There are several things that can worsen a man’s erection: poor heart health, smoking, and some medications cause a number of problems under the waist. Another significant mood killer? Bad diet. Both the type and amount of food, as well as the frequency with which it is consumed, can affect a person’s energy levels, blood flow, and hormones – all of the key players in maintaining a person’s sex life.
Think about it: there are many foods that help improve a man’s erection, keep sperm healthy and increase testosterone levels.
So naturally, there are some eating habits that, on the contrary – kill libido.
Let’s look at ways diet can improve your sex life – and exactly what you should do to improve your performance in bed.
TOO MUCH UNHEALTHY FOOD
There is a sign of equality between a healthy heart and a healthy sex life. As with any workout, an excellent bedroom session requires strength, endurance, and patience. In other words, any eating habit that harms your athletic figure is not good for your sex life.
In fact, when there are heart problems – say, blocked arteries, it can actually block blood flow to a man’s genitals, paving the way for erectile dysfunction (ED).
This problem can be exacerbated if you eat a lot of unhealthy fats and added sugars. It has been shown that overweight men have lower levels of testosterone, a hormone that stimulates sexual desire.
How to fix it? The diet should include a variety of nutrient-rich and healthy meals, and exercise for at least 150 minutes a week.
Anything that helps reduce body fat will help your testosterone levels rise naturally.
The more your body can tolerate physical activity and exercise, the more likely you are to stay in the bedroom longer.
YOU HAVE SWITCHED TO DECAF COFFEE
Your coffee habits play a big role in your sex life. This is because caffeine intake can affect blood circulation. One study found that people who drank a cup of caffeinated coffee ( usually about 100 milligrams of caffeine ) had an increase in blood flow of 30 percent over the next 75 minutes, compared with those who drank decaf coffee.
Researchers claim that caffeine can improve the function of your small blood vessels and reduce inflammation, both of which are positive properties for your heart.
This means that it could also benefit your penis. Much of sexual health is associated with increased blood flow, as better blood flow is associated with better erections.
Although the study is far from convincing enough to turn Starbucks into an alternative to Viagra, it suggests that decaffeinated coffee may not be the best option.
TOO MUCH ALCOHOL
Behind the so-called ‘ Wiskey dick ‘ lies a whole science. Of course, an alcoholic beverage can relax you enough to address a beautician at the bar, but if you drink too much, there is a good chance that it will be difficult to persuade your ‘friend’ to act later.
Scotch rounds can affect your erection in several ways. Alcohol is a depressant, so it can suppress sexual stimulation and alter blood flow to and from the penis. When your body works to flush the alcohol out of the system, it will give priority to it over the parts below the waist.
High alcohol consumption can seriously dip testosterone while raising estrogen levels, which can damage libido, worsen mood, and make it harder to reach orgasm.
Alcohol abuse is defined as more than four drinks a day or 14 drinks a week.
Studies also show that chronic drinking can permanently damage testicular cells, which can later affect the ability to have children.
FREQUENT EATING OF SWEETS
Sugar is also on the front line of suppressing sex life. First of all, a diet high in sugar will affect your overall cardiovascular health, which later also affects the function of the penis.
Sugar also lowers libido by lowering testosterone levels. In a 2013 study, the researchers measured the levels of this hormone in men aged 19 to 74, when they had eaten 75 grams of sugar, which is twice the recommended daily allowance for men. They saw a mean decrease in testosterone levels of 25 percent, which remained so for up to two hours after sugar intake.
We should also not forget about the sugar crash, which occurs after eating too many sugary foods. This is because sugar can distort the switches in our brains, shutting down neurons, which helps maintain alertness, making you feel sleepy.
If possible, stick to naturally occurring sugars, such as fruit.
In the case of added sugars, such as those found in sweetened beverages and bakery products, men are advised to consume no more than 36 grams per day.
YOU EAT EXCESSIVE PORTIONS
Eating too large portions can slow things down in bed. This not only leads to weight gain but also causes a large drop in energy.
If you tend to overeat and your diet is high in carbohydrates and sugar, you may experience increased fatigue. In addition to feeling sluggish, eating white bread and sugary breakfast cereals quickly raises your blood sugar. The body tries to fight by pumping out more insulin, making you feel even more tired.
So, if you know that you want to focus on intimate activities later, try to eat smaller portions more often throughout the day, rather than pushing yourself into a giant dinner.
VEGAN DIET
A vegan diet can have some unintended consequences. Despite the many benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables, giving up animal products completely means that you are more likely to develop a vitamin D deficiency, which may explain the changes in your penis.
In fact, vitamin D deficiency is one of the first things that various doctors look for when a patient is struggling with erectile dysfunction.
Why? According to a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of ED. When a person does not get enough vitamin D, the body may not produce enough nitric oxide, a compound needed for blood vessels to function properly.
The good news is that you can increase your vitamin D intake. National health institutes recommend targeting at least 600 IU of vitamin D per day, but many organizations recommend more.
Of course, staying in the sunlight is also a good option. Vitamin D is difficult to absorb naturally from food, but it is not impossible. Fatty fish such as salmon and tuna, eggs, milk with added vitamin D, and cheese are pretty good options. Eating only plant-based products may not be enough, so contact your doctor if you suspect low vitamin D levels.