Not only do they increase your risk of developing heart disease and 30 other health conditions and diseases, but they’re also behind the obesity epidemic.

In fact, I wrote about the research that confirmed it’s these foods, not lack of exercise — as previously thought — that’s fueling rising rates of obesity.

But what’s truly disturbing is their impact on reproductive and metabolic health…

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Weight gain is just the beginning

A 2025 study at the University of Copenhagen has confirmed that no matter how little of them you eat, ultra-processed foods lead to weight gain.

Researchers compared the health effects of an unprocessed vs. an ultra-processed diet on the same person, in order to get the most accurate results.

Forty-three men spent three weeks eating each of the two diets, with a cleansing period in between.

The unprocessed and ultra-processed diets had the same amount of calories, protein, carbs, and fats. But half the men were given an extra 500 calories per day.

Regardless of whether those extra 500 calories were involved, men on the ultra-processed diet gained about 1 kg (just over 2 pounds) more fat mass than those on the unprocessed diet.

But it doesn’t end there…

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“Our results prove that ultra-processed foods harm our reproductive and metabolic health, even if they’re not eaten in excess. This indicates that it is the processed nature of these foods that makes them harmful,” says Jessica Preston, lead author of the study.

Men on the ultra-processed diet showed:

• An increase in levels of phthalate cxxMINP, a hormone-disrupting chemical typically found in plastics.
• A decrease in testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone, both essential for sperm production. In addition to affecting fertility, low sperm count impacts a man’s sex drive and can be a cause of erectile dysfunction.
• An increase in LDL (“bad” cholesterol) levels.
• Altered thyroid hormones.
• Altered markers of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress.

And in case you’ve forgotten, chronic inflammation causes the cellular damage behind a range of diseases from cancer to Parkinson’s disease to diabetes, not to mention an accelerated aging process that makes your body old before its time.

“We were shocked by how many body functions were disrupted by ultra-processed foods, even in healthy young men. The long-term implications are alarming and highlight the need to revise nutritional guidelines to better protect against chronic disease,” says the study’s senior author, Professor Romain Barrès.

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The choice is clear

I hope you don’t need any more convincing.

Whole foods are the best alternatives to ultra-processed foods. But for success, ease into eating more of them and fewer ultra-processed foods.

Ultra-processed foods are made to “hook” you, so don’t blame yourself if it’s hard to let them go. That being said, see about ditching the two ultra-processed foods considered the worst ASAP.

According to Heartfoundation.org, whole foods and minimally processed foods, like these, are what we all should be eating:

• Fresh, frozen and canned vegetables and fruit
• Dried, canned and frozen beans and legumes like lentils and chickpeas
• Whole grains like oats, brown rice, barley and quinoa
• Fresh and frozen poultry and meat
• Fresh, frozen and canned fish and seafood
• Milk and plain yoghurt (try sweetening with honey)
• Eggs
• Nuts and seeds.

An easy way to identify ultra-processed foods is that they are quick, easy, and require little to no preparation — the very definition of “convenience foods.”

They include foods like sweetened cereals, soda and white bread; frozen French fries, chicken nuggets and pizza; processed meats, like hot dogs and bacon; pre-packaged baked goods, like cookies and cakes; and microwaveable meals.

Make the choice today and start taking back your health and your longevity.

Sources:

Why ultra-processed diets make you gain fat even without extra calories — Science Daily

Effect of ultra-processed food consumption on male reproductive and metabolic health — Cell Metabolism

Here’s What Eating Processed Foods for Two Weeks Does to Your Body — Time

Five ways to eat less processed food — Heart Foundation

The post Ultra-processed foods: A metabolic and hormonal disaster for men appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

For men, it’s a bit more complicated. While some older men with erectile dysfunction (ED) do suffer from low testosterone levels, it’s far from the only potential cause. Some others include:

• Heart disease
• Atherosclerosis
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Metabolic syndrome
• Parkinson’s disease
• Treatments for prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate

It may be surprising to see diabetes on this list. But high blood sugar can cause vascular and nerve damage (or neuropathy), both of which can decrease blood flow to the genitals.

If you haven’t been diagnosed with diabetes, you may think you’re in the clear. However, recent research indicates even a small increase in blood sugar levels could have an impact on your sex life…

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Blood sugar elevation and virility

For the study, researchers recruited 200 healthy men ages 18 to 85 in 2014 and tracked them through 2020. By the end of the study, 117 men were still participating.

The researchers examined progressive changes in participants’ semen and hormonal profiles, erectile function and metabolic health. The latter was measured through BMI and blood sugar levels monitored by the HbA1c test.

According to the results, hormone levels and semen parameters stayed largely within normal ranges over time. However, sperm movement and erectile function decreased in men with minimally elevated blood sugar levels below the diabetes threshold of 6.5% HbA1c.

The study also found that while testosterone levels did not have a direct impact on erectile function, they were related to participants’ libido assessment.

“Although age and testosterone levels have long been considered an impetus for men’s declining sexual health, our research indicates that these changes more closely correlate with modest increases in blood sugar and other metabolic changes,” says Dr. Michael Zitzmann, professor and doctor of medicine at University Hospital in Muenster, Germany.

“This means that men can take steps to preserve or revive their reproductive health with lifestyle choices and appropriate medical interventions,” Zitzmann adds.

Zitzman notes that the researchers hope the information gleaned from the study will help doctors and their patients establish effective male sexual health maintenance plans. “We now know that it’s in our power to retain sexual and reproductive wellbeing in men, even as they age,” he says.

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Keeping blood sugar in balance

The best way to keep blood sugar levels in check is through diet. Any diet that ditches added sugars and ultra-processed foods for more lean meats, fruits and vegetables and whole grains is a good place to start.

But if you’re on the road to diabetes, you may want to try a low-calorie keto diet. In addition to helping manage blood sugar, this diet can also boost testosterone. The downside is that it’s hard to stick to. In that case, consider a Mediterranean diet. Both diets improve blood sugar, weight and metabolic health.

Another lifestyle change that can help is getting regular exercise. Engaging in regular physical activity increases your body’s sensitivity to insulin, allowing sugar to be processed more efficiently. In fact, exercise can lower your blood sugar for up to 24 hours or more after you work out.

You should also consider a vitamin D supplement. Taking vitamin D has been associated with a reduced likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes in adults with prediabetes, a condition where blood sugar levels are elevated but have not yet progressed to full-blown diabetes. The recommended therapeutic dose for vitamin D is between 4000 and 5000 IUs a day.

There are a few supplements that have shown promise in balancing blood sugar levels, including black seed oil and berberine. Make sure you talk to your doctor before taking supplements if you’re already on medication to lower your blood sugar.

Sources:

Not just diabetes: How slightly high blood sugar wrecks men’s sexual health — ScienceDaily

Male Virility Affected By Minimal Rises In Blood Sugar, Study Says — U.S. News & World Report

Erectile dysfunction — Mayo Clinic

Blood Glucose and Exercise — American Diabetes Association

The post How slightly elevated blood sugar tanks a man’s sex life appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

GSM encompasses a collection of genital, sexual and urinary symptoms and signs associated with decreased estrogen and sex steroid levels. These include vaginal dryness, vulvar atrophy and urinary urgency or incontinence.

The vulva refers to the external female genitalia, while the vagina relates to the internal anatomy. For both parts, menopause can cause itching, burning, pain, decreased lubrication and changes in the skin’s appearance.

Not surprisingly, the end result of GSM is a decrease in the frequency of sexual activity for women between the ages of 40 and 70. I mean, who wants to have sex when it hurts?

There are ways to help combat this pain, one of which is by reversing GSM itself. Since GSM is caused by estrogen deficiency, the standard remedy is vaginal ultra-low-dose estrogen therapy. But the breast cancer link can discourage some women from taking this route.

One team of researchers has hit upon another possible solution that may surprise you….

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Sex can improve genitourinary syndrome of menopause

The researchers undertook a study involving more than 900 Japanese women aged 40 to 79 years to explore the link between regular sexual activity and vulvovaginal-related menopausal symptoms. They defined “regular sexual activity” as engaging in sex in the past three months. Having sex in the past year but not in the past three months was considered “lower sexual activity.”

To no one’s surprise, the researchers confirmed the proportion of women having regular sex decreased significantly with age, aligning with the decrease in Female Sexual Function Index scores for sexual desire, arousal and lubrication. The index consists of 19 questions on female sexual function under six domains.

One interesting note: despite the decrease in sexual desire, arousal and lubrication, orgasm and satisfaction were shown not to decline with age.

The study results showed that while some sexual functions and symptoms change with age, they may be maintained in women who engage in more regular sexual activity. Results also demonstrated a lower prevalence of GSM-related symptoms such as vulvar pain, irritation and dryness in women having regular sex.

What to do if worried about estrogen

Dr. Monica Christmas, associate medical director for The Menopause Society, said the study’s findings emphasize the importance of diagnosing and treating GSM.

“Only 2.9% of the participants reported using hormone therapy,” Christmas says. “Local low-dose vaginal estrogen therapy is safe and highly effective at alleviating bothersome vulvovaginal symptoms contributing to pain and avoidance of intercourse.

She adds that “optimal sexual health is integral to overall well-being” and that it is “imperative to recognize the effect these symptoms can have on women who aren’t sexually active.

“Treatment should be offered to anyone with symptoms, whether engaging in sexual activity or not,” Christmas says. “Normalizing use of local low-dose estrogen therapy should be a thing.”

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So far, according to Johns Hopkins, clinical trials have indicated minimal to no systemic absorption of the type of topical estrogen therapy used to treat GSM, resulting in no increased risk of breast cancer recurrence.

But if you’re a GSM sufferer who’s still wary of estrogen therapy, there are things you can do to make sex more comfortable. One of the primary methods is vaginal lubrication.

There are water-based lubricants that you apply just before having sex to reduce discomfort during intercourse. You want to avoid products that contain glycerin or warming properties because they can irritate that sensitive tissue of the vagina. Also, if you’re using condoms, don’t use petroleum jelly or other petroleum-based products for lubrication because they can break down latex condoms on contact.

If this type of lubrication proves ineffective, you can try vaginal moisturizers to restore some moisture to your vaginal area. External moisturizers help the vulva area, and internal moisturizers are inserted into the vagina. These need to be applied every few days, and their effects generally last longer than those of a lubricant.

You can also try pelvic floor exercises to improve vaginal blood flow and tissue elasticity. A pelvic floor therapist can help if needed. Libido-boosting exercises, like hip thrusts, will increase blood flow to the pelvis, mimicking what happens during intimacy. It’s well known that blood flow improves erections for men, but it’s less known that for women, it enhances our pleasure zones.

In addition, make sure you’re managing your stress levels. The stress hormone cortisol decreases testosterone, which significantly impacts sex drive in women. It also negatively affects the body’s production of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a hormone precursor that the body uses to produce estrogen and testosterone.

Sources:

The pleasure prescription: Why more sex means less menopause pain — ScienceDaily

Cross-sectional study of the association between regular sexual activity and sexual function and genitourinary syndrome of menopause–related symptoms — Menopause

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause — Johns Hopkins Medicine

Vaginal atrophy — Mayo Clinic

Experiencing Vaginal Dryness? Here’s What You Need to Know — The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

The post The surprising benefits of regular sex in menopause appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

You might think, what’s the big deal, especially if you’re on the mature side. But a healthy sex life benefits brain health and may reduce problem blood pressure and heart disease risk.

Fortunately, there are simple strategies to reignite your passion and enhance your bedroom experience. One surprisingly effective method may be intermittent fasting, which recent research suggests could help improve sexual desire.

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A Surprising Discovery

Initially, researchers at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases were not aiming to explore the effects of fasting on libido. Their focus was on understanding how fasting affected the offspring of male mice.

However, during their studies, they uncovered an unexpected finding: older male mice subjected to extended fasting periods exhibited a notable increase in sexual activity, resulting in a larger number of offspring compared to their younger counterparts.

When they tested younger males on a regimen of 24-hour intermittent fasting, these mice also demonstrated heightened sexual activity.

The Tryptophan-Serotonin Connection

What drove this increase in sex drive? The scientists made a crucial discovery linking lower levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin to fasting. Serotonin is typically associated with inhibiting sexual activity.

By reducing their food intake, particularly tryptophan — the amino acid precursor to serotonin — the male mice maintained lower serotonin levels, resulting in diminished regulatory restraint on sexual urges. Dr. Dan Ehninger, the lead researcher, explained that these mice were, in essence, sexually uninhibited.

The Fast Way to Boost Your Libido

The implications of these findings could extend to humans. If you’re looking to revive your sex life, intermittent fasting might be worth trying. If a complete 24-hour fast once or twice a week feels overwhelming, even shorter fasting windows could provide benefits. Research shows other fasting methods can enhance overall health and well-being, including:

• Reducing inflammation
• Promoting weight loss
• Lowering cancer risk
• Regulating blood sugar

For instance, consider adopting a daily eating window of eight hours followed by a 16-hour fast, or try a calorie-restricted plan of 500-600 calories for two non-consecutive days each week.

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Additional Libido Boosters

Fasting isn’t for everyone. Thankfully, there are other effective strategies to enhance a waning sex drive:

Regular Exercise: Engaging in physical activity not only boosts testosterone and energy levels but also helps shed excess weight, which can positively impact libido.

Nutrition: Certain foods and nutrients can also enhance sex drive and function. For example…

• Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli aid in combating estrogen dominance, which can further tip the scales that lower testosterone.
• When you consume L-citrulline from watermelon, your body converts it to the amino acid arginine, which helps boost testosterone. Arginine is helpful for men with ED because it improves the effect nitric oxide has in helping with erections.
• Beets and beet juice also help the body produce nitric oxide.
• The Mediterranean diet, featuring olive oil, could potentially lower the odds of ED by 40%.
• Other important nutrients to boost your sex life include omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.

By combining intermittent fasting with regular exercise and a diet rich in libido-boosting foods, you can take proactive steps toward revitalizing your sex drive. Consider incorporating these practices into your daily life and observe how they affect your overall health and intimacy.

If you suspect medication or a health condition is affecting your sex life, be sure to check with your doctor.

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Sources:

Intermittent fasting increases sex drive in male mice: an approach for low libido in humans? – EurekAlert!

7+ longevity, weight loss and disease-fighting benefits of alternate-day fasting – Easy Health Options

The diet shown to help shrink cancer and decrease damage from chemo – Easy Health Options

The fast answer to beating type 2 diabetes  – Easy Health Options

The fast way to douse disease-fueling inflammation – Easy Health Options

The post Intermittent fasting could revive your sex drive appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

That little blue pill certainly seems to put a smile back on men’s faces as it brings life back to the bedroom.

But did you know it wasn’t actually developed for erectile dysfunction (ED)?

It was meant to treat high blood pressure, thanks to its ability to dilate blood vessels — wide open — to allow optimal blood flow.

And it was only after patients started taking the drug that reports of an interesting side effect began to circulate: It was helping an “organ” much further south. Now it’s going to their heads…

Believe me, the pharmaceutical companies will be dancing in the streets about this one too because they’ve found a connection to another problem people can buy their drugs to solve — avoiding Alzheimer’s.

What do ED and Alzheimer’s have in common?

Researchers at the University College London followed close to 270,000 men over a five-year timeframe, comparing the rates of Alzheimer’s between men taking prescriptions for ED to those without.

And after accounting for any other factors that could impact the results, they found the men taking the prescriptions were 18 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. These results were strongest among men who were issued the most prescriptions over the study period. 

This means that the brains of men who used those little blue pills more often benefitted the most.

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The active ingredient both men and women need

So how did treating the men’s ED problems benefit a condition of the brain? It had to be the head-to-toe blood flow.

The little blue pill works by increasing a molecule known as nitric oxide (NO) in the lining of the blood vessels. This causes the blood vessels to widen, increasing blood flow and boosting oxygen to all the body’s organs and tissues — including the brain.

And fortunately, NO does not discriminate…

Both men and women naturally produce NO in their bodies as part of the process of normal, healthy circulation!

But sometimes we need a little help because…

• We don’t eat enough of the foods that help our bodies produce NO, like a handful of specific vegetables. You may also eat less red meat and dairy — at your doctor’s urging — which are great sources of an amino acid required for NO production.
• With age, the body’s healthy balance gets off-kilter. We often come up short on nutrients that support artery health and blood pressure. At the same time, we can experience an age-associated increase in fibrin — the protein used to form blood clots. It’s easy to see why too much would be a problem.

These problems may seem like a big deal, but you can work around all of them…

Let’s start with NO: Even if you’re not a veggie fan, you should focus on at least two: spinach and beets. When eating these foods, your body creates NO from them via the nitrate–nitrite–nitric oxide pathway.

But if that voice in your head is saying, “Virginia, I just can’t do that,” then no worries…

L-Arginine is the amino acid in red meat and dairy required for NO production. Now I’m not going to advise more red meat. But L-Arginine is readily available in supplement form.

Next, let’s talk about two ways nattokinase can help. First, it’s an enzyme that received scientific acclaim when discovered in a Japanese superfood called natto — for dissolving fibrin, the protein that makes blood clot.

And natto just happens to be the highest food source of vitamin K2 as MK-7, a very important nutrient for vascular health. Just one tablespoon is enough, but if you don’t like vegetables, you probably won’t like it (slimy fermented soybeans). Again, look for supplements.

It works for me. But you know when given half the chance, I’m going to take the natural route while possible to keep my blood pressure in the normal range and promote healthy circulation — from my brain to my toes (and everywhere in between).

Sources:

Erectile dysfunction drugs may be linked to reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease – EurekAlert!

