Reproductive function disorders in men are an urgent medical problem. Such violations are fraught with a decrease in fertility and a deterioration in the quality of life of a person physically and psychologically. Sexual dysfunction can be caused by many different factors, diseases, surgeries, poor lifestyle and constant stress. An important role in this is played by poor nutrition, when a man does not receive enough necessary substances and consumes foods that are harmful to potency.
Erectile dysfunction can cause discord in the intimate lives of partners and cause infertility in married couples. These problems cause men psychological distress, insecurity and complexes that prevent them from building harmonious relationships in the future and increase the risk of divorce. To prevent the development of sexual dysfunction, it is necessary to monitor health, lifestyle, diet and rest.
Reasons for a decrease in potency
Erection problems in men can occur situationally or permanently for a variety of reasons. If they occur occasionally and have obvious, easily identifiable reasons, such as tiredness or alcohol consumption, there is no reason to worry. But if episodes of erectile dysfunction are repeated for more than 1 month, you should consult a specialist, as this may be a sign of serious problems in the body and genitourinary system. Men who suffer from certain chronic diseases that indirectly affect sexual potency usually already know the cause and should undergo appropriate treatment.
The erection mechanism involves the largest vital systems of the body. The combination and close interdependence of their work on the sexual function of men can create difficulties in the diagnosis of reproductive disorders. There are several main groups of factors that influence the development of potency problems:
- diseases and disorders of the cardiovascular system affect the mechanism of erection through disruptions of blood circulation in the pelvic area, genitourinary organs and filling of the corpora cavernosa of the penis. These can be various types of anomalies in the development and functioning of the heart muscle, as well as a hereditary or acquired tendency to varicose veins and fragility of the venous walls. Local compression by tumors and the formation of stagnation due to insufficient blood circulation are possible;
- disorders of the nervous system, brain or spine due to congenital or acquired causes, following illness, accident or surgery. Diseases such as diabetes, sclerosis, Parkinson's syndrome, infectious infections, ischemia, etc. can lead to the degradation of neural connections. Alcohol and drug abuse also have a destructive effect on the nervous system. Taking some drugs, especially antipsychotics, can inhibit brain activity and indirectly affect potency;
- Diseases of the body's endocrine system create a hormonal imbalance. The causes are hereditary or congenital anomalies in the development of the gonads, pituitary gland, etc. The functioning of hormonal secretion organs can be disrupted due to diseases that have external factors, for example, diabetes mellitus, testosterone deficiency, hyperprolactinemia and other disorders. Typically, such disorders present a whole host of symptoms in addition to erectile dysfunction and require serious long-term treatment;
- Inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary organs, including infectious ones, directly affect the state of the reproductive system. Various types of prostatitis, urethritis and sexually transmitted infections contribute to potency problems. The inflamed ducts and glands increase in size, causing pain, compression of blood vessels and circulatory disorders. This can be fraught with suppuration, sepsis, subsequent formation of internal adhesions and obstruction of the seminiferous tubules. Such diseases contribute little to the normal functioning of the genital organs, cause serious inconvenience in everyday life and can cause incurable infertility in a man;
- Psychological problems in men constitute the lion's share of all causes of situational or permanent erectile dysfunction, especially in young and middle age. If no physiological disturbances are detected in the functioning of the organs involved in the mechanisms of the reproductive system, the origins must be sought in the emotional state. A man's sexual life is influenced by upbringing, a social environment with certain moral and religious norms, the general psychological background in relationships with people at home and at work, personal complexes and self-esteem, as well as the possible presence of mental disorders. Constant exposure to stress can develop anxious and phobic conditions that affect the physiology, nervous and vascular systems and indirectly influence the development of erectile dysfunction.
A man should always remember the health of the main systems of the body that take part in the erection mechanism. They can be negatively affected not only by illnesses and injuries, but also by an unhealthy lifestyle, which in itself is stressful for the body. Reduced physical activity contributes to disturbances in vascular reactions and the formation of blood stagnation in the pelvic organs, which has a negative effect on sexual function. Failure to comply with sleep and rest patterns, as well as a lack of essential nutrients, have a depressing effect on all life support systems.
The role of proper nutrition for potency
In order for a man to keep his body, including reproductive function, in good condition for as long as possible, there is a set of very simple rules. It is important to maintain physical activity and do a sufficient amount of physical activity. This promotes the preservation of muscle mass and healthy regulation of hormone levels. The rest and sleep schedule should be established, do not overload the nervous system, this will sooner or later affect potency.
It is not possible to imagine a healthy lifestyle without a correct nutritional system. A man should take care of getting the necessary amount of food corresponding to the load and balancing his diet. The lack of certain vitamins and nutrients can disrupt the functioning of various vital systems and indirectly affect reproductive capabilities. At the same time, excessive food consumption leads to obesity, increased blood sugar levels and malfunction of the pancreas.
Gaining excess weight by increasing the percentage of fat mass negatively affects the condition of the heart, blood vessels, joints, spine and hormonal regulation system. The body is forced to carry additional weight every day, which contributes to the development of hypertension, increased cholesterol and blood sugar, the appearance of varicose veins, shortness of breath and other unpleasant consequences.
