough exercise, consequently leading to a build-up of arterial plaque, which then causes circulatory issues, which can interfere with the body’s production of nitric oxide.

Nitric Oxide Has Positive Effects on Blood Pressure

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a health problem that occurs when there is heavy blood pressure in the blood vessels as the heart beats. If the pressure is too high, the heart needs to work harder to pump the same amount of blood through the body. Factors like being unhealthy, overweight, smoking, etc., can lead to the development of high blood pressure.

Nitric oxide helps regulate blood pressure, but when a man has hypertension, the natural production of nitric oxide is impaired. Then without the proper levels of nitric oxide, the blood vessels can’t relax and thus widen like they should, which impedes the flow of blood throughout the body. It can deprive essential organs and parts of the body of oxygen.

How to Increase Nitric Oxide Levels?

Fortunately, a couple of lifestyle changes can significantly affect how much more nitric oxide their bodies can produce for many people.

  • Use Canola Oil – Not only is canola oil an excellent substitute for other types of oils, but it is also heart-friendly. Many experts also recommend canola oil over olive oil for cooking and salads. That’s because olive oil tends to lower the body’s production of nitric oxide, but canola oil doesn’t. That said, canola oil helps reduce inflammation to a greater degree than the use of olive oil.
  • Exercise – Exercise isn’t just great because it burns fat and yesterday’s pasta, but it is also excellent for pumping nitric oxide into your body, reducing inflammation.
  • Watch Funny Movies – We’re not kidding; comedies help to increase nitric oxide levels. At the same time, scary movies are shown to reduce the amount of nitric oxide in the arteries.

Supplementing With VigRX Nitric Oxide Support To Increase Nitric Oxide Production

VigRX Nitric Oxide is a supplement that’s designed to trigger the body’s natural production of Nitric Oxide. The formulation consists of a pretty extensive list of mainly herbal ingredients. However, each ingredient included has been shown to raise nitric oxide production within the body and help sustain that production for an extensive period. Furthermore, ingredients have also been added to help increase the rate of absorption. That means that you will see results sooner than with any other supplement.

If you were wondering how VigRX Nitric Oxide works, let’s start with understanding what it isn’t. VigRX Nitric Oxide isn’t like Viagra, which is classified as a drug; it is a supplement, and as such, you don’t see results right away.

Users can expect to experience:

  • Better blood circulation, which in turn means improved nutrient distribution.
  • The higher nitric oxide levels mean that men experience harder erections.
  • When blood circulation improves and gas levels are highest, it also means that the user’s performance in the gym and other aspects of their health improves.

How Does VigRX Nitric Oxide Compared to Other Similar Supplements?

One of the first things that are important to understand about VigRX Nitric Oxide is that, unlike other supplements, it has been proven to work. Not only that but every ingredient in the formulation has been independently studied and found to be effective at raising nitric oxide levels in the body.

However, it is no secret that today the market is full of possibly hundreds of male enhancement supplements which are touted to work, but they rarely do. If anything, there is little proof that their formulation actually works, which is why they are marketed by fly-by-night operations. On the other hand, VigRX Nitric Oxide is marketed and sold by Leading Edge Health, a highly reputed name in the male health supplement industry. That’s why VigRX Nitric Oxide has been extensively tested; the test reports and other data pertaining to those tests are made available on the product’s official website.

In addition, hundreds of men have used VigRX Nitric Oxide and attest to how effective it was at raising their libido, improving the quality of their erections, and other aspects of their sexual health.

A few more benefits of VigRX Nitric Oxide include:

  • It is 100% natural which is why users don’t have to worry about any adverse effects associated with its use.
  • The supplement has been proven to improve blood circulation by raising nitric oxide levels.
  • It supplies the body with everything it needs to produce nitric oxide without adverse effects.
  • Many men who have been using VigRX Nitric Oxide report less fat on their bodies and better performance in the gym.

Conclusion

Many men reading this article will experience a reduction in their ability to produce the amount of nitric oxide needed to have healthy sex life by the time they are 50. However, many men, even those in their 20s and early 30s, are experiencing erectile dysfunction that’s mainly caused by low natural nitric oxide levels. That’s why it is vital to start paying attention to diet, exercise, and supplementation early on.

Supplements like VigRX Nitric Oxide can do a great deal of good when it comes to improving your natural ability to produce nitric oxide. Many men who have and continue to use the supplement report having more energy and having a clearer mind, amongst other benefits. That said, if you add daily exercise to the mix, VigRX Nitric Oxide can help start delivering results sooner than later.