The post Why this ‘male medication’ could make Alzheimer’s less likely appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It’s an issue that can be caused by big players like prescription drug issues and vascular disease. But it can also be a result of hidden issues that are often overlooked.

Sadly, as if the problems associated with erectile dysfunction or ED aren’t enough on their own, men who live with the condition also experience a significantly higher risk of early death.

This makes finding a way to maintain healthy erectile function vital in men’s health.

Luckily, scientists at the Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University in Sweden may have discovered the secret to doing just that.

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The cells that make an erection possible

The secret they found was in cells in the penis known as fibroblasts.

While fibroblasts are the most abundant type of cell in the penis, they’ve been almost completely ignored in ED research… and we’re learning just how big that oversight has been.

It turns out that fibroblasts play a very important role in regulating blood flow in the penis — an essential mechanism for making a penis erect.

Fibroblasts control the ability to achieve a strong erection by taking up the neurotransmitter noradrenaline — which leads to the widening of blood vessels in the penis.

But whether or not the process works depends on how many fibroblasts there are. And since that number decreases with age, it’s easy to see why levels of ED begin to skyrocket in men over 40.

But there’s good news…

The scientists also discovered a way to maintain a youthful number of fibroblasts in the penis — and therefore, youthful erections.

They found that the more frequently an erection is achieved, the more fibroblasts are maintained and vice versa.

“It’s not so strange really. If you exert yourself a lot, your body adapts. If you run regularly, it will eventually become easier to breathe while running,” says Christian Göritz, senior researcher for the study.

In other words, to keep erectile dysfunction at bay, the old “use it or lose it” saying really works.

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Boosting erection ability

But what if you’re already experiencing troubles with ED? Is there a way to start improving erection ability in order to achieve regular results and nurture the number of precious fibroblasts in the penis?

The answer is yes!

Just a few things you can do to support strong, healthy erections include:

• Boosting nitric oxide – Nitric oxide or NO is a molecule that supports the widening of the blood vessels, including the ones in the penis so that healthy blood flow can be achieved. The easiest way to up your nitric oxide is to get healthy nitrates in your diet from beets or beetroot powder.
• Getting regular exercise – Sexual health and overall health and fitness go hand-in-hand. That’s why men should not only practice aerobic exercises — but also add in a variety of other activities, such as floor exercise, weights and even Kegel exercises to optimize sexual function.
• Going Mediterranean – The Mediterranean diet is packed with fresh fruits, veggies, fish and nuts that support heart and blood vessel health and help raise testosterone levels to combat ED further. In fact, it’s been shown to improve erectile dysfunction by up to 40 percent!

Sources:

Erectile dysfunction statistics 2024 — SingleCare

Fibroblasts in the penis are more important for erectile function than previously thought — EurekAlert!

The post The secret to better erectile function: Use it or lose it appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

ED is often thought of as being a sexual problem. But the truth is those symptoms don’t just signal trouble in the bedroom…

Difficulty getting or maintaining an erection can be a marker of high blood pressure and poor blood flow both of which may be connected to heart problems. It can also be an indication of type 2 diabetes or vitamin D deficiency.

Several lifestyle factors can also impact a man’s ability to achieve an erection. They include:

• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Diet
• Obesity
• Stress

Unfortunately, now there’s a popular leisure-time activity to add to that roster….

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Leisure time on the computer and risk for ED

Research has linked genetic variants to sedentary behavior, including activities like watching television, using computers, and operating a vehicle.

Oddly enough, a new analysis has linked higher genetic susceptibility to one of these activities — leisure computer usage — to a greater risk of ED in men.

Researchers analyzed data on more than 200,000 men and found that each 1.2-hour increase in leisure computer time increased the odds of ED by 3.57-fold.

Interestingly, no evidence linked watching television or driving for leisure with an increased risk for ED.

In addition, computer use wasn’t linked with depression, anxiety or markers of blood vessel health. However, it was associated with lower levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which plays a role in sexual health and reproduction in both males and females.

The researchers say the study “offered substantial evidence for a positive causal association between computer use and the risk of erectile dysfunction.” However, further research is needed to substantiate that causal association.

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Avoiding ED symptoms

Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to avoid symptoms of ED. Here are just a few:

• Boost your nitric oxide levels. Nitric oxide (or NO) is a molecule that supports the widening of the blood vessels for healthy blood flow, head to toe and everywhere in between. The easiest way to up your nitric oxide is to get naturally occurring dietary nitrates in your diet from beets or beetroot powder or spinach.
• Exercise regularly. The best way to counteract a sedentary lifestyle is to move your body. Some research shows exercise may help increase follicle-stimulating hormone.
• Clean up your diet. The Mediterranean diet is loaded with fresh fruits, veggies, fish and nuts, all of which help support heart and blood vessel health. They can also help raise testosterone levels to combat ED further. In fact, the Mediterranean diet has been shown to improve erectile dysfunction by up to 40 percent!
• Maintain healthy vitamin D levels. One study found that almost 46 percent of men with arteriogenic ED (a condition where the arteries don’t supply enough blood to the penis to support an erection) were deficient in vitamin D. So make sure you’re getting enough sunlight every day, or that you’re taking a high-quality vitamin D3 supplement.
• Take vitamin K2. This nutrient promotes good heart and blood vessel health and can be found in foods such as natto, butter, egg yolks, certain cheeses, fermented foods like sauerkraut, eel and beef liver.

Sources:

Does sedentary leisure time affect men’s risk of erectile dysfunction? — EurekAlert!

A Mendelian randomization study on causal effects of leisure sedentary behavior on the risk of erectile dysfunction — Andrology

Definition & Facts for Erectile Dysfunction — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Erectile Dysfunction — Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education

Top Foods High in Vitamin K2 — WebMD

The post The leisure-time activity that sabotages a man’s sex life appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Often, we feel uncomfortable discussing this subject with our doctors, and some women can be even more uncomfortable broaching the subject with female friends or family members.

But if you’re at this life stage, you may already be noticing some changes that you’d like to have a better understanding of.

And if you’re not there yet, hopefully, we will dispel some misconceptions and make you less fearful of what is to come.

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What waning hormones do to your vagina

Before we talk about solutions to vaginal changes caused by menopause, let’s make sure we have our terminology straight.

Often, the word “vagina” is used to include the vulva, but this is not anatomically correct. The vulva is a different organ and plays different roles than the vagina in women’s health.

We’re focusing here on the vagina, the muscular tube that goes from the external genitalia (the vulva), up past the cervix, to the uterus.

Now, onto those changes…

As menopause begins, estrogen levels drop, and progesterone is no longer produced at all. Initially, women may only experience mild dryness, but this is the first sign of changes that will progress during menopause and postmenopause.

The medical term for these changes is vaginal atrophy and includes:

• Fewer vaginal secretions, causing a feeling of dryness
• Cells on the vaginal surface do not grow as quickly, leading to a thinned vaginal lining
• Changes to the connective tissue around the vagina make it less elastic and narrower
• Fewer blood vessels around the vagina, causing reduced blood flow to the area
• A shift in the acidic pH of the vagina, leading to an increased risk of vaginal infections

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Not everyone’s symptoms are the same

Not every woman will notice bothersome symptoms as she goes through menopause.

For example, vaginal dryness may cause pain and discomfort during sex, but it may not be that much of a bother if a woman is not sexually active.

If a woman is sexually active, regular sexual activity can reduce vaginal atrophy by stimulating blood flow to the vagina, which promotes healthy vaginal tissue.

On the other hand, it’s good to be aware that other organs close to the vagina, such as the bladder and urethra (the tube that lets urine leave your body), are affected by the hormonal changes of menopause.

Some women may experience recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs), which can cause pain (including pain to the side of the body) and irritation.

Safe solutions and cautions

The good news is that dryness, irritation or pain during sex are easily managed for most.

Vaginal moisturizers may reduce dryness, and lubricants may reduce pain during sex. There are products designed primarily to alleviate dryness for your general comfort, as well as for intimacy.

Many of these products are readily available online or over the counter at your local pharmacy or supermarket. But when choosing one that’s right for you, the North American Menopause Society recommends water-soluble products. The oil in some products can lead to irritation.

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Another option is vaginal estrogen. It will treat dryness and pain, and it can also reduce the likelihood of recurring UTIs. It’s usually inserted using an applicator, two to three times a week.

It’s generally considered safe; however, anyone with a history of breast cancer or increased risk due to family history should definitely consult with their doctor first and consider other options.

Newer treatments also include non-hormonal drugs. Your gynecologist could discuss the pros and cons of such daily dose pills. But like most drugs, they also carry risks: an albeit small, but increased risk for cancer of the lining of the uterus.

There are some natural options…

Some studies support supplementing with omega-3s, like those found in fish or krill oil, to improve vaginal dryness and atrophy. Of course, consistent and regular supplementation is necessary to achieve the best results.

One study also found that supplementing vitamin D improved vaginal health outcomes in postmenopausal women.

A final word of caution from The North American Menopause Society:

“ … those women who do experience vulvovaginal symptoms (dryness, irritation, burning, itchiness, pain) should not automatically assume that reduced estrogen levels are the reason for these symptoms, as there are other possible causes.”

Never play “armchair doctor.” If a symptom is unusual, see your doctor to figure out what’s really going on.

Sources:

Experts Reveal What Happens to Your Vagina When You Get Older — Science Alert

Estrogen (Vaginal Route) — Clinic

The Effect of Omega 3 Fatty Acids on Atrophic Vaginitis in Breast Cancer Survivors — Ohio State University

Effect of Vitamin D Supplement on Vulvovaginal Atrophy of the Menopause — Nutrients

The post Everything about ‘down there’ changes you were afraid to ask appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

This can leave these men with an unfulfilling sex life, a strained relationship, depression, anxiety and loss of self-esteem.

Because of this, many men have asked their doctor about that little blue pill only to worry that the prescription medication could cause side effects that are even worse than the condition they’re trying to treat.

The FDA approved an over-the-counter solution for men suffering from ED that requires no prescription and may come with fewer side effects. And they say it even works faster than regular ED medication…

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Gel activates nitric oxide release

In June of 2023, MED3000 (or Eroxon) was approved by the FDA for the treatment of ED. This topical gel is available in single-use tubes. And to use it, a man simply applies it to the head of the penis right before sexual intercourse.

So how does the gel work?

Made up of a combination of volatile solvents, which evaporate rapidly after application, the gel creates a cooling effect followed by a warming sensation. This stimulates nerve endings on the head of the penis, causing the release of nitric oxide or NO.

Once nitric oxide is released the smooth muscle inside the penis relaxes, allowing for an increase in the blood flow required to support a strong and healthy erection.

In clinical trials, 65 percent of men who used MED3000 achieved an erection within 10 minutes and maintained it long enough to have sex. This is much faster than the most commonly used ED drugs, like tadalafil (Cialis) and sildenafil (Viagra), which take approximately 30 minutes to work.

Of course, that does you no good if the faster working time and ease of purchase come with more side effects, right?

Luckily, the gel seems to be a winner there too.

Studies have shown that the most common side effects experienced by men using the gel were headaches and nausea, which occurred in just 1 to 3 percent of men.

And, no side effects were reported among sexual partners.

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What ED means beyond the bedroom

MED3000 is readily available. A male friend said he saw it on Amazon for $99 (a 1.75-ounce tube).

But you should know that ED can be indicative of a much more serious issue…

In a study that came out of Australia, researchers found that men with ED had a 35 percent greater risk of hospitalization due to heart disease and a 93 percent higher risk of death from any illness.

The connection is vascular. Just like NO improves blood flow to the penis, it’s the key to better blood vessels, blood pressure and blood flow — for a healthier vascular system overall.

Of course, the body produces NO naturally. But certain foods can ramp up waning production….

When you consume dietary nitrates, like those you can find in spinach or beets, the good bacteria in your mouth immediately begin to convert them to nitrites and then nitric oxide in the gut, bloodstream and various organs that can benefit, including the penis.

It’s the reason beets are so healthy — from your liver to your libido.

Sources:

FDA approves new over-the-counter gel for erectile dysfunction – Harvard Health Publishing

Definition & Facts for Erectile Dysfunction – NIH

The post Fast-working over-the-counter ED gel gets FDA approval appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

And it’s hard to avoid.

Cadmium is found in the paint on decorated glassware and dinnerware. You can be poisoned by cadmium through cigarette smoke, even secondhand smoke.

But even worse, you can ingest this toxin by eating supposedly healthy foods, like lettuce and spinach, grown in contaminated soil.

Cadmium can even hide out in the cocoa solids found in dark chocolate!

Women are especially vulnerable to the toxic effects of cadmium, and now researchers have found yet another way this heavy metal poisons women’s health…

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Old news: cadmium and endometrial cancer

Cadmium is a “metalloestrogen,” meaning it can act like the hormone estrogen.

In terms of endometrial cancer, this is bad news.

You see, estrogen helps regulate the growth of your endometrium (the lining of your uterus). And excess estrogen (also referred to as estrogen dominance) can lead to excess growth in this area, which could become cancerous. That means anything that mimics estrogen (like cadmium) could be fueling unhealthy endometrial growth.

A five-year observational study that included data from over 1500 women showed that high cadmium levels were associated with a 23% higher endometrial cancer risk.

The latest: Cadmium in urine linked to endometriosis

While it’s not cancer, endometriosis is a painful condition that can severely impair a woman’s daily functions and personal relationships.

When left untreated, endometriosis can also lead to ectopic pregnancy and small bowel obstruction, either of which can be fatal.

In addition, the constant pain of endometriosis equates to higher levels of anxiety and depression.

A Michigan State University study is the most extensive to date, examining cadmium levels in urine as a reflection of long-term exposure (between ten and thirty years).

The researchers used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which examined a representative sample of the U.S. population between 1999 and 2006.

Subjects were limited to women ages 20 to 54 with a diagnosis of endometriosis.

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The women were divided into four groups, or quartiles, with the first having the lowest exposure to cadmium and the fourth having the highest exposure.

They found that women in the second and third quartiles were twice as likely to have been diagnosed with endometriosis as those in the first.

But more startling, their data suggests a 60% increase in endometriosis diagnoses from the third to the fourth quartile.

Natural ways to eliminate cadmium

It’s pretty clear that cadmium is something women need to avoid.

But how can you begin to avoid it? And how can you remove the toxic metal already in your system?

First, let’s talk about avoiding it…

• Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke.
• In addition to decorative dishes as a source of exposure, some costume jewelry, including decorative pieces on clothing, like chains and bobbles, has tested positive for cadmium.
• Fruit juices, plant-based milk and teas have also been found to harbor dangerous amounts of cadmium and other heavy metals.

But our exposure to air pollution may be the most difficult to avoid. That makes it necessary to consider helping your body expel cadmium and other harmful heavy metals.

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That leads us to chelation. Chelation is the process of using chelators — substances that bind molecules to metal ions so they can be eliminated naturally by the body.

• Start with probiotics. Mice that were given cadmium-laced water and fed a probiotic containing Lactobacillus plantarum for eight weeks had less cadmium in their intestinal tissues than mice that weren’t given the probiotic. The excess cadmium was excreted in their feces, and there’s every reason to believe that the same can work for humans.
• EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid) is a synthetic amino acid that has been shown to bind to the heavy metals lead, zinc, cadmium, and calcium and expel them through the urine. EDTA can be administered intravenously or orally.

Make sure your zinc and selenium levels are where they should be. They are both protective against cadmium (and lead) toxicity.

Foods that are protective against cadmium toxicity, some because of their antioxidant capacity, include:

• Green tea
• Grapes
• Tomatoes
• Garlic
• Onions

Foods you’ll want to reduce or avoid to keep your cadmium levels down include liver, oysters, scallops, and mussels.

Sources:

Study links cadmium levels in women’s urine to endometriosis — Science Daily

Urinary cadmium and endometriosis prevalence in a U.S. nationally representative sample: results from NHANES 1999–2006 — Human Reproduction

Can a person die from endometriosis? — Medical News Today

Dietary Strategies for the Treatment of Cadmium and Lead Toxicity — Journal Nutrients

The post High urine levels of cadmium linked to endometriosis appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

“Of course!” I said, perhaps a little too enthusiastically, considering what came next…

See, my friends know I’m constantly researching new natural solutions to common health problems, so I’m used to them asking me about how to get more energy, relieve arthritis pain or even overcome a weak bladder.

But this question was a little, well, let’s say delicate…

“My husband has erectile dysfunction,” she said. “And, he doesn’t want to talk to anyone about it, and he’s already on so much medication.”

Now you may think this next part is a little strange, but this is what I said to my friend as I slid my eyeglasses to the tip of my nose, lowered my head and my voice and looked her straight in the eye…

“Remember the movie, 9½ Weeks? I want you to go home, open your refrigerator and see if you have the sexiest vegetable known to man in there.”

And here’s why…

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A sensitive subject

Most men get really stressed about ED because they look at it as a sign they’re getting old.

They’re often too embarrassed to talk about it and that only compounds the problem. Doctors don’t truly help with the issue since their usual advice is nothing more than, “You’re at that age, you know. Here’s a prescription.”

So, men are left with the idea that yes, their age is to blame and they’re no longer in control of their sexual function.

But the truth is that barring serious prostate issues, much of the cause of ED can be traced back to three things that are in men’s control: diet, blood pressure, and blood vessel dilation.

When men know this, it puts them back in the driver’s seat (and in the bedroom).

And, adding a certain vegetable to their diet is the fuel they need to get started …

Beets, nitric oxide and the blood pressure connection

Remember that super sexy foodie scene between Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke from the steamiest movie to come out of the late 80s?