Fat itself produces certain hormones, and if in excess, it can upset the entire balance of the body and negatively affect the functioning of the pancreas and gonads. There may be a decrease in testosterone secretion, which is harmful to the male body in terms of maintaining reproductive function and overall health. Particularly dangerous is visceral type obesity, which leads to the growth of internal organs and not just an increase in the subcutaneous layer. This is fraught with the development of diabetes and other serious diseases that reduce potency.
To correct weight, a man needs to maintain a regular regimen of physical activity, both aerobic and strength training. Nutrition should be consistent with daily energy expenditure and balanced in terms of essential substances and vitamins. Some categories of foods that are also included in the list of things harmful to potency should be excluded from the diet. If necessary, you can also use various sports nutrition supplements.
Products harmful to potency
Exclusion from the diet of certain foods and drinks that can indirectly harm the reproductive function of a man is usually due to their overall negative effect on the body. First of all, you should follow your doctor's recommendations when choosing a diet, especially if you have chronic diseases. It is necessary to abstain from food that negatively affects the state of the cardiovascular and nervous systems of the body. They regulate sexual function in men together with the endocrine glands.
The list of what is recommended to exclude from the diet includes the following categories of foods and drinks:
- fried and fatty foods, as their excessive consumption contributes to the formation of excess weight, problems with the stomach, liver and gallbladder. Such food causes an increase in cholesterol in the blood, the appearance of plaques on the walls of blood vessels, their blockage and consequent circulatory disorders, including in the pelvic organs. Excessive consumption of regular fried foods and so-called trans fats contained in some foods also causes harm. These include lamb, pork, lard, butter, etc. ;
- foods rich in simple carbohydrates cause a rapid increase in fat mass and frequent increases in blood sugar levels. If you abuse such foods, the chances of pancreas malfunction and the risk of developing diabetes mellitus increase exponentially. In the future, this disease leads to neurodegenerative processes and hormonal imbalances, which always negatively affect a man's ability to lead a normal sexual life. Such products include most sweets and baked goods, fast foods, French fries, crisps and snacks, drinks with added sugars, some convenience foods, etc. ;
- smoked products from stores in the form of meat, fish, lard or sausages are harmful to the stomach and the organism as a whole, since they often contain, in addition to fat, various types of artificial flavors and colors;
- excess caffeine has a depressing effect on the central nervous system, overloads it and increases the risk of vascular spasms. The invigorating effect of this drink is achieved only in strictly limited quantities. An overdose of caffeine, instead of excitement, on the contrary, brings lethargy, drowsiness, tremors and uncontrollable vegetative manifestations in the form of dizziness, changes in blood pressure, palpitations and even panic attacks. Too much drink every day creates a permanent effect of tiredness in a man, and in this state it is difficult to lead a normal sexual life;
- Alcohol in any form has an inhibitory effect on the central nervous system, especially in large quantities and with frequent use. It does not matter whether a man drinks strong or low-proof alcohol; if he does it regularly, his body will still be damaged. There is a myth that, among alcoholic beverages, beer is the most harmful to male potency, as it supposedly contains phytoestrogens that affect testosterone levels. But there is not a single study that demonstrates the presence of such an effect. The amount of phytoestrogens that goes into beer with hops is very small and may not have any effect on hormone levels. But the alcohol contained in this drink is very capable of causing damage not only to potency, but to the entire body;
- Excessive salt consumption contributes to the accumulation of water in the body and increases blood pressure. This negatively affects the state of the vascular walls and blood circulation in the body, including the pelvic organs, as well as the mobility of the joints. Do not abuse pickles, spicy canned food, chips, sausages and other foods rich in salt.
All of the above products, of course, should be excluded from the diet not only for men suffering from potency problems. When treating diseases of the nervous, cardiovascular or digestive systems, such food is not recommended or even strictly prohibited. If a man does not take care of his health, moves little, does not follow a rest regime, constantly fills his stomach with everything, is addicted to alcohol, smoking and psychoactive substances, he will soon be overwhelmed by difficulties in his sexual life.
Useful products for potency
After listing what is considered harmful to potency in men, you should find out what kind of food is advisable to eat to maintain libido and sexual health for as long as possible. According to the content of vitamins and beneficial microelements, as a rule, several groups of products are distinguished:
- containing potassium, magnesium, calcium and zinc, which help form and nourish the nervous system and improve neural activity. These include dairy products, vegetables, bananas, buckwheat, legumes, oatmeal, some seafood, dried fruits, etc. ;
- products rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamins A, C and E, which are involved in the formation of immunity, metabolic processes and strengthening the walls of veins and blood vessels. These are, first of all, foods rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6, for example some types of fish and vegetable oils: sunflower, olive or flaxseed, nuts and seeds;
- products with sufficient proteins and amino acids necessary for building muscles, ligaments and other body components. These are lean meats, poultry and fish, fermented dairy products, legumes, chicken or quail eggs;
- As natural aphrodisiacs, it is recommended to consume oysters, dark chocolate and strawberries in limited quantities. People believe that bee products, such as honey or bee bread, help increase potency.
If a man follows a balanced diet, sleeps, rests and engages in regular physical activity, his libido can remain at a good level until old age. But in the case of the presence of certain physiological or mental disorders, only diet and routine will not be able to eliminate erectile dysfunction, but will only become an addition to drug therapy. You should not rely on exotic remedies, for example, deer antlers, but it is better to consult a specialist if alarming symptoms appear.