Reducing The Risk Of Erectile Dysfunction With Nutrition

Reducing The Risk Of Erectile Dysfunction With Nutrition

Posted on Jun 01, 2020, 4 p.m.

This article is a repost which originally appeared on WORLDHEALTH.NET

Edited for content

At some point in their lives most men will struggle with penile health issues, when it comes to this these issues involve more than erections, ejaculations, and reproduction as poor penile health can be a sign of an underlying health condition.

Additionally issues that affect the penis can also impact other areas of your life including emotionally and socially. Bottom line is that routine maintenance in this area can also help to ensure optimum performance which includes managing stress, getting enough sleep, being physically active, and following a healthy well balanced diet. According to research from Harvard University men should masturbate (routine maintenance) 21 times a month to reduce the odds of prostate cancer by 33%.

Simply masturbating 21+ times a month is not enough to guarantee to avoid prostate cancer, but added to a healthy diet full of organic produce, getting enough sleep, managing stress, being active and exercising, this will go a long way. Ian Kerner, PhD,  recommends a plant based diet and incorporating plenty of fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, as well as “consuming red foods such as tomatoes that are rich in lycopene, as well as soy products that contain isoflavones, along with getting regular physicals that include a prostate exam, and plenty of exercise.

Diet and nutrition play a bigger part in health than most people understand, and this includes penile health. Certain types of food have been shown to affect penis health, for example studies have shown that diets rich in flavonoids, which occur naturally in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, are associated with a reduced risk of erectile dysfunction in men under the age of 70.

There are many things that can affect an erection like poor health, smoking, and certain medications. Following a sub par diet, how much you eat, and how often you eat can affect your mood, energy levels, blood flow, and hormones which are all very important to your sex life.

It stands to reason that if certain foods can boost your erection, keep sperm healthy, and boost testosterone levels then eating habits exist that can also kill your libido. Unhealthy fats and added sugars can exacerbate erectile issues, and lower testosterone levels. Alcohol is a depressant which can numb the feeling of sexual stimulation, alter the blood flow in/out of the penis, and decrease testosterone levels sapping libido, energy, and moods.

Achieving and maintaining an erection requires good blood flow and plenty of nitric oxide. Flavonoids have been shown to improve cardiovascular health by helping to increase blood flow and the concentration of nitric oxide in the blood. Dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, other choices include tea, citrus fruits, berries, apples, legumes, onions, tomatoes, broccoli, tea, grapes, celery, red peppers, ginger, red cabbage, asparagus, and leafy greens.

Pistachios are good for more than a snack, a study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research suggests that consuming these nuts for several weeks improved several parameters of ED including improved International Index of Erectile function scores, improved cholesterol levels and improved blood pressure with no notable side effects being observed.

Watermelon may help to improve sexual function as a study from Texas A&M University found connections between ED and watermelon, suggesting that citrulline found in watermelon helped to relax blood vessels and improved blood flow in a similar manner as to medications for ED.

Bananas are a great source of potassium which is great for keeping the heart and circulation strong. Potassium also keeps blood pressure in check by stabilizing sodium levels. Bananas are also a rich source of vitamin B which helps to increase energy levels, and combat stress that can lead to erectile dysfunction.

Salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which can help to enhance blood flow and enhance erectile function by helping to relax your arteries easing the way for blood to flow to the entire body without exception, including your penis. Salmon also contains vitamin D, selenium and magnesium which are all required to support testosterone levels and healthy sperm.

Anthocyanins are great for cardiovascular health, cherries are loaded with anthocyanins, which are flavonoids, that help to protect your artery walls and help prevent fatty plaques from forming in the arteries ensuring good blood flow and circulation.

Soluble fiber such as that in oatmeal has been shown to be great for satiety, fighting inflammation, to lower cholesterol levels and helps to keep your blood vessels smooth, healthy and stretchy, which also can apply to penis health.

Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli can help to combat cancer, and the high vitamin C content helps to boost blood circulation and it has been linked to an improved libido. Cruciferous veggies such as bok choy, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts also contain glucobrassicins which help to clear the body of excess oestrogen which may help to boost your sex drive.

