It may surprise you to learn that what you eat can have a major impact on your sex life. Making smarter dietary choices could improve your sexual well-being as well as your overall health.
How Your Diet Affects Your Overall Health
It’s important to understand how your diet affects your overall health. Poor dietary choices can have major consequences because the types and amounts of foods you consume can lead to diet-related health conditions like obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. These diet-related conditions are associated with higher risk of serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and even cancer.
How Diet-Related Health Conditions Affect Your Sexual Health
Diet-related health conditions can also negatively impact your sex life. Obesity can affect your sex drive and is linked to lower fertility. High blood pressure and high cholesterol can both limit blood flow, which is the leading cause of erectile dysfunction in men. High cholesterol can contribute to atherosclerosis and heart disease, which is also a cause of erectile dysfunction. Diabetes, which can be associated with poor dietary choices, is yet another factor that may cause erectile dysfunction.
Here are some ways you can adjust your diet to prevent and treat these conditions.
- Obesity: Burn more calories than you consume. Make the bulk of your diet foods with low caloric density (fewer calories per pound of food), and limit foods that are high in added sugars and fat. Eat only when you are hungry, consume healthy portion sizes, and get regular exercise.
- High Blood Pressure: Reduce your sodium intake and increase your intake of potassium rich foods. If you think you are experiencing negative side effects from a medication you are taking for your blood pressure, talk with your doctor about whether an alternative medication would be better for you.
- High Cholesterol: Eat a well-balanced diet with more fiber and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Reduce saturated fats, avoid trans fats, and get regular exercise to improve your HDL cholesterol levels (this type of cholesterol helps your body transport LDL cholesterol to the liver so that it does not clog your arteries).
Foods to Avoid for Better Sexual Health
Limit your consumption of the following foods, and you could see improvements in your sexual performance.
- Alcohol: Alcohol can cause erectile dysfunction and may reduce libido over time.
- Salty Foods: Excess sodium raises blood pressure, which can reduce blood flow to the penis.
- Dietary Triggers: Gastrointestinal problems from common triggers like dairy and spicy foods can destroy sex drive.
- Soft Drinks: Their high sugar content can have long-term effects on your hormone levels, sex drive, and performance.
- Excess Saturated Fats, Trans Fats, and Processed Foods: Consuming some fats is necessary for your health; however, excess saturated fats and especially trans fats can clog the arteries and may lead to erectile dysfunction.
- Desserts: Excess sugar consumption can lead to insulin problems and obesity, both of which can interfere with sexual well-being.
Foods to Eat for Better Sexual Health
Eating a well-balanced diet may improve your sex life. Adjust your diet to include the following healthy dietary choices.
- Fruits and Vegetables: These foods don’t contain the excess sugars, salt, and saturated fats found in many processed foods. Also, as low caloric density foods, they help you stay fuller longer so that you don’t overeat.
- Whole Grains: Whole grains are a much better choice than enriched flours and reduce your risk of many diet-related health conditions.
- Proteins: Lean proteins like beans, lentils, skinless poultry, white fish, shellfish, and pork loin can all help lower blood pressure and boost testosterone levels. Other high protein meats such as beef and steak are also good when consumed in moderation.
- Egg Whites: While egg yolks contain high amounts of cholesterol, egg whites contain no cholesterol, very little fat, and lots of protein.
- Foods with Flavonoids: Research shows that foods rich in flavonoids can prevent erectile dysfunction. Examples include berries, cherries, radishes, citrus fruits, grapes, apples, and pomegranates.
- Foods/Supplements with L-Citrulline and Arginine (also called L-Arginine): Promote healthy blood flow by consuming dietary supplements or foods with these amino acids. Good choices include watermelon, fruits, leafy vegetables, walnuts, almonds, fish, whey, and flax seeds.
- Foods/Supplements with Zinc: Zinc may be related to testosterone production and may boost male fertility. Zinc-rich foods you could add to your diet are oysters, lobster, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, and whole grains.
If you’re dealing with erectile dysfunction or related sexual health issues, adjusting your diet could have a powerful impact on improving your sex life. For more information about natural ways to boost your sexual performance, contact our office at Amore Medical Spa. Call (407) 212-9532 or contact us online to book your consultation with our male sexual health expert, Dr. Nicole Eisenbrown.