One of the more natural and affordable ways to improve your sexual health is to start by cleaning up your diet. To do this, it is best to avoid foods that cause erectile dysfunction (ED) as well as environmental pollutants and chemicals known to affect men’s sexual health. In addition, you may want to look into other lifestyle factors that can cause ED as well as foods for erectile dysfunction for ideas on foods that can promote a healthier libido and better sex.
Cut the Meat
Animal fat and cholesterol is particularly bad for your heart. Ultimately you want to promote good heart health if you want to improve your performance in the bedroom. To achieve and maintain an erection you need good blood circulation. If your cardiovascular health is compromised, then you may have problems with ED. In fact, many men do not realize that ED is one of the early signs of heart trouble. That is why in the medical community, ED is also an acronym for “early death”.
Switch out some of the meat in your meals for heart-healthy alternatives like plant sources of protein and fatty fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Not all fats are bad for you. Fats that help improve heart health include the fat found in olive oil, avocado, seeds, and nuts. Also, avoid high-protein diets like the Atkins diet because it can reduce the amount of testosterone you produce. Protein should make up about 25 to 30% of your daily calories.
Shy Away from Fried Foods
Fried foods are also bad for the heart and sexual function. When the oils are heated to high temperatures for cooking they become some of the most unhealthy foods for your heart, contributing to heart disease, cancer, and problems with cholesterol. Fried foods lead to weight gain, which is one of the contributors to hormone imbalance and ED. Give up the doughnuts, French fries, and fried meats and look forward to better sexual health and better prostate health as well, as these foods are also associated with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Avoid Foods Packed in Cans or Plastic
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical found in plastic products as well as the linings in canned foods. Avoid canned tomatoes and meats that are stored in plastic. While tomatoes are good for men’s heart, prostate, and sexual health, tomatoes that are stored in cans have high levels of BPA from the can linings.
Why is BPA bad? This chemical can inhibit sex hormones. Research has found links associating BPA with ED and decreased sexual desire, as well as infertility and other hormone disorders. You can find BPA in most reusable plastic water bottles and plastic containers. Look for products labeled “BPA-Free,” and use glass or ceramic containers to store your food. Do not cook or microwave your foods in plastic containers or wash them in the dishwasher because the heat can release the chemicals out of the products.
Other hormone disruptors can be found in pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and other environmental contaminants. Opt for organic produce and “BPA-free” products to reduce your exposure.
Stay Away from Soy
Soy and other foods can affect your hormones as well. Foods like soy and processed foods high in carbohydrates and excessive unhealthy fats can have an estrogenic effect. That means they contain substances that mimic estrogen, a female hormone that men have smaller amounts of. It is important to maintain the right balance between estrogen and testosterone to preserve your sexual health, mood, energy, and strength. Avoid eating soy, and be careful with flaxseed as well because it has a very high amount of estrogen in it. For example, 100 grams of flax has 379,380 micrograms (mcg) of estrogen, compared to 2.9 mcg in watermelon. (Incidentally, eating watermelon is natural way to boost testosterone and improve ED.) Soy contains 103,920 micrograms of estrogen per 100 grams.
There is an exception to soy. Fermented soy, is a much healthier form of soy that is commonly used in Asia. Miso soup, soy sauce that has been made using natural fermentation, tempeh, and natto are all types of fermented soy. Opt for fermented soy, but stay away from the soy found in processed foods, energy bars, and other products, especially “soy protein isolate”.
Drop the Drinking Habit
Alcohol may lower your inhibitions, but it may also lower your erection and sexual performance. Regularly drinking excessively (more than two drinks per day) can lower your testosterone levels by eliminating it from your blood stream and lowering your production rate of testosterone.
Eat Like a Greek
One of the best diets in the kitchen that will give you the most long-term improvement in the bedroom is to eat a Mediterranean diet. Men who follow a Mediterranean diet enjoy a healthier sex life than men who do not. A Mediterranean diet includes eating many fruits and vegetables, whole grains, red wine in moderation, and healthy fats from fish, olives, and nuts.
Other ways to naturally manage ED and your sexual health to improve your erectile function is to eat foods that increase testosterone. Also look into some of the top foods for better sex for some surprising foods that can help keep you excited.
Your diet and lifestyle can greatly affect your sexual health. If you want to protect your erection, get some regular exercise, don’t smoke, and get a good night’s sleep every night. The bottom line is that controlling what you put in your body and avoiding the habits and foods that cause erectile dysfunction will put you on the right path for maintaining your sexual health. If you already eat well and exercise but are still concerned about ED, you may want to talk to your health care provider.
Overall, what is good for the heart is good for your sexual health as well. Heart health and sexual health are intertwined so if you eat a heart-healthy diet your sexual health will improve as well.