The antioxidant phytochemical resveratrol helps to open arteries by enhancing the production of nitric oxide, production of nitric oxide allows blood vessels to expand, and increases blood flow. Resveratrol works by expanding the tiny and main arteries in the penis much like medications for ED. It also helps to block enzymes that trigger the body to push away testosterone, which will help maintain high levels of the hormone and strong erections that should last well beyond foreplay.

After reaching the age of 30 testosterone levels begin to decrease, fortunately there are simple diet fixes that may help you, and because your brain, heart and penis are all intimately connected this is also good for your overall health and well being. Aging also affects your penis, as a result many men experience erectile difficulties, if you are one of them please consult with your physician as it can be an indication of an underlying condition that shouldn’t be ignored. Your physician can work with you to help determine the cause and work towards a solution, often lifestyle changes can help.

Acupuncture And Penis Enlargement

Acupuncture And Penis Enlargement

By Swagger Contributors

This article is a repost which originally appeared on SWAGGER

Edited for content

It seems men are never satisfied with their penis size and the quality of their erections.

So what’s a man to do?

The last thing any guy may want to hear in response to that question is acupuncture.

No, you can relax, an acupuncturist isn’t going to stick needles into the penis. However, the thought process behind acupuncture for penile health is to increase blood flow to your package.

This could possibly improve the quality of an erection via a few different processes.

Let’s take a look at how acupuncture affects penile health.

Acupuncture And Penis Enlargement

Almost everyone is familiar with what acupuncture looks like or has a general idea of what it is, but it’s not just some lady haphazardly shoving needles into your body.

An acupuncturist uses needles don’t go very deep into your skin.

Unfortunately, there’s no hard data linking acupuncture’s effectiveness with penis size.

However, that doesn’t mean it’s something you should give up on so quickly. There are some ways acupuncture has an indirect influence over penile health.

Before you understand how needles in the skin affect the quality of erections, you need to know how erections work in the first place.

You have different chambers inside of your penis…

These chambers, when given adequate blood flow, are what make the penis erect. The goal is to have healthy blood flow going into the penis, so there’s more going in than there is coming out.

This works in combination with signals that your brain sends to the penis to have it open the floodgates for your arteries to pump in blood.

Erectile dysfunction occurs when there are issues with the blood flow into the penis, blood vessel inflammation, or a problem with the nerve pathways telling your penis to get erect.

That’s why it’s essential to understand sticking needles into specific points on your body isn’t going to make your penis hard, but it can take care of the issues keeping it from getting or staying erect.

Let’s look at ways acupuncture can help blood flow…

Acupuncture Increase Blood Flow

An erection is a complicated beast that takes many different processes to work at once.

However, there’s no denying that inadequate blood flow plays a massive part in the erection as the blood is the only thing that fills the spongy tissue inside the penis.

Fortunately, acupuncture increases blood flow by stimulating a vasodilator, nitric oxide, in your body.

This helps the blood vessels to widen, which allows more blood flow. Those who have blood circulation issues take nitric oxide supplements to help get blood flow to vessels and tissues lacking nutrient-rich blood.

When tissues that haven’t been getting adequate blood flow start getting nutrient-rich blood back, then they can start repairing themselves.

This process of stimulating blood flow works hand in hand with acupuncture’s antihistamine-effect, which also opens up the blood vessels to give tissues that were previously deprived of oxygenated blood more nutrient-rich blood.

Acupuncture Reduces Inflammation

Inflammation affects your quality of life that also, unfortunately, includes your penile health.

Inflammation doesn’t just affect the penis itself, but it can completely get in the way of your routines in your daily life. It can cause pain, depression, and other issues that lead to erectile dysfunction.

One cause of inflammation is pro-inflammatory cytokines that come about as part of your body’s immune system response.

Unfortunately, your body can go a little overboard with its cytokine response to diseases.

Fortunately, acupuncture has been shown to reduce the pro-inflammatory cytokines that worsen inflammation.

Not only does acupuncture reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines, but it also helps increase the much healthier anti-inflammatory cytokines.

While the regulation of cytokines makes acupuncture a safe, yet effective, alternative to treating inflammation, it can also help release endorphins into the body.

These endorphins are natural pain relievers, and if you’re suffering from pain that affects your mental or emotional well-being, it can help increase your mood and sex drive.

If inflammation or blood flow aren’t the culprits behind your erectile dysfunction, then it’s time to take a look at the central nervous system.