In “that” scene out of 9½ Weeks, the two romantic leads share some sensuous snacks, including grapes and strawberries, while sitting on the floor in front of an opened refrigerator.

But do you know what was missing? The sexiest vegetable out there… beets.

Not because the ancient Romans considered them an aphrodisiac, but because modern scientists know beets can help men get the boost they need for an erection.

That’s because blood pressure problems can be the root cause of erectile dysfunction.

High blood pressure can thicken the blood vessels, restricting flow to the penis and preventing an erection. Ironically, taking blood pressure medications can contribute to erectile dysfunction as well.

But beets can help with these issues because studies have shown that drinking beet juice can help to improve blood pressure. All thanks to the nitrates found in the veggies…

See, the beet’s biggest claim to fame for improving sexual function is how it benefits blood vessel dilation — the problem that’s part and parcel to erectile dysfunction. Beets help the body produce nitric oxide, a natural potent vasodilator, which has been shown to be vital to penile erectile function.

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Basically, when the blood vessels in the penis can dilate sufficiently, it helps to maintain pressure in the corpus cavernosum (the penis’ sponge-like erectile tissue) and allows a man to sustain an erection.

There are lots of ways to eat beets, though most people aren’t fond of their earthy taste. Beets can be juiced or added to smoothies where other flavors can mask their taste.

The diet that brings sexy back

Finally, now that you know what to do for the blood pressure and blood vessel dilation parts of the equation, it’s time to address your diet’s effect on your bedroom activities.

Enter the Mediterranean Diet…

Not only is the Mediterranean Diet great for heart health and blood sugar, but olive oil, a staple of the diet, can help raise testosterone levels to further combat ED. In fact, it’s been shown to improve erectile dysfunction by up to 40 percent!

When eating the Mediterranean diet, you should focus on fresh fruits and veggies, along with oily fish and nuts. And, be sure to take in at least nine tablespoons of olive oil per week.

While you’re eating more whole foods in a Mediterranean-style diet, ditch as many of the ultra-processed foods as you can. They can expose men to additives and chemicals that promote estrogen dominance, which is the opposite of what any many working on raising testosterone needs.

A way to help counter estrogen dominance is by getting a nutrient called di-indole methane, found primarily in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage into your diet. It supports healthy hormone balance by carrying unwanted, artificial estrogens safely out of the body.

Sources:

1. Erectile dysfunction (impotence) and high blood pressure — Blood Pressure UK
2. Dietary Nitrate Provides Sustained Blood Pressure Lowering in Hypertensive Patients — Hypertension
3. Nitric oxide and penile erectile function — Pharmacology & Therapeutics
4. Mediterranean diet could be better than ‘Viagra’ for erectile dysfunction — News-Medical.net

The post A three-way attack on erectile dysfunction appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

The results of numerous studies have indicated that vitamin D deficiency is linked to erectile dysfunction.

If that’s the case, men who are living with this sexual challenge can take immediate action to help remedy this problem by taking vitamin D supplements.

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Can a vitamin D deficiency cause erectile dysfunction?

Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are common around the world. Deficiency of vitamin D (levels of 20 ng/mL or lower) has been reported in more than 80 percent of some adult populations. The Vitamin D Council recommends a level of 40 to 80 ng/mL as healthy. If you are experiencing erectile dysfunction, you should talk to your doctor about having a blood test to determine your vitamin D levels.

Speaking of doctors, here’s an interesting fact. A 2015 study of nearly 160 physicians found that 67 percent of them had vitamin D levels less than 20 ng/mL, which is considered to be a deficiency, while only 8 percent had levels higher than 30 ng/mL, which is still considered too low by many experts, including the Vitamin D Council. If doctors aren’t concerned about their vitamin D levels, how concerned can they be about yours? So be proactive!

What do studies say about vitamin D deficiency and erectile dysfunction?

In one study, the investigators noted that endothelial dysfunction is a major player in erectile dysfunction. This is a condition in which the endothelium (the inner lining of blood vessels) is in a state of imbalance and can result from and/or contribute to high blood pressure, diabetes, septic shock, and high cholesterol, or it can result from smoking, exposure to air pollution, and other environmental factors.

Since it’s known that a deficiency of vitamin D promotes endothelial dysfunction, correcting the deficiency could be a positive step toward helping men who have erectile dysfunction (ED). Therefore, a team decided to evaluate the role of vitamin D in 143 men: 50 who had arteriogenic ED, 28 with borderline ED, and 65 with non-arteriogenic ED.

Arteriogenic ED is when the arteries do not supply enough blood to the penis to allow for an erection. This can be caused by various factors, such as narrowing of the arteries, diabetes, or injury to the penile artery.

This is what the investigators observed:

• Overall, the mean level of vitamin D was 21.3 ng/mL
• 45.9% of the men had a vitamin D deficiency (defined as less than 20 ng/mL)
• Only 20.2 percent of the men in the study had optimal vitamin D levels
• Men who had severe or complete ED had vitamin D levels that were significantly lower than the men who had mild ED
• Men who had arteriogenic ED had significantly lower vitamin D levels than men in the non-arteriogenic ED group

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The findings of this study indicate that:

• A significant number of men who have erectile dysfunction also have a deficiency of vitamin D
• ED is more common among men with arteriogenic ED
• Low levels of vitamin D may increase the risk of ED by promoting endothelial dysfunction
• Men who have erectile dysfunction should ask their healthcare provider for a blood test to determine their vitamin D levels and then supplement as needed

The authors of an earlier study pointed out that erectile dysfunction is often a vascular condition caused by damage to the endometrium and is also an important indicator or marker of cardiovascular disease. When they examined the research linking ED to cardiovascular disease and looked at the impact of vitamin D in this population, they concluded that vitamin D deficiency contributes to erectile dysfunction.

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What about vitamin D deficiency, ED, and diabetes?

We already know that diabetes is a risk factor for ED since it involves a reduction in endothelial function. A 2016 study looked at the relationship between vitamin D levels, erectile dysfunction, and vascular disease in 2 men with type 2 diabetes. After extensive evaluation, the experts demonstrated a “significant association” between vitamin D deficiency and erectile dysfunction in men with type 2 diabetes, and they believe it may be due to the impact of the deficiency on testosterone levels, endothelial dysfunction, and cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., cholesterol, blood sugar, and triglycerides).

If you are experiencing erectile dysfunction, it’s important to ask your doctor for a simple blood test to determine your vitamin D levels. How much vitamin D should you take? That’s a question you should discuss with a knowledgeable health professional who considers your personal needs. Adequate vitamin D supplementation could be the answer you are looking for.

Sources:
Barassi A et al .Vitamin D and erectile dysfunction. Journal of Sexual Medicine 2014 Nov; 11(11): 2709-800

Caretta N et al. Hypovitaminosis D is associated with erectile dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. Endocrine 2016 Jan 12 Epub ahead of print
Sorenson M, Grant WB.

Does vitamin deficiency contribute to erectile dysfunction? Dermatoendocrinology 2012 Apr 1; 4(2): 128-36

The post Vitamin may solve problem of the little blue pill appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Younger adults — especially men — are getting diagnosed with heart disease not only earlier but at rates that we’ve never seen before. Both genders are developing heart disease earlier, but because men typically develop heart disease about 10 years before women do, the ages at which some men are experiencing heart events can be shocking. 

When I was in medical school, a heart attack in a 40-year-old man was quite rare.  It sure isn’t rare anymore. 

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What’s behind all this?

People ages 35-64 are experiencing all-time high rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes, which appear to be driving this change. Although smoking and cholesterol levels among Americans have dipped (partly because we’re vaping now and lots of people have been placed on statin drugs), obesity has steadily increased.

People with obesity are more likely to develop high blood pressure, a leading cause of heart disease and stroke, as well as a multitude of subtle and not-so-subtle metabolic abnormalities that drive inflammation, cause cholesterol abnormalities that statins can’t fix, and result in reduced blood vessel flexibility.

So if you’re a man in this age range who is starting to see the scale tip upwards or if you’re already heavier than you’d like, understand that your heart disease risk is accelerating and now is the time to double down on prevention efforts. Make sure you’re taking advantage of all the ways that nutrition and lifestyle can help keep ALL your risk factors in check. If you developed healthy habits in your younger years, now’s the time to continue. But if you didn’t, take heart knowing that it’s never too late!

If you have some conditions that put you at risk, learn more about those conditions (as a place to start, you’ll find lots of helpful information in our Blog section) and consult your doctor about managing them. For example, let’s look at high blood pressure and high cholesterol…

High blood pressure

Millions of Americans in their 40s and 50s have high blood pressure. But what puts you most at risk is uncontrolled high blood pressure readings. And how do you know if your blood pressure is uncontrolled? You have to measure it! 

An inexpensive investment in your health is an automated home blood pressure cuff that you can find in any drug store (or pharmacy section of a grocery store or large retailer). They’re easy to use, typically quite accurate and can help you spot a problem well before your next formal checkup. Blood pressure readings vary during the day so one elevated reading does not mean you have high blood pressure.  But if you’re seeing top numbers consistently over 130 and bottom numbers consistently over 85, schedule an appointment with your doctor to come up with a more formal monitoring and management plan.

And don’t forget that lifestyle factors can have a huge impact on BP control so the earlier you start optimizing those the less likely it is you end up on blood pressure-lowering drugs.  

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High cholesterol

If you have diabetes and/or obesity, if you smoke, if you eat unhealthy foods, or if you are sedentary, you are at risk of having poor cholesterol levels. Fortunately, you can control most of those risk factors and even undo the damage they have caused — if you act now.

It’s not as easy to check cholesterol at home so work with your provider to make sure you’re getting regular bloodwork at a frequency that makes sense based upon age and other risk factors. And if you get a high number, don’t panic.  Unless you already have established heart disease, you don’t need to go on medications right away. Cholesterol is almost never an emergency.

And as we’ve proven at Step One, a change in diet can yield dramatic cholesterol improvements in 30 days, so it’s reasonable to try a dietary approach (even if you don’t choose to do Step One) before you commit to a lifetime of medications. Just make sure to test your cholesterol response to whatever dietary/lifestyle intervention you’ve decided to pursue. We’d never assume a drug is working without testing its effects. The same should be true for any food or lifestyle intervention.

Erectile dysfunction

As a middle-aged man, you should also be aware of a male-specific early potential warning sign of heart and vascular disease — erectile dysfunction (ED). 

Not all ED means you have vascular disease, but if you’re starting to experience this, make an appointment with your physician and let them know. They might want to dig in deeper regarding heart disease risk and be more aggressive when controlling your risk factors. This is not about embarrassment — it’s about helping yourself experience your fullest, healthiest, longest life.  

I’ll be back with advice for heart health in your 60s, 70s and beyond soon. 

The post Men: Keeping your heart health in midlife appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

That equates to millions of women who’ve lost an important part of a healthy life, year after year.

And unlike the male libido, a woman’s sex life is often dismissed by doctors when brought up during a medical visit. Big Pharma is making huge profits by helping men carry on in the bedroom, but they seem to care too little about helping women.

Maybe you don’t really think it’s a big deal, but here’s something you should know…

Your sexual energy can make you feel more positive. Sexual intimacy produces the brain neurotransmitters dopamine, the “pleasure” neuro-hormone, and oxytocin, the “intimacy and belonging” neuro-hormone that is released when you kiss someone, have sex, breastfeed and give birth.

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If you’re not enjoying the active intimate sex life you’d like, you may be surprised to find that exercise may help you bring the romance back.

The best tip for libido-boosting exercise is to build your exercise around things that move your hips. Increasing blood flow to the very target of your waning desire can help immediately.

Take an idea or two from the following list. You don’t have to do them all. Pick one or two that appeal to you and do them consistently if even for minutes a day.

1. Pick up a hula-hoop and give it a go for a few minutes a day.
2. Try pilates movements that emphasize articulation of the spine and pelvic tilts. Roll-ups and roll-downs or side-lying leg raises are good ones to try.
3. Even gentle yoga moves like cat-cow back can get you in touch with your libido again.
4. Do simple hip bridges lying on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat.
5. Take a jazz dance class. The isolation moves you’ll do will do wonders for you.
6. Add a foam roller (see my demonstration here) to your exercise recovery routine and roll your bum, hip flexors, and the sides of your hip.
7. Perform core exercises that truly target the entire core, not just the abs.
8. Try stretches for stiff hips.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg…

Here are eight more ways you can recover your sex drive and enhance hormones that may be getting in the way of your best libido…

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Lift weights

In addition to getting your hips in action with lower body exercises, weight training does two more things for you…

First, you’ll be boosting testosterone levels naturally, which is important since you produce less testosterone as you age. According to my colleague Dr. Michael Cutler, testosterone is the most abundant biologically active female hormone, even more abundant throughout a woman’s lifespan than estrogen. So no longer can we refer to it as a “male” hormone.

Secondly, you’ll feel better about yourself with some power in your workout that increases both tone and confidence.

Find your exercise sweet spot

Over-training will kill your libido due to the increase in cortisol levels. Now, most studies on this focus on men, but it makes sense it would have the same effect on women, so don’t let that dissuade you. Unfortunately, most studies on libido focus disproportionately on men.

On the other hand, undertraining won’t get you enough stimulation, pun intended. Your ideal training level is unique so you may need to assess what’s happening now and increase or decrease for a trial period of time to see how it affects you.

Eat high-quality protein

You’ll be helping those testosterone levels and boosting the results of your weight training by getting adequate protein into each of the three meals.

Reduce or eliminate alcohol

Alcohol can reduce testosterone levels. Try giving it up, at least temporarily, if you’re drinking regularly.

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Sleep in bed first

If you’re sleep-deprived, your body is under stress and pumping out cortisol. Stress beyond a certain point is not going to help your cause. Some individuals find intimacy helps relieve stress, but again you’ve got to find that sweet spot where you can relax enough to partake. Work on your sleep hygiene. That is, create a bedtime routine that helps you get a few good nights’ sleep to reduce cortisol. Optimal sleep will also enhance growth hormone which will help that weight training pay off in a fitter body you’ll feel good in.

Exercise with your partner

There’s some proof that active men and women (may I suggest doing some of the exercises above that involve your hips) enjoy an active sex life as well.

Reduce your stress levels

Stressful days don’t lend themselves to playful nights. If you’re under stress from physical stressors like exercise, hormone changes or from emotional stressors from work and finances or you’re simply a worrier, your bedroom activity can suffer. Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress.

Check your hormones

Many midlife women feel their sex drive beginning to tank starting in peri-menopause. Whether you’re in midlife or not, you might be surprised to find how many women suffer from low libido. There are many options regarding hormone therapy and it’s a personal decision. But if you need some information, Dr. Klodas provides some helpful information on HRT myths and breakthroughs.

The post 16 ways to ‘get in the mood’ appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

However, keeping your sex life at its best isn’t always easy.

In fact, for many men sexual complaints can creep up, making their time in the bedroom more frustrating than enjoyable.

And while erectile dysfunction or ED might be one of the most common sexual problems men experience, premature ejaculation can present just as much difficulty. It’s a problem affecting up to 83 percent of men worldwide.

Even worse, while there are drugs geared specifically to ED that men can take to help mitigate their issues (like that little blue pill), men who suffer from premature ejaculation have fewer options.

Luckily, according to research from Anglia Ruskin University, in the case of premature ejaculation, there could be a better, safer and easier answer than taking a side-effect-laden drug.

And all that’s required is to get moving.

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Latency time in premature ejaculation

When we talk about premature ejaculation, we’re really discussing something known as latency time, which is the time from penetration to ejaculation.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a man may be experiencing premature ejaculation if he always or nearly always ejaculates within one to three minutes of penetration (has a latency time of one to three minutes).

However, the timeframe defined as premature varies widely. The Cleveland Clinic says points out that “many doctors would define prematurity as ejaculation within a minute of beginning intercourse.”

But, what’s not up for debate is the fact that the condition has few pharmacological treatments…

While the drug dapoxetine is approved for use outside of the US, here in the States, the only drugs men can turn to are local anesthetics, clomipramine (an anti-depressant) and tramadol (an opioid pain medication) — all of which come with a serious risk of side effects.

These side effects can range from difficulty breathing, blurred vision and confusion for clomipramine — to lightheadedness, nausea and risk of addiction for tramadol.

None of those are likely to make time in the bedroom enjoyable.

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A better way

That’s why the Anglia Ruskin University researchers decided to examine the effect of non-pharmacological interventions on latency time to determine whether men could reduce problems with premature ejaculation without the side effects.

The researchers reviewed 54 studies, involving 3,485 participants from across the world, published over the past 49 years.

The conclusion they came to?

That for premature ejaculation, exercise really is the best medicine.

The researchers found that physical activity not only showed promising results in many of the studies, it proved to be as effective as drugs, but without associated side effects.

One study the team reviewed showed that running for 30 minutes, five times a week had as much effect on latency time as taking dapoxetine.

And a second study concluded that men who performed pelvic floor exercises tripled their latency time from a median of one minute to three minutes.

When asked about the results, senior author Lee Smith, Professor of Public Health at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), had this to say: “Our paper is a comprehensive review of studies into non-pharmacological interventions for this common complaint, and there are clear indications that physical exercise, including running and engaging the pelvic floor muscles, show promise in several studies.

They don’t really explain why it improves the problem, but if I had to guess, I’d say it has something to do with the fact that exercise stimulates nitric oxide release from endothelial cells. Read more on why that’s important here.

“Given that drugs often have side effects, it appears that after all, the best medicine for avoiding premature ejaculation may well lie in exercise…”

So if your time in the bedroom has become less enjoyable thanks to premature ejaculation, it may just be time to put that medicine to work for you and use exercise to boost your latency time.

