Disorders of reproductive function in men are an urgent medical problem. Such violations are fraught with a decrease in fertility and a deterioration in the physical and psychological quality of a person's life. Sexual dysfunction can be caused by several factors, diseases, surgeries, inadequate lifestyle and constant stress. Poor nutrition plays an important role in this, 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 couples. These problems generate psychological discomfort, doubts and complexes in men, which prevent them from building harmonious relationships in the future and increase the risk of divorce. To prevent the development of sexual dysfunctions, it is necessary to monitor your health, lifestyle, diet and rest.
Reasons for decreased potency
Erection problems in men can occur situationally or permanently for a variety of reasons. If they happen occasionally and have obvious, easily identifiable reasons, for example fatigue or alcohol consumption, there is no need to worry. But if episodes of erectile dysfunction persist for more than 1 month, you should consult a specialist, as this could be a sign of serious problems in the body and genitourinary system. Men who have certain chronic diseases that indirectly affect potency usually already know the cause and should undergo appropriate treatment.
The erection mechanism involves the body's largest vital systems. The combination and close interdependence of their work on a man's sexual function can make the diagnosis of reproductive disorders difficult. There are several main groups of factors that influence the development of potency problems:
- Diseases and disorders of the cardiovascular system affect the erection mechanism through interruptions in blood circulation in the pelvic region, in the genitourinary organs and in the 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 hereditary or acquired tendency to varicose veins and fragility of the venous walls. Local compression by neoplasms 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, as a result of 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 certain medications, especially antipsychotics, can inhibit brain activity and indirectly affect potency;
- Diseases of the body's endocrine system create hormonal imbalance. The causes are hereditary or congenital anomalies in the development of the gonads, pituitary gland, etc. The functioning of the organs of hormone secretion can be disturbed due to diseases that have external factors, for example, diabetes mellitus, testosterone deficiency, hyperprolactinemia and other disorders. Typically, these diseases present with a wide range of symptoms beyond 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 cause 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 great discomfort in everyday life and can cause incurable infertility in men;
- Psychological problems in men constitute the majority of all causes of situational or permanent erectile dysfunction, especially in the young and middle-aged. If physiological disturbances in the functioning of the organs included in the mechanisms of the reproductive system are not detected, 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, general psychological training 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 physiology, the nervous and vascular systems, and indirectly affect the development of erectile dysfunction.
A man should always remember the health of the main body systems that participate 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 impairs 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 be able to keep his body, including his 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 get enough physical activity. This promotes the preservation of muscle mass and the healthy regulation of hormone levels. The rest and sleep schedule must be established, you must not overload the nervous system, this will sooner or later affect potency.
A healthy lifestyle cannot be imagined without a proper nutritional system. A man must take care to obtain the necessary amount of food corresponding to the load and balance his diet. Lack of certain vitamins and nutrients can disrupt the functioning of several vital systems and indirectly affect reproductive capabilities. At the same time, excessive food consumption leads to obesity, increased blood sugar levels and poor functioning 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, an increase in cholesterol and blood sugar, the appearance of varicose veins, shortness of breath and other unpleasant consequences.
Fat itself produces certain hormones and, when in excess, can disrupt 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 health in general. Especially dangerous is obesity of the visceral type, 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, men need to maintain a regular regimen of physical activity, both aerobic and strength training. Nutrition must be compatible with daily energy expenditure and balanced in terms of essential substances and vitamins. Certain 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 nutritional supplements.
Products harmful to potency
Exclusion from the diet of certain foods and drinks that can indirectly harm a man's reproductive function is usually due to their general 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. You need to refrain from foods that negatively affect the state of the body's cardiovascular and nervous systems. They regulate sexual function in men along 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, stomach, liver and gallbladder problems. These foods cause an increase in blood cholesterol, 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 these 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 imbalance, which always negatively affects a man's ability to lead a normal sexual life. These products include most sweets and baked goods, fast food, chips, potato chips and snacks, drinks with added sugar, some convenience foods, etc. ;
- store-bought smoked products in the form of meat, fish, lard or sausages are harmful to the stomach and the body as a whole, as 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 spasm. 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, blood pressure surges, palpitations and even panic attacks. Excess of this drink every day creates a permanent effect of fatigue in men and, in this state, it is difficult to lead a normal sex life;
- Alcohol, in any form, has an inhibitory effect on the central nervous system, especially in large quantities and frequent use. It doesn't matter whether a man drinks strong alcohol or low alcohol; if he does this regularly, the 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 proves the presence of such an effect. The amount of phytoestrogens that enters beer with hops is very small and cannot affect hormonal levels. But the alcohol contained in this drink is very capable of causing harm not only to potency, but to the entire body;
- Excessive salt intake contributes to the accumulation of water in the body and increases blood pressure. This negatively affects the condition of the vascular walls and blood circulation in the body, including the pelvic organs, as well as the mobility of the joints. Do not overuse pickles, spicy canned foods, 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. In the treatment of any disease of the nervous, cardiovascular or digestive systems, these foods are 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 anything, is addicted to alcohol, smoking and psychoactive substances, he will quickly be surprised 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 types of foods are advisable to consume to maintain libido and sexual health for as long as possible. Based on 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, greens, 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, certain types of fish and vegetable oils: sunflower, olive or linseed, nuts and seeds;
- products with sufficient proteins and amino acids, necessary for building muscles, ligaments and other components of the body. 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 beekeeping products such as honey or bee bread help to increase potency.
If a man follows a balanced diet, sleeps, rests and practices regular physical activity, then his libido can remain at a good level until old age. But in the case of the presence of certain physiological or mental illnesses, diet and routine alone will not be able to eliminate erectile dysfunction, but will only become a complement to drug therapy. You should not trust exotic remedies, for example, deer antlers, but it is better to consult a specialist if alarming symptoms appear.