Acupuncture Stimulates the Central Nervous System

Sometimes erectile dysfunction is caused by a dysfunction in the central nervous system. The brain reacting to visual or audio stimuli can make men erect.

However, when there’s a disconnect somewhere along the nerves, then it can make it hard to get an erection or maintain one.

One of the interruptions between the penis and the brain is stress.

Stress affects how your brain sends signals to the rest of your body during arousal from penile reaction to increased heart rate.

In fact, the hormones released during the body’s stress response affect your penile function.

Fortunately, acupuncture doesn’t just promote the tissue’s ability to heal itself with increased blood flow, but it can also help the nervous system’s ability to regenerate.

The strategic placement of the needles releases chemicals into your nerves, brain, and spinal cord that help activate the parasympathetic nervous system.

With acupuncture having the ability to take care of all these different causes of erectile dysfunction, it only makes sense that acupuncture improves the erection quality.

Acupuncture Improves Erection Quality

It’s no secret that exercise affects the size of the penis but not in the way you expect.

Unfortunately, exercises, the activity meant to boost your health in many ways, temporarily causes shrinkage.

It’s nothing to worry about because your body doesn’t need blood flowing to the penis during exercise, as it needs it for other parts of your body like your  muscles.

Fortunately, acupuncture can help get the blood flowing back in the right direction.

Acupuncture stimulates both the flow of energy and blood to areas of your body it needs.

Regenerating the nerves and tissues in the area to achieve balance. This doesn’t just improve the quality of your erection, but it also helps you maintain the erection during sexual intercourse.

Acupuncture helps increase the quality of the erection, but it can boost testosterone and sperm count in the penis.

Men who suffer from low testosterone will experience everything from low-libido to reduced penile function.

Boosting testosterone and balancing blood flow is a good recipe for better erection quality.

Acupuncture And Penis Enlargement – Conclusion

Erectile dysfunction is caused by a myriad of psychological or physical conditions, from stress to hormonal imbalances.

While acupuncture won’t necessarily make your penis bigger than it is, it definitely has an effect on your penile health.

With acupuncture, you’ll handle the physiological issues that get in the way of healthy sex drive and strong erections

And in my opinion, it’s may be worth dealing with a few needles to make that happen.

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2932548/

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/591796/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11964139/

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/591796/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4896824/

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190711141256.htm

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165183899000909

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4551211/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30157368/

How to Boost Your Relationship and Sex Life with Healthy Eating

How to Boost Your Relationship and Sex Life with Healthy Eating

Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, RD, LD on May 11, 2016 — Written by Tara Gidus, MS, RD, CSSD, LD/N

This article is a repost which originally appeared on HealthLine

Food and sex

Much of the lore surrounding the desire- and performance-enhancing effects of certain foods is anecdotal. But a good diet can help boost your libido and ensure your body is working well. A poor diet can lead to a host of health issues, which may negatively effect your sex life. For example, erectile dysfunction is often linked to obesity and diabetes, which can be caused by a poor diet.

Food is an important part of your everyday life and overall health. So it may not surprise you that your diet can affect your sex life. Changing your eating habits and behaviors may not be a cure-all for sexual issues, but it’s a good place to start.

Diet and supplements

Eating a well-balanced diet and taking certain supplements may help improve your overall health and sex life. It’s also important to avoid drinking too much alcohol.

Healthy diet

Fueling your body with the right kinds of food can help boost your mood and energy levels to support a healthy relationship and sex life. For optimum health, eat a nutrient-rich diet that’s low in trans fats, saturated fats, added sugars, and sodium. Eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and lean proteins. To avoid gaining weight, don’t eat more calories than you burn in a day.

Arginine and L-citrulline

Arginine, also known as L-arginine, is an amino acid used by your body to make nitric oxide. This important chemical helps your blood vessels relax, which promotes good blood flow. If you’re a man, good blood flow to the erectile tissues in your penis is important for sustaining an erection.

When you take supplemental arginine, your intestines break most of it down before it reaches your bloodstream. It may be more helpful to take L-citrulline supplements. L-citrulline is another amino acid that’s converted to arginine in your body. A small study published in Urology found that L-citrulline supplements were more effective than a placebo for treating mild erectile dysfunction.