Sources:

Exercise could help with common sexual complaint – EurekAlert!

Clomipramine – Drugs.com

Premature Ejaculation – Cleveland Clinic

Premature ejaculation – Mayo Clinic

Tramadol – Drugs.com

The post What any man can do to ‘last longer’ appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

This is when you’ll want to have your doctor check your blood sugar to see if you have diabetes. If you do, your doctor will go over the list of potential health effects with you. The blood sugar disorder can damage your blood vessels, leading to heart attack and stroke, as well as problems with the kidneys, eyes, skin, feet and nerves.

But there’s one side effect that physicians are surprisingly reluctant to discuss with you. And it’s one that only 50 percent of men and 19 percent of women with diabetes bring up with their doctors themselves…

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Diabetes and the bedroom

As much as we supposedly live in a society that’s open about sex, we can be a little shy when discussing our own sex lives. But when you’re hit with diabetes, there’s a good chance it’s going to impact your sexual activity.

High blood sugar levels can cause vascular and nerve damage (or neuropathy), both of which can decrease blood flow to the genitals. This can make sex difficult for men due to erectile dysfunction, and uncomfortable or painful for women due to vaginal dryness. Diabetes can also leave you more vulnerable to yeast infections, which can contribute to further genital discomfort in women.

Beyond just the physical act of sex, diabetes can also kill your sexual desire. In fact, low libido is an often-overlooked symptom of diabetes. Without healthy nerves and good genital blood flow, it’s tough to feel pleasure or achieve orgasm, so desire naturally falls off.

In addition, diabetes can throw your hormones out of whack, particularly testosterone. Both men and women with diabetes tend to have low testosterone levels, which can reduce your sex drive. The risk of low testosterone is twice as high for men with diabetes, especially those who have type 2 or who are overweight, as it is for men without the disease.

Ways to revive your sex life after diabetes

The best way to help bring your sex drive back to life after diabetes is to properly manage your condition. If you’re a person with diabetes who’s experiencing low libido or sexual dysfunction, make sure to check your blood sugar to determine whether the treatment plan you’re on is working to properly manage it.

Of course, diet is very important to keep your blood sugar in check. And some diets have been shown to reverse the condition. Researchers from Newcastle University found that following a low-calorie diet for eight weeks reverses type 2 diabetes.

If your diabetes is under control and you’re still having problems in the bedroom, it’s time to look at other treatment options.

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There are drugs that increase blood flow to the penis — but be aware that they are not without their side effects. Some foods and nutrients can help do the same, without those side effects, for both men and women by improving blood flow.

And as far as low libido in men, if it’s caused by low testosterone, there are also options there to help increase levels that can renew their desire for sex — including combatting estrogen dominance. Surprisingly following the keto diet has been found to improve testosterone levels.

But with women, it’s not quite as simple. For one thing, diabetes isn’t the only condition that can cause a woman to lose her libido. For instance, menopause often brings her sex drive to a screeching halt thanks to low estrogen levels and increased dryness and thinning of the vaginal walls. And menopause also brings with it an increased risk of developing diabetes, making it difficult to know which is the culprit in stealing a woman’s sexual desire.

If low estrogen is an issue, estrogen replacement therapy, preferably in the form of cream or mouth lozenge, as well as natural estrogen supplements can help restore vaginal health and lubrication. There are also lubricants a woman can use to make sex more comfortable and pleasurable.

In the case of low testosterone, while some limited studies have shown that giving women testosterone can increase their sexual desire, more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness.

Finally, if you’re a man or woman and you find that pain from diabetic neuropathy is interfering with your sex life, you may want to add a vitamin D supplement to your daily regimen. Studies show people with painful diabetic neuropathy tend to have lower vitamin D levels than those without neuropathy, or whose neuropathy is painless.

Sources:

1. 10 signs that may indicate you are at risk for diabetes — Voyage Healthcare

2. Diabetes – long-term effects — Better Health Channel

3. Sexual Dysfunction and Disease — Cleveland Clinic

4. Sex and Diabetes — American Diabetes Association

5. How does diabetes affect your sex life? — Medical News Today

6. Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to Painful Diabetic Neuropathy — MedPage Today

The post The diabetes side effect no one talks about appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Yet, not all types of sexual activity add up to the same satisfaction for women as men.

Here’s how to get the most out of your sex life after 65…

Let’s get it on

The research, performed by a team from Anglia Ruskin University and University College London, specifically delved into the question of whether or not having more sex can lead to greater levels of enjoyment and satisfaction in your life.

And if so, is intercourse the key, or can just fooling around deliver lasting benefits.

The team surveyed over 6,800 participants with an average age of 65 to determine their level of sexual activity over the past 12 months versus their self-reported sense of wellbeing and happiness.

And they found that sexual activity helps older people live more fulfilling lives.

In fact, seniors who reported any type of sexual activity over the year also benefitted from higher scores of enjoyment and satisfaction in their lives as a whole compared to individuals who weren’t sexually active.

Mars vs. Venus

However, the study did reveal differences between men and women when looking at which types of sexual activity delivered that lasting feeling of joy.

According to the researchers, for senior women, intimate touching and kissing leads to improved wellbeing. And women who reported increased levels of these activities also felt emotionally closer to their partner during sex.

However, intercourse didn’t significantly change their overall levels of enjoyment in life one way or the other.

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As you might not be surprised to hear, men reported completely different results and were much happier in their sex lives and enjoyed their lives more overall when they had intercourse more frequently.

So it turns out that while both women and men experience more fulfillment in their senior years when sex is a regular part of their lives, affectionate acts are the go-to for women, while men benefit the most when intercourse is part of the picture.

What do the researchers recommend?

They point out that, while your doctor might not bring up the subject of your sex life with you during a regular visit, if you’re experiencing problems, like lack of libido, difficulty with erections or painful intercourse, you should talk to your doctor.

If you’re experiencing issues, remember that certain medications could also be to blame, including those used to treat high blood pressure.

They also say not to be afraid to try new positions and explore different types of sexual activities in order to improve your enjoyment. And, as an added bonus, making sex a regular part of your life also, increases circulation to your genitals — something that helps add to your sexual pleasure all on its own.

Speaking of circulation — improving it can be as simple as eating the right foods. Consider eating more beets or drinking beet juice to help your body produce the natural vasodilator, nitric oxide (NO). NO helps arteries open wide for stronger blood flow. In fact, enhancing NO is just one mechanism by which treatments for erectile dysfunction help men achieve healthy erections.

So enjoy yourself! Sex isn’t just for the 20-somethings, it can be part of a healthy and happy life as long as you want to do it!

Sources:

Study of nearly 7,000 older adults shows greater levels of enjoyment and wellbeing among those who report more frequent sexual activity — Study Finds

Sex in the Senior Years — WebMD

The effect of sildenafil on nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation in healthy men —  Pharmacology and Therapeutics

The post Sex after 60: if you’re not doing it, you should be appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Another reason why this nutrient is a hot topic is that vitamin D deficiency is common which, given its critical role in overall health, is a big concern. I’m most interested in vitamin D for yet another reason: its involvement in increasing testosterone levels in men, as well as other general preventative health benefits.

Before I tackle the relationship between vitamin D and testosterone, I need to address several basics, which will clarify the bond between this vitamin and T.

Vitamin D: The basics behind the lost cure

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means it is absorbed through the small intestine with dietary fat and is stored in body tissues.

The best way to get vitamin D is from skin exposure to sunlight. That’s when a fascinating transformation process begins. When ultraviolet B rays hit your skin, a type of cholesterol naturally found in the skin, called 7-dehydrocholesterol, absorbs the ultraviolet B rays and is converted to cholecalciferol, the pre-vitamin form of vitamin D3. Cholecalciferol is transported to your liver, where it is metabolized and transformed into hydroxyvitamin D, aka 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25(OH)D. The kidneys then convert the 25(OH)D into dihydroxyvitamin D, aka 25(OH)2D, the form of vitamin D your body can use.

The required amount of “skin exposure” is different for different people, but generally, the body can produce 10,000 to 20,000 IU of vitamin D in the amount of time it takes for your skin to turn pink. You get the most bang for your buck when exposing a large area of unprotected skin (no sunscreen), such as your back, rather than just your face or arms. Factors such as time of day (best exposure time is between 10 AM and 3 PM), number of times per week of exposure (at least two to three times), skin type, where you live and age (older skin does not synthesize the vitamin well) also have an impact on the amount of vitamin D your body makes.

Vitamin D is also available from two other sources: diet and supplements. When you eat foods that contain vitamin D (e.g., fish such as salmon and herring, fortified beverages such as orange juice and non-dairy drinks, fortified cereals) or take vitamin D supplements, your gut sends the vitamin to your liver, where it is transformed into an active form. However, it’s not feasible to get all the vitamin D you need from food, so unless you are spending enough time outdoors year-round, you will likely need to take a vitamin D3 supplement.

What are normal levels of vitamin D?

Before I talk about normal vitamin D levels and how much vitamin D you need to maintain a healthy amount, you should have a handle on how much vitamin D you already have. Some symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can include aches and pain and general tiredness, but some people don’t experience any symptoms at all. People with a severe deficiency of vitamin D may experience bone pain and weakness, but again, not everyone has these symptoms.

If you think you may have a vitamin D deficiency, ask your doctor to check your vitamin D levels. This involves a simple blood test, which also can be ordered online through reputable laboratories. An optimum blood level of vitamin D, which will be displayed as 25(OH)D on your test results, is 50 ng/mL to 80 ng/mL, according to the Vitamin D Council and some other experts.

Personally, I advocate taking 5,000 IU+ daily (which is also endorsed by the Vitamin D Council). This figure is in dramatic contrast to the recommendation by the Food and Nutrition Board (the U.S. government), which is 600 IU for adults up to age 70 and 800 IU for older adults. If your vitamin D levels are very low, your doctor may prescribe a much higher dose for a short time (typically 50,000 IU) and then send you for another blood test to determine whether your dose should be adjusted.

According to the Mayo Clinic, you’d have to take 60,000 IU daily for several months to get anywhere near vitamin D toxicity.

Generally, people older than 50 need more vitamin D than do younger people. One reason is that as you age, your ability to convert ultraviolet rays to an active form of vitamin D declines, but your risk of BPH, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, serious prostate problems, and heart disease goes up. Aging men need to keep a sharp eye on their vitamin D levels and intake.

Can vitamin D increase testosterone concentrations in men?

The short answer is yes. Several studies suggest vitamin D can increase testosterone concentrations in men. A German research team, for example, gave 54 overweight but otherwise healthy men either a placebo (23 men) or 3,333 IU vitamin D per day (31 men) for 12 months. When the men entered the study, they were vitamin D deficient (average of 30 nmol/L or 12 ng/mL). All the men also participated in a structured weight loss program.

At the end of 12 months, the men who took vitamin D showed an increase in levels to an average of 86 nmol/L (34.5 ng/mL). These same men also had a small but significant increase in mean testosterone levels as well:

• Total testosterone, from 10.7 to 13.4 nmol/L
• Bioactive testosterone (free T plus T loosely bound to albumin), from 5.21 to 6.25 nmol/L
• Free testosterone, from 0.222 nmol/L to 0.267 nmol/L

The men who took a placebo didn’t show any significant changes in testosterone or vitamin D. Based on these findings, the authors concluded that vitamin D supplements might increase levels of testosterone.

More recently, researchers presented study results at the American Urological Association 2015 Annual Meeting explaining that low levels of vitamin D are significantly and independently associated with low levels of testosterone in healthy middle-aged men. They arrived at this conclusion after analyzing blood sample data from 824 men.

Vitamin D levels [25(OH)D] levels were less than 30 ng/mL in 68 percent of the samples, yet only about 11 percent of men with these insufficient levels were taking supplements of vitamin D. This suggests that most men are not aware of the importance of keeping their vitamin D levels up.

When they looked at T levels, the experts found that total testosterone levels were higher among men who had normal levels of vitamin D than in men who had lower levels. Even after the investigators adjusted the data for cardiovascular risk factors, men with low vitamin D levels “still had significantly lower total testosterone than those with normal total testosterone.”

How does vitamin D increase T levels?

Exactly how vitamin D increases testosterone levels or why a vitamin D deficiency is associated with lower T is still a mystery. In fact, at the American Urological Association 2015 Annual Meeting, one of the presenters, Mary Ann McLaughlin, M.D., from the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, noted that earlier research in mice has shown that testosterone levels were lower in animals who had their vitamin D receptors genetically deleted. This, she said, “suggests that there is something about testosterone synthesis that needs vitamin D.” Exactly what that “something” is, is not yet known.

However, the researchers associated with the German study came up with several ideas about how vitamin D increases T levels based on their findings and those of other investigators.

• Experiments in mice have indicated that those who don’t have receptors for the vitamin have abnormally low levels of testosterone.
• Your testicles have receptors for vitamin D, which suggests the vitamin has an important role in the function of this gland.
• Results of a 2013 cross-sectional study found a positive link between blood levels of vitamin D and both total and free testosterone in 1,362 men who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. The authors emphasized that “possible causality and direction of the vitamin D-testosterone association deserve further scientific investigation.”

Impact of vitamin D on estrogen levels in men

The impact of vitamin D on estrogen and men’s health occurs at several levels. For example, vitamin D is known as a signaling molecule, which means it plays a role in regulating various processes, such as calcium balance and bone health as well as male reproduction. Animal studies have shown that vitamin D is essential for estrogen signaling and ensuring sperm move efficiently.

The relationship between vitamin D, estrogen, and testosterone also is important.  In small amounts, male estrogen (estradiol) balances testosterone and plays a role in brain, bone, and sexual health. But when estradiol levels are elevated, as they often are in men who are overweight or obese, then there’s an imbalance between estradiol and testosterone, often resulting in weight and fat gain, muscle loss, reduced libido, and mood changes, and even an enlarged prostate and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Improving one’s vitamin D levels can help with weight loss and reducing estradiol levels, thus moving the estradiol: testosterone ratio toward a balanced state.

Yet one more link between estrogen, vitamin D, and men’s health involves prostate cancer. Research done in cancer treatment and prevention has shown that receptor sites for estrogen and vitamin D work together to promote optimal health. At the same time, there’s evidence that men who have genetically damaged receptors for estrogen and vitamin D are more likely to develop prostate cancer.

Why vitamin D is important for weight management in men

If you are overweight, chances are your T levels are lower than normal. The good news is that dropping excess pounds and managing your weight can give your testosterone levels a significant boost.

In a study of nearly 900 overweight, middle-aged men who had prediabetes, about 50 percent of them with low T levels who lost weight by making dietary and exercise modifications saw a 15 percent rise in their testosterone levels. These men didn’t do anything extraordinary — they simply exercised 150 minutes per week and consumed less fat and fewer calories. Their rewards were higher T levels and 17 fewer pounds after one year.

Vitamin D may also help with your weight management efforts. Evidence of this benefit comes from a study of 400 overweight and obese individuals who also were vitamin D deficient. All of them were placed on a low-calorie diet for six months, but two-thirds of them also took either 25,000 IU or 100,000 IU per month of vitamin D supplements.

At the end of six months, the people who had taken vitamin D had lost more weight and had a greater decrease in their waist size than people who had not taken the supplements.

Another example of a relationship between vitamin D and weight was presented at the American Urological Association 2015 Annual Meeting. Experts explained that men who have low vitamin D levels also tend to have a greater body mass index and a larger waist circumference than men whose vitamin D levels are normal.

So keeping vitamin D levels in a healthful range could be a win-win-win situation: weight loss plus a boost in testosterone levels and better overall health.

Other health benefits of vitamin D for men

I’ve already talked about the importance of vitamin D in increasing testosterone levels, but that’s not the end of the health benefits of vitamin D in men. Whether you want sustained strength in the gym and on the road, more brainpower in the boardroom, better performance in the bedroom, or other overall health benefits, you need to keep your vitamin D levels at optimal levels.

• Keeps your sperm healthy. If you want to keep those little guys in great shape, get enough vitamin D. Optimal levels of this nutrient are necessary to support male fertility and to maintain a healthy sperm count and high-quality semen.
• May have two roles in chronic inflammation. Experts have long believed a deficiency of vitamin D to be a contributing cause of chronic inflammation, a condition associated with serious health problems such as prostatitis, arthritis, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and more. Recent research, however, suggests that low vitamin D may be a consequence of chronic inflammation. In either case, maintaining a healthy level of vitamin D can be beneficial in managing chronic inflammation.
• Supports a healthy prostate. Vitamin D promotes overall prostate health and normal prostate size, which is critical for helping prevent both benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis. Maintaining optimal levels of vitamin D can help control levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). A deficiency of vitamin D also may increase your risk of prostate cancer.
• Promotes muscle strength and integrity. Vitamin D plays a role in promoting muscle strength and integrity in men of all ages. The nutrient has demonstrated an ability to improve muscle remodeling as well as muscle strength and gait along with a reduced risk of falls due to vitamin D’s direct impact on muscle cells.
• Boosts your immune system and ability to fight infections. Yes, vitamin C is good for fighting infections, but don’t forget vitamin D! In fact, there are a growing number of studies indicating that vitamin D can be helpful in treating infections as well, such as frequent respiratory tract infections. In addition, low vitamin D levels are associated with a significantly greater risk of flu and sinusitis. Overall, vitamin D has a positive impact on immune response and can be beneficial for individuals who have autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease.
• Helps support erectile function. Since vitamin D is associated with better cardiovascular health and erectile function and blood flow have an intimate relationship, it seems reasonable to assume that this nutrient could also help support erectile function. Some experts have proposed that vitamin D deficiency contributes to erectile dysfunction (ED). Evidence to help support this comes from a study that showed a significant number of men with erectile dysfunction had a vitamin D deficiency and that ED was more common among men who had artery flow problems.
• Maintains bone health. A classic role of vitamin D is its ability to help your body absorb calcium and phosphate, which are necessary for building and maintaining strong bones.
• Protects brain function and against Alzheimer’s disease. If you want to help maintain brain function and memory, keep your vitamin D levels up. Lower intake of vitamin D has been associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, there is “mounting evidence of the detrimental effects” of a vitamin D deficiency on brain function.

