Impotency remains largely unrecognized simply because most men do not discuss sexual problems with their doctors. In addition, many physicians are just as uncomfortable dealing with the subject as their patients or will simply give them a prescription for Viagra and send them on their way.
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to sustain an erection well enough to perform intercourse and ejaculate. While almost all men will experience some degree of sexual difficulty at one time or another, only those who are unable to have successful intercourse 75% of the time or more are considered impotent. Contrary to popular belief, aging is not an inevitable cause of impotency. It does, however, take elderly men longer to develop erections, and the force of the ejaculations is generally diminished.
Erectile dysfunction can be divided into primary and secondary impotency. Primary causes are rare and may be associated with low androgen levels, genetic defects and severe psychopathology.
Secondary impotency is much more common. As the name implies, it results from something else such as diabetes, arteriosclerosis, neurological disorders, psychological issues, prolonged stress or previous surgery to the genitalia. Dealing with these underlying causes is necessary to truly restore proper sexual function (contact us if you need help with this!). Blood pressure medications and anti-depressants may also lead to impotency, especially in the elderly.
The Causes
Psychological causes account for the majority of impotency complaints, yet dietary factors, largely ignored by conventional medicine, also fuel the problem. Men with diets high in caffeine, sugar and alcohol experience more erectile dysfunction, as do men who smoke and use recreational drugs.
The Solutions
Optimal prostate function is essential for a man’s sexual function, so be sure and use the tools mentioned in Part 2 of this series on Prostate Health to set the stage for success.
Dietary Recommendations
Most impotency problems, whether of a psychological or physiological nature, respond to nutritional therapy.
- Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes at least 50-75% of your plate vegetables and fruits.
- Eat a handful of raw pumpkin seeds each day. Pumpkin seeds contain many nutrients essential for male sexual health, including zinc, vitamin E and essential fatty acids.
- Avoid alcohol, particularly before sexual encounters. Alcohol decreases the body’s ability to produce testosterone.
- Do not consume animal fats (i.e., meat, dairy products), sugar, fried or junk foods. All these foods can cause inflammation, slow down blood flow and decrease testosterone, which spells disaster for a man’s sexual prowess.
- Get plenty of essential fatty acids in your diet. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are particularly important for proper hormone balance. Deep sea (wild caught) fatty fish, including salmon, halibut, mackerel, tuna, trout and sardines are good sources. Vegetarian sources include flaxseed and flaxseed oil. High quality EPA-DHA supplements are also available.
Supplemental Support
For those wishing to improve libido or sexual function, the following supplements have proven to be very beneficial:
- Wellness Essentials for Men – Provides optimal nutrition in easy-to-use daily packets – take 1 packet daily with a meal; contains a full spectrum, whole-food based multi-vitamin/mineral, essential fatty acids and plant based antioxidants essential for men’s health.
- Primalin (call to order) – 2-3 tablets daily (up to 6 tablets daily for unresponsive cases); an herbal formula designed to enhance male sexual function containing mucuna pruriens and synergistic herbal extracts.
- Tribestan – 1 tablet for every 45 lbs. of body weight. Often used for impotency, infertility and athletic performance.
As men, we have to take an honest hard look at ourselves and our health and then make concrete, proactive efforts to insure we can live the life we desire. Mother Nature can certainly help, with healthy foods and herbal remedies, but it is up to us to take matters into our own hands and do what we need to do to enjoy the natural path to optimal health. Get started by making some of these dietary and lifestyle changes and use the above supplements to augment your journey along the natural path to better health.