Both amino acids are also found in foods. L-citrulline is found in foods such as watermelon. Arginine is found in many foods, including:

  • walnuts
  • almonds
  • fish
  • whey
  • fruits
  • leafy vegetables

Zinc

The link between zinc and sexual health isn’t completely understood, but zinc appears to affect your body’s production of testosterone. It’s also necessary for the development of sperm and semen in men. Adequate zinc levels may boost male fertility. Zinc and other nutrients, such as folate, may also impact female fertility.

Zinc is available in supplement form. It’s also found in some foods. Oysters are nature’s richest source of this essential element. Not surprisingly, they have traditionally been viewed as aphrodisiacs, capable of kindling sexual desire.

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol may lower your inhibitions and increase the likelihood that you’ll engage in sexual activity. However, it can also cause acute or chronic erectile dysfunction. It can lead to unsafe behavior too. When you mix sex with alcohol, you’re less likely to use proper precautions to prevent unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Out of control drinking can also negatively affect your behavior and relationships with other people. Don’t rely on alcohol to improve your sex life.

Food-related habits and conflicts

Sometimes, food can be a source of stress and conflict in relationships. On the other hand, you and your partner may bond over shared meals together.

Eating together

In some sense, your brain is the most important sex organ. Sex begins with affection, intimacy, and desire. Mealtime is a great time to unwind with your partner and build intimacy in a relaxed and pleasurable setting.

Food conflicts

Sometimes, different food preferences and habits can be a source of stress in a relationship. To help build intimacy and trust, talk to your partner about issues surrounding your relationship with food. Sources of potential conflicts include:

  • cultural differences
  • religious dietary restrictions
  • tension between a vegetarian and omnivore
  • tension between a picky and adventurous eater

If either of you have a history of eating disorders or chronic dieting, that can also influence your relationships with food and each other.

Support

Body weight is tied to self-esteem and body image for many people. If your partner is trying to lose weight, help them along the way. If you know they’re an emotional eater, offer them support when they seem upset. Criticizing their food choices or looking over their shoulder while they’re eating won’t foster good feelings. Be supportive, not destructive.

Diet-related conditions

Many diet-related health conditions can negatively impact your sex life, as well as your overall health and quality of life. Take steps to prevent and treat diet-related conditions, such as obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Excess weight

Obesity has been linked to lower fertility. Being overweight or obese may also damage your self-esteem, which can affect your libido and desire to be intimate.

To lose excess weight, burn more calories than you consume. Eat healthy portion sizes and limit foods that are high in fat and added sugars. Getting regular exercise is also important.

High blood pressure

Eating too much sodium can increase your blood pressure and limit your blood flow. This can lead to erectile dysfunction in men and reduce blood flow to the vagina in women. Certain blood pressure medications can also cause undesired sexual side effects.

To help maintain healthy blood pressure, follow a well-balanced diet, don’t eat too much sodium, and include potassium-rich foods daily. If you think you’re experiencing negative side effects from blood pressure medication, talk to your doctor. An alternative medication may be available.

High cholesterol

A diet high in saturated or trans fats can increase your “bad” LDL cholesterol. Too much LDL cholesterol can lead to a buildup of plaque in your arteries, which can limit blood flow and contribute to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of most heart disease. It can also contribute to erectile dysfunction.

To help maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels, eat a well-balanced diet that’s rich in fiber and low in saturated and trans fats. Include foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Tips for a healthy sex life

Try these

  • Try oysters. They’re a source of zinc, which boosts your testosterone, and they are traditionally thought of as an aphrodisiac.
  • Eat together to unwind and bond.
  • Cut down on alcohol.
  • Eat watermelon or take L-citrulline supplements to promote healthy blood flow and help sustain erections.
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
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6 Ways To Keep Your Penis In Peak Condition And Have The Best Sex of Your Life

6 Ways To Keep Your Penis In Peak Condition And Have The Best Sex of Your Life

A top urologist breaks down his biggest rules for male sexual wellness.

Dr. Judson Brandeis

Presented by Vitality Connect

This article is a repost which originally appeared on MAXIM

As men get older, there are certain changes that seem inevitable, especially having to do with our bodies. One of the amazing things about the advances in modern medicine is that our life expectancy is at the highest it has been in human history. And as our lives become longer, so does our appetite to enjoy ourselves with our partners. With intimacy being such an important part of every relationship, one of the most common questions I get asked is how to keep a man’s penis working well. 