Takeaways

Firstly get tested and know your personal levels. Aim for 50 ng/mL to 80 ng/mL. Take to your doctor about taking a super-dose of vitamin D (50,000 IU’s) for a short period if you are below 50 ng/mL – and then going on a maintenance dose of ~5000 IU a day. You may want to also consider a general testosterone support supplement for overall daily health. Vitamin D has so many proven health benefits it’s one vitamin that I consider essential for improving men’s health.

The post When low testosterone is actually a simple vitamin problem appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Adequate thyroid hormone is essential for clear thinking, intestinal function and optimal blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as a healthy immune system. It also helps improve the function of other endocrine glands so they’re better able to produce their hormones — including cortisol and sex hormones.

It can be difficult for doctors to diagnose hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid isn’t producing enough hormone to properly regulate these functions. Symptoms of low thyroid function are varied and can be associated with several other conditions.

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For instance, people with hypothyroidism often report sensitivity to cold, or cold hands and feet, which can point to poor circulation. They sometimes have high cholesterol, which is normally associated with cardiovascular issues. They can experience stiff or painful joints, which can indicate arthritis. Their memory and concentration difficulties could be attributed to cognitive illnesses like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. And if they’re having symptoms of depression or anxiety, it could be ruled purely a mental health issue.

There’s another symptom of low thyroid function that is often overlooked or misattributed to other causes — one that many people can be reluctant to talk to their doctors about….

Is your thyroid killing your sex drive?

Because the thyroid controls the way your cells use energy, when it’s not working right, those problems could show up in the bedroom for both women and men.

For instance, if your hypothyroidism is causing you to feel fatigued and depressed, it can lower your sex drive. It can also lead to low testosterone, another contributor to reduced libido. And even though testosterone is usually considered a male hormone, women produce it too. So low levels of testosterone can hurt the sex drive in both men and women.

As far as women go, thyroid dysfunction could reduce vaginal lubrication, making sex painful or uncomfortable. And this can lead to a reduced desire for sex.

And for men, there are a couple of additional sex-related issues hypothyroidism can cause. One is delayed ejaculation, which is when a man either cannot ejaculate at all or can only ejaculate after having sex for 30 or 40 minutes or longer.

Then, there’s the issue of not being able to get or maintain an erection. Erectile dysfunction can result from the hormonal imbalance created by hypothyroidism.

Healthy thyroid, healthy sex drive

Fortunately, all these problems can be resolved by treating hypothyroidism. If you’re having any of these issues, you should talk to your doctor about them and have them test your thyroid function.

If you’re diagnosed with hypothyroidism, the doctor will prescribe medication to supplement your thyroid. That should get your thyroid hormone levels back to normal.

But what if the test shows your thyroid is functioning normally? Unfortunately, doctors usually rely on a blood test to determine thyroid function, and this test can often miss more subtle indicators of sluggish thyroid function.

If you’re suffering from sexual problems combined with any or all of the symptoms of low thyroid function listed here, it might be a good idea to combine a series of basal body temperature measurements with urine testing of your thyroid hormone level. If your basal body temperature is consistently below the range of 97.8 to 98.2 degrees Fahrenheit, and your urine thyroid hormone level remains low over a 24-hour period, you likely have low thyroid function.

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Supporting your thyroid naturally

If your thyroid function is low, but not low enough to warrant thyroid hormone treatment, there are steps you can take to help support it.

First, take a good look at your diet and make sure you’re getting enough iodine, which is essential for proper thyroid function. As long as you’re eating a healthy diet that includes iodine-rich foods like iodized salt, fish and seafood, seaweed and dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese, your iodine levels should be fine. However, if you don’t consume these foods because of dietary restrictions or allergies, you may want to consider supplementing.

It’s also important to get enough selenium since the thyroid has the highest concentration of selenium in the body. Too little selenium is associated with hypothyroidism and difficulty producing thyroid hormones. Some rich sources of selenium include Brazil nuts, fish, meat, poultry, cottage cheese, eggs, brown rice and sunflower seeds.

Also, there are a number of foods that contain substances known as “goitrogens” that can interfere with both iodine absorption and thyroid function. They include cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, as well as turnips, kale, spinach, papaya and radishes. Other foods found to slow thyroid function include pine nuts, peanuts, flax seeds, millet, sweet potatoes and some fruits like strawberries, peaches and pears.

Sources:

How Thyroid Problems Might Be Hurting Your Sex Life — Penn Medicine

Iodine — National Institutes of Health

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Whatever the reason, it may be a good idea to consider bringing sex back into your life — because evidence shows that not having sex can have repercussions for your well-being…

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10 things that happen when you stop having sex

1. Your mental health may suffer.

Having an orgasm during sex releases a burst of serotonin, which helps improve mood, fend off depression and lower stress and anxiety levels. Not having sex deprives you of that serotonin boost, leaving you anxious, moody and irritable.

A lack of sex can also hurt your sense of self-worth and intimacy with your partner. Sex increases feelings of connection and makes you feel nurtured and wanted.

2. Your risk of heart disease could rise.

If you don’t already have heart disease, having regular sex is a great way to lower your odds of developing it. According to one study, the risk of cardiovascular disease was higher in men who have sex once a month or less than in men who reported having sex twice a week or more. And separate research indicates women who report satisfying sex lives have a lower risk of heart attack.

3. Your blood pressure could go up.

Sex is aerobic exercise, so it’s true that your blood pressure rises during sex, typically peaking at around 160/90. That’s comparable to doing a brisk run for a few minutes. But it quickly goes down afterward. And engaging in sex on a regular basis can actually help keep your blood pressure down to a healthy level.

4. You may not get as much exercise.

As noted above, sex qualifies as exercise. It typically burns about 5 calories a minute, the equivalent of taking a brisk walk. That may not seem like much, but like all activity, it adds up over the long run. And you use more oxygen during sex as well, which helps improve your aerobic capacity.

Plus, since having regular sex can improve your mental outlook, you may be more likely to engage in other forms of exercise like running, hiking, biking or swimming.

4. You may be more forgetful.

Regular sex has been associated with improved memory in both young and older age groups. One study of adults between the ages of 50 and 89 found those who engaged in regular sexual activity had higher scores on tests of memory and executive function than those who were sexually inactive. And another in women between the ages of 18 and 29 found sex improved their ability to recall words they were asked to memorize.

Having regular sex may also delay the onset of menopause. This may further protect women’s cognitive abilities since hormone changes during menopause has been linked to Alzheimer’s.

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5. You may catch colds more easily.

Research shows that weekly sex appears to boost immunity compared with those who have sex less frequently. This could be in part because sex increased levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), a substance in the body that fights germs like the ones that cause colds and flu. In one study, researchers found that people who had sex once or twice a week had a 30 percent increase in IgA compared to those who have sex less frequently or not at all.

6. You may not sleep as much (or as well).

Sex helps your body release a bunch of hormones like prolactin, dopamine and oxytocin that promote deep, restful sleep. Plus, the endorphin rush you get from sex also helps you feel sleepy afterwards.

In men, orgasm “switches off” the area of the brain associated with mental activity, helping them to sleep. And for women, sex gives them an estrogen boost, which contributes to better REM sleep.

7. Your aches and pains may persist.

If you find yourself fighting nagging aches and pains from your joints and muscles, sex is a great way to distract you from them. Better yet, the endorphins and other hormones released when you orgasm can help diminish head, back and leg aches. In one study, 60 percent of participants with migraines and 37 percent of those with a cluster headache reported an improvement in their pain after engaging in sex.

Sex also has been found to help with arthritis-related pain. Its gentle, range-of-motion movements help minimize pain and inflammation and help support your joints by strengthening the surrounding muscles.

8. Abstinence now could contribute to sexual problems later.

If you stop having sex, you could experience trouble when you go to resume sexual activity down the road. Some research shows men who have sex less than once a week are twice as likely to have erectile dysfunction as those who have sex weekly.

For women, menopause often brings about a thinning of their vaginal tissue that results in shrinkage and dryness. This can make having sex painful. The best way to help slow that process? Continue having regular intercourse. Sex increases pelvic blood flow, and that helps keep vaginal tissue healthy.

9. Your pelvic floor may lose strength.

Not having sex can weaken your pelvic floor, which in women could lead to bladder leakage. If you’re having regular sex, you’ll be giving those muscles a great workout. Orgasm causes your pelvic floor muscles to contract, which makes them stronger.

10. You may be more stressed out.

Not having sex can contribute to stress. You may worry about how the lack of sex is impacting your relationship, which adds to your stress burden. By having sex regularly with your partner, you’ll be encouraging your body to release “feel-good” hormones that help ease that stress and promote feelings of closeness, happiness and well-being.

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Easing back into sexy

There are obvious benefits to maintaining an active sex life. But if you’ve been out of the game for a while, tread slowly…

If you’re looking to resume sexual activity after not having sex for a while, the first thing to do is determine if you have any existing problems that could interfere. This sex audit could help you identify any physical or psychological issues you’re having with sex.

Once these problems have been addressed, have a frank conversation with your partner about what you do and do not want from sex. And don’t feel like you have to jump right back into intercourse — start with things like touching, cuddling and kissing. Once you’ve re-established that layer of physical intimacy, it will feel natural and easy to resume full-on sexual activity.

Sources:

What Happens When You Stop Having Sex — WebMD

This Is What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Having Sex — Well + Good

Is Sex Dangerous If You Have Heart Disease? — Johns Hopkins Medicine

4 Ways a Healthy Sex Life Supports Good Mental Health — The Relationship Place

Frequent Sex is Linked to Better Memory — Indiana University

Sex on the brain! Associations between sexual activity and cognitive function in older age — Age and Ageing

The 10 Health Benefits of Regular Sex — The Mews Practice

Don’t Let Arthritis Ruin Your Sex Life — AARP

Best Ways to Prevent (and Lessen) Vaginal Atrophy — HealthCentral

The post 10 health consequences of not having sex appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But with that improvement in the bedroom, there has been speculation that these drugs used to treat ED — including, Viagra, Cialis, Levitra and Stendra — may be associated with vision problems.

Now that concern has been confirmed for the first time by a large study published in JAMA Ophthalmology…

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3 eye conditions erectile dysfunction drugs increased

Researchers looked to the insurance claim records of 213,000 men in United States who had not previously experienced any eye problems before they began regularly using ED medications.

They were able to compare the records of men using the ED medications who developed three specific conditions with those of men who didn’t use the medications. After accounting for other conditions that could also be associated with eye problems, they found the men taking the ED medications were…

• 2.58 times more likely to develop Serous Retinal Detachment — a condition that causes a collection of fluid behind the retina. Symptoms include the sudden appearance of floater or spots in the field of vision and flashes of light.
• 1.44 times more likely to develop Retinal Vascular Occlusion — a condition that includes a blood clot in the veins or arteries of the retina. Symptoms include sudden loss or blurring of visions and dark spots or floaters.
• 2.02 times more likely to develop Ischemic Optic Neuropathy — a condition that causes compromised blood supply to the optic nerve. Symptoms include loss of central vision.

According to Dr. Mahyar Etminan, associate professor in the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of British Columbia faculty of medicine, “These are rare conditions, and the risk of developing one remains very low for any individual user. However, the sheer number of prescriptions dispensed each month in the U.S.—about 20 million—means that a significant number of people could be impacted.”

He added, “Regular users of these drugs who find any changes in their vision should take it seriously and seek medical attention.”

Blood flow there, but not everywhere

The researchers add that the study showed only the statistical association between eye conditions and use of Viagra, Cialis, Levitra or Stendra. It did not prove that the drugs cause these conditions.

But it’s important to note that the way ED drugs function may explain the connection…

“These medications address erectile dysfunction by improving blood flow, but we know that they can also hinder blood flow in other parts of the body,” said Dr. Etminan. “So although our study doesn’t prove cause-and-effect, there is a mechanism by which these medications could conceivably lead to these problems. The totality of the evidence points toward a strong link.”

Dr. Etminan and his team hope these findings will prompt pharmaceutical manufacturers to address the issue in the information provided to patients in the form of “warnings.” That way if a user of the drug notices any vision changes they will seek help to avoid serious consequences to their vision.

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Moving forward

If you’ve experienced changes in vision, talk to your prescribing doctor. But most importantly, see an ophthalmologist right away.

Erectile dysfunction is often a vascular condition caused by damage to the endothelium (the lining of blood vessels) and is also an important indicator or marker of cardiovascular disease. 

This means that problems with having an erection may be a sign of serious trouble. In fact, an Australian study involving more than 95,000 men found “the men with severe ED and without known cardiovascular disease (CVD) had a relative 35 percent greater risk of hospitalization for all CVDs and a relative 93 percent elevated chance of all-cause mortality, compared to those with no erectile problems.”

Be sure to have your heart checked if you’re experiencing problems in the bedroom, and consider some heart-healthy lifestyle changes, including exercise, diet and supplements.

Sources:

Study shows strong link between erectile dysfunction medications and vision problems — The University of British Columbia

Risk of Ocular Adverse Events Associated With Use of Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors in Men in the US — JAMA Network

The post Common erectile dysfunction drugs tied to vision problems appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It’s also an eating plan that can help you control your appetite, lose weight and even improve your blood pressure and triglycerides.

But before you jump on the protein bandwagon, there’s something you should know.

For men, eating a diet with too much protein and too few carbs can have a dark side — one that leads to low levels testosterone levels and sperm count, as well as a higher risk of erectile dysfunction.

That’s because according to a study from researchers at the University of Worcester high protein diets can play havoc with the body’s hormones, including cortisol and testosterone…

Reducing testosterone by more than one-third

The researchers analyzed data compiled from 27 separate studies involving a total of 309 men, some who followed a high protein, low carb diet and some who ate a more traditional diet higher in carbohydrates.

And what they found will have men everywhere rethinking how much protein they have on their dinner plates.

The results showed that men, whose diets consisted of more than 35 percent protein, experienced a whopping 37 percent drop in testosterone levels.

Yup, over a third of their normal testosterone was wiped out by their dietary choices alone!

According to the doctors at the renowned Cleveland Clinic, this drop in the essential male hormone can lead to major symptoms including:

• Low sex drive
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Memory and concentration problems
• Weak muscles
• Moodiness
• Osteoporosis
• Erectile dysfunction
• Infertility

Low testosterone can also cause loss of body hair, weight gain and breast development.

I don’t imagine that’s what most men who start a high protein eating plan think they’re signing up for!

Supporting healthy testosterone levels

So if you’re concerned about your testosterone levels, consider how much protein you’re eating on daily basis.

“Most people eat about 17 percent protein, and the high protein diets which caused low testosterone were all above 35 percent, which is very high,” says lead researcher Joseph Whittaker, a doctoral student at the University of Worcester. “So for the average person, there is nothing to worry about, however for people on high protein diets, they should limit protein to no more than 25 percent.”

Additional ways to promote healthy T levels include:

#1 – Enjoy the power of the beet

Author of “Your New Prime: 30 Days to Better Sex, Eternal Strength, and a Kick-Ass Life After 40“, Craig Cooper points out that beets and beet powder have been found to increase testosterone, as well as the blood flow that provides for strong erections.

Beets contain boron which is essential for the production of testosterone and increases the levels of free testosterone.

Another “beet secret” for male health is the dietary nitrates that produce nitric oxide (NO). NO encourages healthy blood flow and dilates blood vessels, including those in the penis.  

#2 – Watch out for medications

It’s also important to be aware of medications that may steal your testosterone. These include statins, antidepressants and even chemotherapy agents. Of course, do not stop any medication without speaking to your doctor about a suitable alternative.

#3 – Reduce the threat of estrogen dominance

Finally, be aware of any issues you may have with estrogen dominance as too much estrogen may suppress your testosterone levels. Sadly, this problem is becoming far too common thanks to the high levels of xenoestrogens in our everyday lives from things like industrial pollutants, processed foods, pesticides, plastics, coated cookware and even flavor additives.

You can support a normal hormone balance with a unique compound called Di-Indole Methane found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and in supplement form.

DIM works safely and naturally to help neutralize the xenoestrogens that can cause estrogen dominance, swinging the balance from bad estrogen to good by eliminating estrogen overload.

Remember, while a high-protein diet can come with numerous benefits, for men it can also lead to problems in and out of the bedroom.

Sources:

Low Testosterone (Male Hypogonadism) — Cleveland Clinic

Low-carbohydrate diets and men’s cortisol and testosterone: Systematic review and meta-analysis — Sage Journals

High-protein diets may decrease testosterone levels in men, leading to ED, fertility struggles — Study Finds

Foods that boost testosterone — Sisselman Medical Group

The post Low T and ED? Blame a high protein diet appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

In fact, while most of us think of the sex benefits men enjoy, like increased testosterone and maintenance of prostate health and penile length, women can grab big benefits too, such as:

• Delayed menopause
• Stress relief
• Improved immune function
• Better sleep

And studies have shown that for both men and women, sex in the senior years can lead to a happier, more fulfilled life.

But it’s not all rosy when it comes to what happens between the sheets.

That’s because while the incidence is low, sometimes people die during or shortly after sex.

Sudden cardiac death can and does happen during sex, no matter how enjoyable the time was.

In some cases, the culprit is the physical strain put on the body during sexual activity. For others, it’s due to prescription drugs, like those used to treat erectile dysfunction.

Of course, for most of us, the issue doesn’t even cross our minds until we start to get a little older. And for us women, we usually only worry about our male partners.

But the truth is, the risk might be far more widespread than we ever realized and isn’t only limited to men.

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Affecting younger people and women too

You see, past studies had found that the main risk level occurred in men — specifically, men nearing their 60s.

For example, a study out of Germany that looked back over a 33-year timeframe found sudden cardiac death occurred mainly in men, with an average age of 59. And research in the U.S., France and South Korea backed that up.

But hang onto your hats because more recent results from a study by a team from St George’s, University of London says something far different.

After investigating 6,847 cases of sudden cardiac death from 1994 to 2020, they found that 0.2 percent of them occurred either during or within one hour of sex to victims with an average age of just 38 years old.

More surprising — 35 percent of those cases were women.

The causes

So what was behind the deaths?

Well, according to the researchers, while sudden cardiac death during sex in older men is usually caused by a heart attack, that wasn’t the case in this study where the average age upon death was much younger.

Their results showed that in just over half of those who died during or just after sex, the heart suffered a sudden abnormal heart rhythm called sudden arrhythmic death syndrome or Sads. This abnormal heart rhythm can lead to a lack of oxygen to the heart, known as myocardial ischemia, which can result in cardiac arrest.

Aortic dissection, which occurs when the layers in the wall of a large artery tear and burst, was the second-largest cause.

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Caring for your heart to keep sex on your to-do list

The good news is that as we said previously, the incidence of sudden cardiac death during sex is still low.

But as long as it’s not zero, it’s important to take steps to keep your heart and blood vessels as healthy as possible, so that you can enjoy a healthy, active sex life. A few places to start, include:

• Don’t skip your yearly checkups.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet.
• Increase your omega-3s.
• Consume more garlic and olive oil with the foods you eat.
• Talk to your doctor about taking your blood pressure in both arms, instead of just one. If blood pressure is significantly different in both arms, though uncommon, it could be an indication of an aortic dissection — the same deadly condition that took the life of popular actor John Ritter in 2003 at the age of 54.

Also, be sure to listen for the tell-tale warning signals that your heart is getting ready to experience a full-blown stoppage. They’re not as stealthy as you might think.

Sources:

Death during sex isn’t just something that happens to middle-aged men, new study finds – The Conversation

The post Death during sex: Not just a danger for older men appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

That spark that can sometimes fade may not be as elusive and you think.

In fact, a study from researchers at Tel Aviv University seems to indicate that the solution may be as simple as spending a little time in the sun…

How does sunlight enhance sexual health?

Researchers have known for years if not decades now that ultraviolet or UV radiation from the sun affects sex hormones.

Sunlight has been proven to offer a testosterone boost in men. And it plays a major role in the “behavioral and hormonal regulation of sexuality.”

But the researchers decided to dig deeper into sunlight’s effect on our sex lives…

#1 – Increased attraction

First, the researchers used an animal model, exposing them to UVB rays from the sun.

And sure enough, female hormones rose significantly. Their ovaries enlarged. Attraction between the males and females skyrocketed. And you can guess what happened from there.

#2 – Regulation of sexuality

In stage two, the team repeated the experiment in the animal model.

But this time they removed a protein from the skin (p53) which activates pigmentation during sun exposure and protects against DNA damage due to the exposure.

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So what happened?

Hormone levels plummeted and sexuality declined.

In other words, the same mechanism that causes our skin to tan when we’re out in the sun is also responsible for igniting our passions.

#3 – Rising hormones plus rising passions

The final stage of the study included 32 human subjects.

Each participant was asked to answer a survey to determine their baseline levels of romantic passion and then spent time in UV light before rating their passion levels again.

Next, they were asked to avoid sunlight for 48 hours and then tan for just 25 minutes.

And in both cases, the results were clear…

With rising sunlight came rising passion!

Blood tests even confirmed that hormones like testosterone rose dramatically compared to the day before.

Research has also linked vitamin D deficiency to ED.

Put simply, if you want to get hot and heavy in the bedroom, it’s time to spend more time in the sun.

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What about vitamin D?

Obviously, not getting enough sun is bad for your libido. But too much can increase your cancer risk.

No worries. It turns out vitamin D, sometimes referred to as the sex vitamin, is likely a big part of the equation behind the amorous effects of sunlight…

According to Aly Dilks, a sexual health expert at The Women’s Health Clinic who told The Sun Online: “We know that people can suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in the winter, so the sun is hugely important for our wellbeing. In terms of the chemicals it stimulates, testosterone is the one most responsible for our sex drive and studies show that the sun is a great factor in its production.”

Luckily the effects of sunlight can be supplemented…

Researchers from the Medical University of Graz, Austria, found men with at least 30 nanograms of vitamin D per milliliter of blood had much more testosterone circulating than those lacking in the vitamin.

Women also produce small amounts of testosterone in their ovaries. Small quantities can also be produced in the adrenal glands. However, estrogen is an important driver of sexual desire in women — and vitamin D helps there too.

In a 2019 study, researchers found a “positive correlation” between vitamin D and estradiol. In fact the levels of the estrogen hormone directly correlated with their levels of vitamin D. Women found to have lower levels of vitamin D also had lower levels of estrogen.

If you find you still need a little help, look into combining vitamin D with these other two natural known bedroom boosters to get your romance back.

Sources:

Exposure to sunlight enhances romantic passion in humans — EurekAlert!

Why your sex life probably needs a little more vitamin D — New York Post

Estrogen, vitamin D may protect metabolic health after menopause — Medical News Today

The post Get the spark you need to revive the romance in your life appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

After all, many men take it as a sign that they’re getting older, along with those laugh lines and wrinkles and a receding hairline.

But if you’re experiencing problems in the bedroom that you’ve been ignoring, the results of a study of over 95,000 men in Australia has a wake-up call for you.

And the message comes down to this…

If you can’t get it up, it’s time to get a checkup!

How heart problems can play havoc down below

So why should you be worried if your erections are softer than they used to be or if you’ve been swapping time between the sheets for time in front of the television?

Because bedroom problems could be a signal that you have a serious heart problem.

In fact, the two most common causes of erectile dysfunction or ED are poor blood flow and plaque buildup within the arteries (which leads to poor blood flow in the first place).

Makes sense, right?

If you don’t have the blood flow you need, it can’t give you the lift and firmness you want in the bedroom. And here’s where things get worrying for you beyond sex.

Blood flow problems due to the plaque that clogs arteries also cause problems for your heart — increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. That’s why studies have proven that erectile dysfunction is a risk factor for eventual heart disease in men 55 years of age and younger.

However, for far too long, we didn’t know just how closely the two were connected and how big a warning sign ED really is…

The 3-alarm warning you should NOT ignore

And that’s where that study out of Australia comes in.

The researchers followed 95,038 men over age 45 for up to three years. They delved into all aspects of their health from their weight and age to blood pressure, smoking and drinking habits and the ability to get and maintain a strong erection.

And by the end of the study, they found that men with ED and had a 35 percent greater risk of hospitalization due to heart disease and a massive 93 percent higher risk of death from ANY illness!

In other words — that soft erection may not just keep you out of the bedroom, it could put you in the grave!

Consider bedroom problems heart problems

This means that if you have problems with ED, now is the time to act to protect your heart and your life. Visit your physician and get checked out. Get serious about lifestyle changes that can improve your vascular and heart health. That might include starting a regular exercise routine if you aren’t already staying active, as well as eating foods that promote a healthy heart — particularly ones know to boost blood flow.

Those are foods that contain flavonoids and anthocyanins, like blueberries and red cabbage. You’ll also need nitric oxide (beets are an excellent source) and vitamin K2, found most abundantly in natto, a fermented Japanese dish, and in good quantity in egg yolks, aged and curd cheeses, butter and organ meats.

Vitamin K2 and nitric oxide have lots of research that support their healthy properties…

#1 – Vitamin K2

Vitamin K2 is a health powerhouse that can help you live your best life.

That’s because its particular health properties promote heart and blood vessel health.

In fact, a study of almost eleven thousand volunteers over a decade found was that participants with the highest vitamin K2 intake had low calcium in their aortas — the biggest blood vessel in the body.

Plus, higher intakes of K2 led to:

• A 57 percent lower risk of death due to heart disease
• 52 percent lower risk of calcification of the arteries

To top it off, the results of the study showed that vitamin K2 also boosted arterial flow (that’s the blood flow we were talking about earlier), reduced total cholesterol, and raised good cholesterol.

#2 – Nitric oxide

The nitric oxide you get from beets can also deliver powerful support for blood flow and better heart health.

One study found that simply drinking beet juice lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure while improving blood vessel dilation for better blood flow.

This makes beets one of the top 10 foods to combat ED while promoting heart health.

Remember, if you have ED, don’t let it keep you down, or worse, allow a serious health issue to brew.

Sources:

How Does Atherosclerosis Cause Erectile Dysfunction? — USA Vascular Centers

Erectile Dysfunction Linked To Heart Disease — MedicalNewsToday

The post When erectile dysfunction is a three-alarm warning for your heart appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

You know what else is invigorating? Sex. If you’re a woman of a certain age feeling left out in that department, sleep may be the way to get it back, according to experts who understand what you’re going through.

One of the best tools to improve your health is a good night’s sleep. And now, a new study has given women everywhere one more reason to make sure that we’re getting our rest…

A clear link between poor sleep and sexual dysfunction.

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Common midlife problems

You see, during midlife and the time when a woman is transitioning into menopause, there are two common problems she’s likely to experience — sleep disorders and problems with sexual function.

Research shows that over 26 percent of women in this stage of life report significant sleep problems that hit the level of insomnia. That number goes up to almost 50 percent as she moves closer to menopause.

And during that same timeframe, a whopping 43 percent of women will also experience sexual problems.

Because of this, study after study has attempted to determine if there was a link between the two issues, but up to now, the evidence wasn’t clear.

The key to get your sex life back is quality sleep

Now it’s crystal clear, thanks to new research published in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society.

The research, which followed more than 3,400 women with an average age of 53 took a deep dive into the potential associations between both sleep quality (how well you sleep) and duration (how long you sleep each night) to compare them to the risk of sexual dysfunction.

And they found that when it comes to keeping your sex life sexy, it’s sleep quality for the win.

According to the research, while the duration of sleep did not affect women’s sexual function, good sleep quality was linked with improved sexual activity. And not getting enough good quality sleep may lead to problems between the sheets.

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How can you sleep better?

If you want to improve your sex life, you first have to improve your sleep.

Here are some easy tips to help:

1. Make melatonin part of your nightly routine

Melatonin is a hormone produced by your body to help you sleep by regulating your circadian rhythm. However, as you age, your natural production goes down, making it more important to supplement.

The recommended dose is 0.5 mg to 3 mg an hour to an hour and a half before bed.

2. Try some turmeric

Studies show that the anti-depressant action of turmeric works to boost your body’s natural production and action of serotonin and dopamine – two neurotransmitters that help you relax to get a better night’s sleep.

Additionally, curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties that could help ease aches and pains that keep you from falling and staying asleep.

3. Let your mind rest with L theanine

An amino acid found in green tea, L-Theanine helps you relax.

The reason why is the positive effect it has on those brain chemical messengers — neurotransmitters — that regulate stress, sleep and mood. Like turmeric, it also supports the production of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, so it can help you deal with issues like stress that keep you up at night.

So if you’re ready to take back your sex life and enjoy your time in the bedroom, focus on getting the sleep you need. And if things work out as planned, you might not mind delaying your bedtime for your revitalized sex life from time to time.

Sources:

Sleep and Chronic Disease — CDC

Antidepressant activity of curcumin: involvement of serotonin and dopamine system — SpringerLink

The acute effects of L-theanine in comparison with alprazolam on anticipatory anxiety in humans — NIH

Safety and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin: a component of turmeric (Curcuma longa) — NIH

Melatonin: How Much Should I Take for a Good Night’s Rest? — Cleveland Clinic

A good night’s sleep could do wonders for your sex life — EurekAlert!

The post Sleep: The secret to getting your sex life back appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Or do we?

After all, when you think of high blood pressure, what comes to mind?

Well, for most people, the answer would be something like heart disease, stroke, heart attack, or maybe even an aneurysm.

And they would be right. But they’d also be missing something. That’s because not all of the dangers of out-of-control blood pressure are so well known.

Here are four health problems that could result from high blood pressure.

#1 – Kidney failure

High blood pressure has a profound and often deadly effect on your blood vessels that extends far beyond your heart. If your blood pressure is in the red zone, it can result in hardening and narrowing of the vessels that supply your kidneys, which play a vital role in ridding your body of waste and fluid buildup.

When this happens, the tiny structures in your kidneys called nephrons that work as your body’s filtration system are starved of the nutrients and oxygen-bearing blood they need to function properly. The longer this goes on, the more likely you are to suffer complete kidney failure.

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#2 – Eye problems

Just as high blood pressure affects blood flow to your kidneys, leading to long-term damage, your pressure problems can also reduce blood flow to both your eyes — specifically to your retina and optic nerves.

This can result in blurred vision at the lower end of the spectrum or even total vision loss at the extreme end. High blood pressure can even cause a buildup of fluid beneath the retina, leading to scarring and increased vision problems.

#3 – Sexual problems for both men and women

No matter what your sex, high blood pressure can lead to problems in the bedroom.

For men, the lower blood flow that comes with high blood pressure, includes the blood flow your penis needs to not only get but keep a strong, healthy erection. High blood pressure problems in women can mean a reduced sex drive, lack of arousal and even difficulty climaxing.

#4 – Bone loss

Finally, high blood pressure can even weaken your bones over time, leaving you at risk for fractures from even otherwise small falls or injuries. That’s because people with high blood pressure actually excrete more calcium in their urine than those with normal pressure, depriving their bones of the mineral they need to remain strong.

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Keeping your blood pressure healthy for life

Clearly, high blood pressure is dangerous to far more than just your heart.

This means that if you want to stay total body wellness, maintaining a healthy pressure is the way to go.

Here’s what the experts recommend to keep your blood pressure in the green zone:

#1 – Exercise regularly

Exercise is so important to keep your blood vessels and your blood pressure healthy that the Mayo Clinic dubs it “A drug-free approach to lowering high blood pressure.”

Just by becoming more active, you can lower your systolic blood pressure (the top number in your reading) by an average of four to nine mm Hg. That makes exercise just as effective as some blood pressure medications.

The key is to do a combination of aerobic activity and flexibility and strengthening exercises each week. For aerobics, you can choose anything from household chores and walking to swimming, jogging, and playing tennis.  For stretching and strengthening, add in yoga or hit the weight machines.

#2 – Diet wisely

While the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is widely recommended for controlling high blood pressure, it is possible to maintain healthy blood pressure with small, simple changes to your daily eating habits.

And one of those options is to add more prebiotic fiber to your diet, like:

• Chicory root
• Leeks
• Onions
• Asparagus
• Dandelion greens
• Konjac root

Adding more beets or beetroot to your meals is another way to keep your blood pressure healthy. Beets are a great way to amp us the nitric oxide production in your blood vessels, helping them to relax. And when that happens, blood flows more smoothly and your heart doesn’t have to pump so hard, which equals lower blood pressure.

#3 – Supplement strategically

Finally, certain supplements can help you support healthy blood pressure for life, including:

• Omega-3s — Studies have backed up the power of the omega-3s found in fish oil to not only keep blood pressure optimal, but to lower it. I like krill oil, which delivers high levels of these essential fatty acids, without the worry of the toxins found in other fish sources.
• Vitamin D3 — 5,000 IU per day of D3 is recommended to keep your blood pressure on track.
• CoQ10 — Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10 is credited with reducing blood pressure an average of 12 to 25 points. The magic number for dosing? 55- 60 mg of CoQ10 per day.
• Beet powder — This goes back to what we said under the diet section. Beets are key to nitric oxide production to keep your blood vessels relaxed. But if you don’t see yourself eating the root veggies daily, a fermented beetroot powder is a great way to go.

Keeping your blood pressure healthy keeps your whole body healthy. So use the tips above and start working toward better blood pressure today.

Sources:

What High Blood Pressure Can Do To Your Body — WebMD

Exercise: A drug-free approach to lowering high blood pressure — Mayo Clinic

HOW TO ‘BEET’ HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE — Easy Health Options

THE MOST IMPORTANT NUTRIENT FOR LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE — Easy Health Options

5 SUPPLEMENTS FOR NATURALLY HEALTHY BLOOD PRESSURE — Easy Health Options

The post 4 serious but lesser-known dangers of high blood pressure appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

However, while those occasional ups and downs may be nothing to worry too much about, if you’ve found that your libido is chronically lagging, there could be something more going on.

And even though it’s easy to just fall into a rut, a healthy sex life has too many benefits to give up on…

Did you know that for women, having sex often may actually delay the onset of menopause?

For both men and women, a healthy sex life means:

• A sharper mind
• Reduced heart disease risk
• Better blood pressure

That’s why we’ve put together a list of seven of the top sex-drive killers that could be to blame for your lack of interest in the bedroom…

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#1 — Stress

Stress can quickly kill any sexy feelings you used to have. In fact, whether it’s issues at home, the office or in your relationship, stress can quickly take a toll on your sex life. This means that often one of the first steps to restoring a healthy sex drive is to find effective ways to manage your stress.

This can be as simple as going for a run, taking a hot bath, reading a good book or practicing meditation.