Here are the six most important things I tell my patients to do if they want to have the best sex of their lives:

Check Your Testosterone Levels

Testosterone peaks for men in their twenties, and then slowly declines over time. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a man’s testosterone to drop by 75% over the remainder of his life. When testosterone is low, men often feel grumpy. Other signs include loss of muscle, fat gain, trouble sleeping, loss of libido and/or erectile dysfunction. 

By correcting testosterone deficiencies, a man can expect to enjoy many benefits normally associated with youth like an improvement in body composition, sleep quality and most notably, libido. Testosterone therapy also aids erectile function, meaning not only an increase in appetite but in performance, as well.

Boost Your Nitric Oxide Levels

There are two different, but complementary systems to move blood around the body. One, the Nitric Oxide system, releases compounds that trigger the blood vessels to open, while the Phosphodiesterase (PDE) system helps to close them. Unfortunately, as a man ages his nitric oxide levels decline. You can boost nitric oxide levels easily over time by adding more watermelon, beets and greens to your diet, or if rapid improvement is desired, taking a supplement like AFFIRM.

Explore PDE-5 Inhibitors

Replenishing your body’s nitric oxide is not the only part of a successful strategy. The other system at work during an erection is the Phosphodiesterase (PDE) system. Through research, science has been able to determine which enzymes reduce penile blood flow. It turns out the compound in question is called PDE-5 and many medications for treating ED block its function. PDE-5 inhibitors like Viagra and Cialis inhibit these enzymes, channeling blood preferentially into the penis. The medication starts working after thirty minutes and reaches full potency in about an hour. Men can take these medications daily if they want to always feel “locked and loaded.”

Find a GAINSWave Provider

While taking a nitric oxide booster or a PDE-5 inhibitor can certainly produce some results, research has shown the best outcome is when they are taken together. However, there is a critical third element that is often overlooked: the pipes. Unlike medications, GAINSWave® targets the underlying causes of erectile dysfunction, permanently growing new blood vessels to both increase the flow of blood to the penis while also improving erectile firmness. 

GAINSWave awakens dormant stem cells and triggers the release of growth factors which improve, repair and expand the blood vessels. And since GAINSWave is nonsurgical, painless and without side effects, intimacy is no longer tied to a schedule, returning spontaneity and vigor to any relationship. Therapy typically requires between six to twelve sessions, each around twenty minutes, spread out over the course of a few weeks. 

Although a little awkward at first, most patients quickly get used to any discomfort within the first few moments of the procedure. Improvement can begin immediately, but most men can expect peak performance to begin around four to six weeks post-treatment and last for a year or more depending on the health of the person.

Get Pumped

Did you know young men typically experience three to six erections every night? These erections last between five to ten minutes and account for thirty to sixty minutes of oxygenated stretching for the penis. As men age, these erections decrease in frequency and intensity, causing many men’s penis to shrink over time. 

Some even lose erectile ability completely. Using a vacuum device or pump once or twice a day to stretch the penis can help combat this. The pump artificially inflates the penis with oxygenated blood to help restore full function and size. Like the other items on this list, vacuum devices can be effective on their own, but are much more effective when used in concert with GAINSWave therapy. Vacuum devices are a great way to improve penile health as men age.

Bone Up On The Facts

Have you ever wondered why your tissue is able to repair itself seamlessly whenever you cut yourself? This is due to more than a hundred tiny, versatile growth factors stored within the platelets in your blood. Whenever there is a trauma, your body releases chemicals that attract existing platelets to the site of the injury. The result is focused growth of new blood vessels and tissue in that area. 

In medicine, platelet-rich plasma is often used with other treatments to speed healing. For a man, undergoing GAINSWave therapy can yield far better results when used in conjunction with PRP. GAINSWave plants the seed by stimulating the stem cells in the affected area. PRP is then added like fertilizer, accelerating the growth of new blood vessels within the penis. Although it has been in use in orthopedics, hair growth and dermatology, PRP therapy is only now being studied for its efficacy at repairing and restoring erectile function.

There are many options for optimizing male sexual health. Most, when used together, can not only restore your ability to enjoy life, for a lot of men it means enhancing life beyond their wildest dreams. Penile health may not be the most comfortable subject to bring up with your doctor, but the only way to ensure a great tomorrow is by doing something about it today.

I recently hosted a two-hour long webinar with wellness expert Susan Bratton that took an in-depth dive into the all the treatments that are helping men optimize their bedroom performance. Luckily, we recorded it! It’s among the most educational breakdowns on all things “penis”- related available. Watch the video above to find out why.