#2 — Alcohol

Some people feel that a little alcohol can grease the wheels so to speak and help get that bedroom time started. But while one drink might be OK for you, too much can sink your sex drive.

That’s why it’s important to limit the amount of alcohol you consume before hitting the sheets.

#3 — Lack of sleep

Remember that example that we talked about earlier about how new parents tend to go through a period of decreased sex drive? Well, it’s about more than simply having kids and being busy.

Much of those libido issues can center around a simple lack of sleep since fatigue can quickly take sex off the table. So, if you’re feeling like your libido has left the building, take a look at your sleeping patterns and any trouble you have falling or staying asleep. It’s also important to consider conditions like sleep apnea that could be adding to your libido problems.

#4 — Medication

It’s well known that a number of types of prescription drugs can put a damper on your desires. Some of the tops culprits include:

• Finasteride is commonly used for an enlarged prostate or hair loss
• Antidepressants such as SSRIs that interfere with arousal
• Blood pressure medications can interfere with erections and ejaculation in men and decrease desire and cause difficulty in achieving orgasm in women

If you’re taking any of these drugs and have seen a decrease in your libido, it’s important to consider talking to your doctor to see whether you can better manage your condition without side effects.

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#5 — Obesity

Being overweight or obese can kill your sex drive in numerous ways.  Not only can it damage your body image and lead to low self-esteem, obesity can also reduce testosterone levels and lead to inflammation throughout your body.

This is why many men find that obesity and erectile dysfunction go hand in hand.

#6 — Low T

Testosterone is the main male sex hormone. And as men age, levels of this hormone can drop which can lower your sex drive. Low T can even reduce your ability to have satisfying sex.

Luckily there is a treatment for Low T plus natural ways that can help boost your levels like:

• Getting enough sleep
• Exercising
• Reducing stress
• Raising your vitamin D levels
• Eating a balanced diet of whole foods, balanced between fats, carbs and proteins

#7 — Estrogen dominance

Just like low levels of testosterone can kill your libido, high levels of estrogen, can cause both men and women to lose interest in sex and interfere with sexual desire.

Sadly, estrogen dominance has become more and more common thanks to man-made chemicals found in our air, water, food, homes and even automobiles called Xenoestrogens. Since they act like estrogen in your body, they can disrupt your natural hormone balance.

A natural way to promote healthy hormone balance is to get adequate amounts of Di-Indole Methane (DIM) in your diet or through supplementation. DIM, a compound found in cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, latches on to the fake estrogens and removes them from the body. DIM supports more energy, a healthy weight, sound sleep, firm skin, strong muscles and a healthier sex drive.

There’s no age limit on enjoying a healthy sex life. It has too many health benefits of its own to give it up. So, heed the tips above, and don’t take a lackluster libido lying down…

Sources:

1. How do you boost testosterone naturally? — MedicalNewsToday
2. How does testosterone affect sex drive? — WebMD
3. Men: Is Obesity Affecting Your Sex Life? — OAC
4. 7 Meds That Can Wreck Your Sex Life — AARP
5. Finasteride — WebMD
6. Will Taking Antidepressants Kill My Libido? — genesight
7. Lack of sleep ‘kills a man’s sex drive’, study concludes — The Telegraph
8. Alcohol Abuse and Your Sex Drive — destination hope
9. Is stress killing your libido? How to increase your sex drive — Global News
10. Low Libido And Erectile Dysfunction Treatment — Southern California Center for Anti-Aging
11. Sex Drive Killers Slideshow — WebMD

The post 7 reasons your sex drive (and your health) may be lagging appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It’s often said by annoyed women in rooms filled with mostly men… locker rooms, boardrooms, my living room when my husband and his friends watched football with a Corona in hand… clearly before the time of coronavirus.

But truth be told, there’s probably not nearly as much testosterone in those rooms as there should be. And it shows…

Why the testosterone shortage?

New research suggests that one out of four men over 30 have low testosterone (low T) levels. But only one out of every 20 men have clinical symptoms linked to such a deficiency… things like erectile dysfunction and a decreased sex drive. But low T puts you at risk in more places than the bedroom…

Testosterone is the elixir of life, an antidote to the worst health issues that plague us today — heart problems. You might think it’s just men who need to protect their testosterone levels as much as possible. But women need it too… but only about 1/10th as much.

Unfortunately, modern medicine sets the acceptable range for men’s testosterone between 270 and 1,070 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL)… regardless of age. That’s a very wide range.

Following this logic, you could be in your 40s or 50s with a testosterone level of 280… a number that should only be acceptable for a man in his 80s or 90s… but because you’re in the “normal” range your doctor will tell you you’re good to go.

This is not unlike thyroid hormone… just because you’re in the normal range according to your doctor doesn’t mean it’s enough to get the job done. And here’s why…

A very protective hormone

Testosterone, a very protective and anti-aging hormone,

Testosterone reduces the tendency of blood to clot, reduces cholesterol and triglycerides, reduces blood glucose levels and decreases visceral fat mass. It is also an antagonist to estradiol (estrogen), preventing it from causing feminizing of the male body and bone loss in women.

You already know testosterone, for men and women, diminishes with age unless we protect it with supplementation.

But that natural decrease isn’t your only concern: Our highly acidic Western diet supplies us with too many estrogen mimics, which lead to the need for protection from estrogen dominance.

So, you can see, with everything you’re fighting against, why it’s not in your best interest to just settle for levels that are “in range” … but to strive for optimal levels. For men, the goal should be testosterone levels closer to 800 than 300. For adult women, the levels should be closer to 70 ng/dL.

Natural testosterone booster

DIM, short for di-indole-methane, is a plant compound that works against estrogen mimics by binding to excess estrogen in your body and flushing it out.

DIM also protects men from loss of testosterone by eliminating the fake estrogens that can lead to man boobs and belly fat, soft, flaccid muscles, fatigue and sexual dysfunction.

The good news for women… DIM doesn’t block natural estrogen production. Instead, it makes fake estrogens more soluble in your urine. It won’t upset levels if they’re already normal. For those who are living with Hashimoto’s or hypothyroidism, estrogen dominance can aggravate your uncomfortable symptoms. That’s why I take it every day in addition to my thyroid support supplement.

The best part is, you can get more DIM through diet or supplementation…

Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, bok choy and Brussels sprouts contain DIM. But as always with “modern” food production, there are fewer of these nutrients in our mass-produced “produce,” eliciting the need for supplementation with DIM for the protection of testosterone.

100 mg is a good amount of DIM. In order to counteract the constant pressure of the forces pulling testosterone from your body.

The post The common testosterone thief targeting men and women appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Now, looking back on it, not only is he thankful he never got his shot at the NFL, he wishes he had never even played. Yet every day, his body reminds him he did…

From shoulders that don’t want to raise his arms over his head anymore to knees that creak, pop, and go out and drop him, and a back that has landed him in surgery repeatedly… the injuries he sustained game after game are still with him so many years later.

And, according to a new study, ex-football players like my uncle could be facing one more big issue — erectile dysfunction or ED — thanks to the head injuries so many experience on the field.

Hormonal and sexual dysfunction

The study by researchers at Harvard Medical School was based on a survey of more than 3,400 former NFL players and represents the largest study of former professional football players to date. The team looked at self-reported concussion symptoms in relation to measures of ED and low testosterone.

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And, they found an undeniable link…

The team found a powerful association between a history of concussion and hormonal and sexual dysfunction, regardless of age. And, according to the researchers, that link remains after accounting for all other possible causes of ED, such as diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea.

In other words, while the study couldn’t prove a cause and effect link between concussion and ED or explain exactly how head trauma leads to ED, the link is there to stay.

However, the researchers do have a theory though of why a head injury could lead to erectile dysfunction. According to the team, one possible explanation for the link could be an injury to the brain’s pituitary gland that sparks a cascade of hormonal changes that end in lower testosterone levels and ED.

But, no matter what the mechanism behind the problems, it all came down to this…

Someone who has experienced concussion symptoms, including loss of consciousness, disorientation or nausea after a head injury, is far more likely to report low testosterone and erectile dysfunction – with those who have had the highest number of concussive symptoms at:

• 5 times higher risk of low testosterone, and
• 2 times higher risk of ED

Yup, a concussion, especially one that caused a number of symptoms, doubles your risk of ED. And, that holds true no matter when in your life the concussion occurred.

Related: 5 steps to speed recovery from concussions and traumatic brain injury

“We found the same association of concussions with ED among both younger and older men in the study, and we found the same risk of ED among men who had last played twenty years ago,” said study senior author Andrea Roberts, a researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “These findings suggest that increased risk of ED following head injury may occur at relatively young ages and may linger for decades thereafter.”

Know your risks

So, if you have ever experienced a head injury or concussion, it’s important to know your risks.

And, as the researchers point out, if you begin to experience symptoms of erectile dysfunction or low testosterone, see your doctor.

While you may think they are conditions you just have to live with, they’re actually treatable, especially when you get care early.

Sources:

1. Concussions linked to erectile dysfunction in former pro football players — Harvard Medical School

The post How your sports history could lead to erectile dysfunction problems appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Yup, every single year a half million men walk out of their doctor’s office after being told that they’re living with low T.

And, it’s likely that that number represents only a drop in the bucket of the true statistic since far too many men never even get tested and write off the symptoms from the lack of hormones as simple aging, including:

• Decreased energy
• Low libido
• Increased body fat
• Reduce bone mineral density
• Sleep disturbances
• Depression

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And, when you look at that list, it’s easy to see how that could happen.

Unfortunately, low T can lead to far more than feeling older and more out of shape than you would like. In fact, studies have linked low levels of testosterone in men to a higher risk of death from heart disease and other causes.

Even worse, those dangers don’t necessarily go away if you decide to turn to testosterone therapy.  According to Harvard Men’s Health Watch, men on testosterone therapy long-term, “Appear to have a higher risk of cardiovascular problems, like heart attacks, strokes, and deaths from heart disease.”

This means that while you need to get your testosterone back up to protect your heart, you also need to do it naturally, without testosterone therapy in order to get any heart health benefits.

And, one of the best ways to raise your testosterone is to lose weight.

Now, however, a brand new study is sending out a warning that if you plan to increase your testosterone by increasing your weight loss, there’s one diet you should avoid…

Fat and cholesterol hormones

Prior to this study, there was almost no research whatsoever on how specific diets could affect serum testosterone, so men had to simply take a shot in the dark when they chose a weight loss plan. So, a multi-university team set out to change that…

They analyzed data on more than 3,100 men from a nationwide health study and compared their diet to their serum testosterone level.

And, they found that one diet stood out — and not in a good way…

The team discovered that men on a low-fat diet had serum testosterone levels that were on average 14.5 points lower than men not on a fat-restrictive diet.

In other words, a low-fat diet and low testosterone go hand-in-hand.

Why?

Well, according to the researchers, it’s likely due to the fact that testosterone is a steroid hormone derived from cholesterol and therefore changes in fat intake have the ability to alter testosterone levels.

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Keeping the fat

This means that if you want to boost your testosterone, you need to lose the fat without skipping the fat.

This makes going keto a great choice for men needing to up their T levels since it can provide the weight loss you need while still keeping the fat and cholesterol (that serves as testosterone building blocks) as part of your diet.

In fact, studies have proven that the keto diet is a good way to raise testosterone levels while lowering body fat.

If you haven’t heard of keto before, here’s a quick crash course on the diet.

• Foods to avoid – Skip the sugars, grains, starches, fruits, beans, root vegetables, condiments, and alcohol.
• Foods to eat – Instead, base your meals on healthy oils, meats, fatty fish, eggs, butter, cream, unprocessed cheeses, nuts and seeds, avocadoes, and low-carb veggies (like cauliflower, asparagus, and peppers).

You can also boost testosterone levels by:

• Getting enough sleep – Just a week without enough sleep can drop your testosterone by a whopping 15 percent.
• Staying active – A study in the European Journal of Applied Physiology proved that higher levels of physical activity lead to higher T levels.
• Supplementing – Vitamin D supplements can also help boost your testosterone levels.
• Check your medications – Many prescriptions drug, including statins, contribute to drops in testosterone so be sure to consider the medications you’re taking.

In addition to these steps to enhance your natural testosterone production, it’s also important to address any estrogen issues as well since numerous man-made chemicals, called xenoestrogens, can upset your natural hormone balance. This can lead to a condition known as estrogen dominance.

Di-Indole Methane or DIM, a phytonutrient found in cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, bok choy, and cauliflower can help. It works by latching onto the “fake estrogens” in your body, neutralizing them, and carrying them safely out of your body — supporting healthy hormone balance.

As each year passes, you run a higher risk of suffering from low T as well as the symptoms and dangers that come with it. Protect yourself by choosing the right diet and using the tips above to raise your testosterone naturally while sweeping away the fake estrogens in your body that destroy your hormonal balance.

Sources:

1. Low-fat diet linked to lower testosterone levels in men — EurekAlert
2. Low Testosterone (Low-T) — MedicineNet.com
3. Low serum testosterone and mortality in older men — The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
4. Is testosterone therapy safe? Take a breath before you take the plunge — Harvard Health
5. The Effects of Ketogenic Dieting on Body Composition, Strength, Power, and Hormonal Profiles in Resistance Training Males — The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
6. Ketogenic diet and testosterone increase: Is the increased cholesterol intake responsible? To what extent and under what circumstances can there be benefits? — HORMONES
7. How do you boost testosterone naturally? — Medical News Today

The post The weight loss trap that tanks testosterone appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

In fact, regular sex goes hand-in-hand with a lengthy list of health benefits, including:

• A better immune system
• A lower risk of heart attack
• Better brain health
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduced pain
• Improved sleep

And, much, much more…

A healthy sex life can even help you look younger.

Yup, you read that right — studies have shown that people who have sex at least 4 times per week with a regular partner look 7 to 12 years younger than they actually are!

Now, if that’s not a reason to have more sex, I don’t know what is.

And now, a brand new study from researchers at University College London is giving us women one more reason to enjoy our sex lives more often…

Delaying menopause.

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Can you really delay menopause?

The study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, involved more than 3,000 women in their 40s and 50s. And, the researchers combed through more than a decade’s worth of data.

Here’s what it came down to…

The more you have sex, the less likely you are to go into menopause.

In fact, the results showed that women who have sex at least once a week are 28 percent less likely to experience menopause when compared to women who have sex less than once a month.

And, there’s more…

Even if you fall into the once-a-month category, you still reap significant benefits since monthly sex comes with a 19 percent lower likelihood of experiencing menopause compared to sex less than once a month.

This means that simply spending more time in the bedroom (or wherever you prefer to enjoy yourself) could keep you out of menopause longer.

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Why your sex life affects menopause

But, how does it work? How does having more sex delay menopause?

Well, according to the researchers, the link may be that if you’re having sex, your body is willing to put energy into ovulation, which keeps menopause further down the road.

“The findings of our study suggest that if a woman is not having sex, and there is no chance of pregnancy, then the body ‘chooses’ not to invest in ovulation, as it would be pointless,” said Megan Arnot, a Ph.D. candidate in anthropology at University College London and lead author of the study.

Of course, we all know that getting pregnant isn’t the only reason to have sex — not by a long shot. But, biologically speaking, it seems to matter when it comes to menopause. So, the likelihood of getting pregnant and whether your body continues ovulating might just go hand-in-hand.

That means if you are still pre-menopausal and want to stave off those hormone changes just a bit longer, you now have one more reason to spend more quality time enjoying your sex life.

And, remember, sex doesn’t have to stop at menopause or even later. To discover five ways to bring sexy back no matter what your age, check out Who says sex stops at 65? by my colleague, Margaret Cantwell.

Sources:

1. Having More Sex Can Delay Menopause, Study Finds — Best Life
2. The Surprising Health Benefits of Sex — OnHealth
3. Sexual frequency is associated with age of natural menopause: results from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation — Royal Society Open Science

The post Why sex can delay menopause appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

He looked to be a very fit mid-50 something and was there for testosterone replacement therapy.

Of course, I’m not proud of eavesdropping but I’m always interested in the health choices people are making and how it’s working out for them.

When I heard him say that he wanted to talk to the doctor before he got the testosterone pellets because he was concerned about a new study he had read, my research instincts kicked in and I had to learn more…

The growing trend

If you haven’t heard of it before, testosterone replacement therapy is a rapidly growing market – one that’s expected to hit $1 billion by 2024 in the U.S. alone.

Although it’s used in women as well, in men the therapy is supposed to:

• Support enhanced sexual function
• Overcome problems with erectile dysfunction
• Boost muscle growth
• Maintain adequate red blood cell levels
• Promote well-being

Put simply, it’s supposed to make men feel young again.

Unfortunately, that study the man was talking about has demonstrated that, just like HRT for women, male testosterone replacement therapy is not without its risks…

Strokes, mini-strokes, and heart attacks

The study, published in The American Journal of Medicine, found that aging men with low testosterone levels who take testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) are at a greater risk of experiencing an ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or myocardial infarction.

The risk of these strokes, mini-strokes, and heart attacks is especially great during the first two years of use.

In fact, after analyzing the medical records of over 15,400 men, the researchers found that users of TRT had a 21 percent greater risk of cardiovascular events compared with non-users.

“Our findings show that the use of TRT was associated with an increased risk of stroke, TIAs, or cardiac arrest during the first two years of use,” noted Christel Renoux, MD, PhD, Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital; and Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, and Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.

“There is limited evidence on the long-term clinical benefits of TRT to effectively treat the modestly declining levels of endogenous testosterone levels of aging but healthy men. We strongly recommend that clinicians proceed with caution when considering prescribing TRT and first discuss both the potential benefits and risks with patients.”

Natural help for maximizing male function

These increased risks show that for the majority of men, testosterone replacement therapy is not the way to go to remain vital and boost sexual function as they age. If you’ve been considering the therapy, natural options that can be used instead include:

#1 – Resistance training

While any type of exercise supports healthy testosterone levels, lifting weights is especially effective.  Studies show that increasing the weight load on the big muscle groups (hips and quads) boosts short-term testosterone production. So, it’s a good idea for men to hit the gym on a regular basis in order to feel that youthful vigor again.

#2 – Manage stress

When your stress hormone, cortisol, goes up, testosterone goes down. That means you should reduce the things in your life that cause stress. Better easier said than done, I know. This 2-minute trick can help with both, according to Dr. Amy Cuddy: Just two minutes in a “power posture” position results in an average 20 percent jump in testosterone and an average 25 percent drop in the stress hormone cortisol. Examples of power poses are reaching your arms overhead like a victor; leaning back in a chair with your hands behind your head like a confident CEO; standing with your hands on your hips, chest out, like Superman.

#3 – Avoid Xenoestrogens

Fake estrogens abound in the world around you and can throw off your hormonal balance, tipping you toward female rather than male hormones. These xenoestrogens are found in everything from plastic dishware and water bottles to pesticides and even your water system.

Avoid as many as possible by eating organic and using only glass, ceramic, or stainless steel kitchenware and a high-quality filtration system.

For those you can’t avoid, consider a Di-Indole Methane (DIM). DIM is a phytonutrient found in cruciferous vegetables that latches onto xenoestrogens and carries them safely out of your body to support healthy hormone balance.

Sources:

1. Testosterone Replacement Therapy Market to Grow US$ 1.0 billion by 2024 — MarketWatch
2. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can increase men’s risk of stroke and heart attack — EurekAlert!
3. Serum testosterone, growth hormone, and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels, mental reaction time, and maximal aerobic exercise in sedentary and long-term physically trained elderly males — International Journal of Neuroscience
4. Physically active men show better semen parameters and hormone values than sedentary men — European Journal of Applied Physiology
5. Variations in urine excretion of steroid hormones after an acute session and after a 4-week programme of strength training — European Journal of Applied Physiology
6. The effects of short-term resistance training on endocrine function in men and women — European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology
7. Acute suppression of circulating testosterone levels by cortisol in men — The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
8. Relationships between testosterone, cortisol and performance in professional cyclists — International Journal of Sports Medicine
9. Stress, adaptation, and disease. Allostasis and allostatic load — Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
10. P-Curving a More Comprehensive Body of Research on Postural Feedback Reveals Clear Evidential Value for Power-Posing Effects: Reply to Simmons and Simonsohn (2017) — Psychological Science
11. Xenoestrogen — ScienceDirect

The post Testosterone therapy may hurt men’s hearts appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

In fact, one particular hormone, testosterone, could be behind a number of symptoms you’ve been writing off as a normal part of the aging process. You see, although testosterone is the primary male sex hormone, it’s actually important to both men and women’s health.

It controls:

• Sex drive
• Body fat distribution
• Bone mass
• Muscle strength
• Red blood cell production

So, as your testosterone goes down, so does your libido and energy levels. Your muscles and bones can become weaker, your body fat can go up and you can end up with more rolls around your belly.

Both my husband and I had some “issues” in these areas, but we resolved them nutritionally (I’ll share more about that in just a bit).

But, if those symptoms I just mentioned sound familiar to you, and you’re a thrill-seeker, I’ve got a different kind of remedy to tell you about…

Taking a leap

A new study, published in the journal Biological Psychology, has found that you can raise your testosterone by skydiving…

Since testosterone is a hormone that is reactive to exciting and rewarding activities, researchers at Iowa State University theorized that it would rise in response to the experience of skydiving.

Past studies had looked only at stress response and the hormone cortisol when it came to taking a thrilling leap from a plane, but the Iowa team felt that since skydiving is both thrilling and stressful, that testosterone and cortisol could actually work together.

They studied the physiological and hormonal reactions of 44 skydivers, collecting saliva samples both before and after their jump to measure the two hormones. They also wore a device to monitor their heart rate before, during and after the jump.

They saw that testosterone increased leading up to the jump and then recovered afterward. This reactivity was especially pronounced among those who scored higher for being “thrill seekers.” The researchers also found that higher testosterone occurred along with greater cortisol reactivity and higher heart rate.

It’s important to note also that the reactivity of testosterone didn’t go up in men alone. In fact, the testosterone increase was similar across the board in both men and women.

And, according to the researchers, the rise in testosterone reactivity could have a greater physiological impact, with bigger benefits for women.

“Testosterone has gotten a bad reputation, but it isn’t about aggression or being a jerk. Testosterone helps to motivate us to achieve goals and rewards. For those who find skydiving desirable (and are willing to do it), testosterone reactivity reflects those thrilling reward,” said study author Elizabeth (Birdie) Shirtcliff, an associate professor at Iowa State University.

To jump, or not to jump

So, if you want to grab a quick testosterone shot, should your next outing include skydiving?

Well, Shirtcliff went on to say, “An important caveat is that the study was conducted on people who enjoy – and sought out – skydiving. The results should not be extrapolated to people where the thought of skydiving makes their stomach churn and palms sweat.”

It seems then that if you’re an adventurous spirit who would love to take a leap from 14,000 feet, the answer might be yes.

But if that doesn’t sound like you, it’s possible that other activities that give you that same sense of thrill could. Maybe your kind of excitement is riding roller coasters, jet skiing or swimming with dolphins.

Of course, there are less dramatic ways to support testosterone, like taking nutrients. Some known to help out with testosterone, include:

• Dimethylglycine (or DMG) – Created by your liver from the amino acid, glycine, DMG acts as a building block for your hormones.
• Di-Indole Methane (DIM) – A phytonutrient found in cruciferous vegetables, DIM helps keep your hormones balanced to prevent estrogen dominance.

You should also know that natural testosterone boost can be found by limiting alcohol intake, getting enough high-quality sleep and regular exercise, and by eating foods that encourage testosterone production such as beets, watermelon, Brazil nuts, oats, bananas, pineapple, and fish oil.

Loss of testosterone can cause multiple symptoms associated with aging from increased body fat and osteoporosis to lack of sex drive and even erectile dysfunction.

However, from thrill-seeking activities to natural supplements and food, there are easy ways to kick your hormone function back into gear and feel like you again.

Sources:

1. Understanding How Testosterone Affects Men — National Institutes of Health
2. New study reveals how skydiving impacts your testosterone and cortisol levels — PsyPost.org
3. 5 natural ways to increase testosterone — Easy Health Options®

The post Need a testosterone boost? Do something thrilling appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

They praised testosterone replacement therapy for many unwanted symptoms and signs associated with aging-related hormone declines and published their clinical practice guidelines.

So, you may be thinking you want to try it.

Let’s start at the beginning and see what makes someone a good candidate for testosterone replacement, review the potential adverse effects, and see what important blood tests to manage replacement therapy are necessary…

Who is a candidate for testosterone therapy?

According to a report in a 2014 Journal of Sexual Medicine, a synthesis of international experts emphasized the diagnostic limitations of using a serum testosterone level as the only reason for replacement therapy and revealed that symptoms of low testosterone are the foremost criteria for determining this.

What are the symptoms of low testosterone in men and also in women? Let’s look at these. In men, low testosterone is seen by the following symptoms and signs:

• Fatigue, overall lack of energy
• Difficulty with concentration and memory; brain fog
• Loss of motivation at work and in life, mildly depressed mood
• Irritability (increased anger, agitation, or loss of patience)
• Reduced muscle mass and strength
• Increased body fat, gynecomastia (enlarging breasts), decreased body hair
• Decreased interest in sex or drive
• Erectile dysfunction, delayed refractory period (time it takes to have sex again)
• Hot flashes
• Infertility
• Insomnia
• Thinning dry skin

In women, low testosterone is seen by the following symptoms and signs:

• Reduced muscle strength and tone, easy fatigue with exercise
• Difficulty losing weight
• Decreased interest in sex
• Difficulty concentrating, mood swings, low mood, anxiety
• Hair loss

Therefore, if one or more of these symptoms deserve improvement, you are likely a candidate for testosterone replacement.

According to the Endocrine Society, there is overwhelming evidence of benefits of Testosterone therapy, but you must have “…unequivocally and consistently low serum T concentrations” in order to fit their criteria for replacement therapy. Therefore, a serum free testosterone level is the first and main blood test to have performed. If your level is close to or below the normal lab reference range, then there will be little question of benefit from testosterone replacement therapy.

Related: Six reasons you shouldn’t get testosterone therapy

However, if your testosterone level is in the middle to high end of the range, consider ways to increase testosterone uptake into your organ tissues. These methods include:

• Lose excessive body weight; primarily through aerobic exercise plus strength training, and consuming only nutrient-rich foods.
• Eliminate refined sugar from your diet
• Consume plenty of healthy fats (not only from avocados and nuts but also saturated fats at 50-60 percent of your diet. Examples are olive oil, coconut oil, grass-fed meats, real butter).
• Take a protein powder supplement daily; from whey, rice, or pea protein.
• Take Vitamin D to maximize your level (and then have it tested by your doctor)
• Take Zinc 25 mg twice daily
• Reduce stress

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Lab tests needed

There are certain blood tests you’ll need since there are interactions between testosterone and other sex steroid hormones in the body. These include:

• LH (luteinizing hormone): this tells us if your testosterone is low due to insufficient signaling hormones from the brain, or insufficient production in the gonadal or adrenal organs
• SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin)
• Estradiol: this can build up due to the excessive activity of the aromatase enzyme. If too high, it can be suppressed using the aromatase-inhibitor Arimidex (anastrozole). This will boost testosterone.
• DHEA-S: this can be supplemented if it is low
• DHT (the metabolite of testosterone responsible for acne, hirsutism and hair loss)

Also, there can be other unwanted side effects in men and women who supplement with testosterone. The following blood tests are needed periodically:

• CBC: complete blood cell analysis. High red blood cell counts (polycythemia) increases blood clotting risk
• PSA: to monitor prostate activity
• Hemoglobin A1c to detect the presence of diabetes or metabolic syndrome

Managing adverse effects of testosterone replacement

There may be side effects of testosterone therapy. The good news is that there are ways to counteract such unwanted side effects.  For example:

• Acne:  many medications help this from topical antibiotics and tretinoin to IPL (intense pulsed light) or microneedling.
• Breast swelling or tenderness: effect should lessen in time; pain reliever medicines can be used.
• Hirsutism: facial hair growth in women affects 5-8% of adult females. If this develops with adequate testosterone replacement then consider
  • IPL long-term hair removal
  • Spironolactone (Aldactone) pills daily
  • Vaniqa (eflornithine) topical cream
  • Supplements found to help reduce hirsutism are diindolylmethane (DIM), N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), green tea, spearmint, licorice, reishi mushroom, saw palmetto, black cohosh and or chaste tree extract.
• Hair loss: Rogaine (minoxidil) is an over the counter scalp application daily; Propecia (finasteride) are prescription pills.

As an aside, if you read the January 2014 PLOS article which proposed that testosterone replacement in men after having a myocardial infarction increases their risk for a repeat event, the international experts referenced earlier found this not to be credible.

To long term health and feeling good,

Michael Cutler, M.D.

Sources:

1. About the Endocrine Society — Endocrine Society
2. Morgentaler A, Khera M, Maggi M, Zitzmann M. Commentary: Who is a candidate for testosterone therapy? A synthesis of international expert opinions. — J Sex Med. 2014 Jul;11(7):1636-45.
3. Testosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline — The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
4. Unluhizarci K, Karaca Z, Kelestimur F. Hirsutism – from diagnosis to use of antiandrogens. — Front Horm Res. 2013;40:103-14. PubMed PMID: 24002408

The post Are the benefits of testosterone replacement for you? appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

That may be why a lot of men are hesitant to use them. But there’s SOOO much more to essential oils than a pleasant smell and some pretty packaging…

They have medicinal benefits that apply to women AND men. If you’re a man who’s used peppermint oil to ease a headache, lavender oil to relieve anxiety or tea tree oil to clear your skin, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

But if you ARE a man who’s fully embraced the benefits of essential oils (frilly packaging be damned), there’s something you should know…

These oils are potent substances that act as effective forms of medicine. And like any potent substance that can make significant changes to your body, they come with a risk of side effects. Particularly for men…

Several studies show that essential oils can disrupt male hormones and maybe even make young boys develop breasts.

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Essential oils throw hormones off-kilter

A 2018 study found that several chemicals in essential oils can increase estrogen and inhibit testosterone.

Researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) isolated eight common components in lavender and tea tree oil. Then they applied these components to human cancer cells in a test tube.

They found that all eight components promoted estrogen while blocking testosterone in these cells.

Related: The signs and dangers of estrogen excess for men

But hold up… why did the NIEHS decide to look at the hormonal impact of essential oils in the first place?

Well, because past research found that compounds in lavender and tea tree oil could mimic estrogen and block testosterone in human cells. And there were also the boys developing breasts…

A child hormone specialist at the University of Colorado at Denver began seeing more and more young boys with a condition called gynecomastia (a.k.a. male breasts). Gynecomastia is rare and it’s usually hard to pin down a cause.

But this doctor noticed a similarity among his patients. One boy’s mother was applying healing balm to his skin that contained lavender oil. Another was using shampoo and hair gel that contained lavender oil and tea tree oil. And another used soaps and lotions containing lavender oil.

When the boys stopped using these products, so did their abnormal growth of breast tissue.

Are essential oils dangerous to adult men?

Now, researchers don’t know what effect these essential oils could have on the hormones of full-grown men… or women, for that matter. But any substance that alters your hormonal balance could be dangerous.

The answer isn’t to rid your house of lavender and tea tree oil, though. Researchers say the chemicals they tested in lavender and tea tree are also found in at least 65 other essential oils. So, the problem’s bigger than just these two oils.

You should, however, treat essential oils like you would any other form of potent medicine… with caution. Use them, but don’t overdo them. Using them in your shampoo, lotion, hair gel, and cologne or perfume may be too much, for example.

You should also do follow safety guidelines when using essential oils, like:

• Researching oils before you use them. Understand their potential uses and side effects. Your library likely has a comprehensive essential oil guide you can borrow.
• Keeping undiluted essential oils away from your skin. These oils are extremely concentrated and can cause serious skin irritation. Some oils come pre-diluted with a carrier oil. If an oil is not diluted, buy your own carrier oil like coconut oil, jojoba oil or almond oil.
• Being cautious when using essential oils on young children. Avoid using undiluted oils on young children and do your research before doing any DIY aromatherapy on kids. Essential oils used on children should only be a fraction of the concentration used on adults, and that concentration should be calculated using body weight.
• Not using essential oils on pregnant women without the guidance of a health professional. Pregnant women are advised to use lower essential oil concentrations and avoid certain oils altogether (like camphor, rosemary, sage, and savin oil). Rather than worry about doing anything that will negatively affect the baby or mother’s health, it’s better to work with someone who knows what they’re doing.
• Not taking essential oils internally without the guidance of a health professional. Whenever you’re ingesting a substance as potent as an essential oil, don’t wing it. Contact someone who’s trained in the medicinal use of essential oils, so you don’t experience any serious side effects.

Sources:

1. More evidence essential oils ‘make male breasts develop’ — BBC News
2. Oils ‘make male breasts develop’ — BBC News
3. Chemicals in lavender and tea tree oil appear to be hormone disruptors — Endocrine Society
4. Essential Oil Safety — Aromatherapy Trade Council

The post Can essential oils really cause male breasts? appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

There are many things that can contribute to erectile disfunction including fatigue, anxiety, drinking too much, diabetes, vitamin deficiency and even poor sleep.

Also, a higher risk of erectile dysfunction comes with age. By the time men turn 60, they have a 20 percent chance of suffering from the condition.

Many men are tempted to turn to the little blue pill for help…

Unfortunately, going in that direction comes with its own laundry list of problems including headaches, back pain, visual disturbance, diarrhea, stomach pain and even memory issues. So, while it might help in the bedroom, it could hurt you everywhere else.

And that’s not where the problems end…

The truth is that ED meds aren’t a long-term fix, they only give you short-term benefits. Then you have to pop another one the next time it’s time to hit the sheets.

Luckily, there is another answer — one that works long-term to keep your blood vessels healthy, maintain circulation for healthy erections, raise your testosterone levels and keep you active in the bedroom no matter how old you are.

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The all in one answer for an active sex life

Scientists from the University of Athens performed a study of 660 men with an average age of 67. They found that those who adopted a Mediterranean style diet had far fewer problems with erectile dysfunction and better bedroom performance than those who followed a regular diet.

So, what is a Mediterranean diet?

Well, it’s pretty simple…

A Mediterranean diet is rich in fresh fruits, veggies, fish, nuts, legumes and olive oil.

According to the scientists, it’s the olive oil that really does the trick…

Lead researcher Dr. Christina Chrysohoou said, “Men that follow a Med diet — particularly consuming lots of olive oil — see their risk of impotence reduced by up to 40 percent in older age.”

Yes, you can lower your chance of erectile dysfunction by a whopping 40 percent just by switching up your diet and getting plenty of olive oil each week.

In fact, the researchers say that getting just nine tablespoons of the oil every week could work better than prescription medication for getting your groove back.

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How olive oil works

Olive oil has such a profound effect when it comes to reducing impotence because of the effect it has on your blood vessels, hormones and risk of disease.

You see, not only does it keep your blood vessels healthy (healthy circulation equals healthy erections), it also helps to dramatically increase your testosterone levels — the male hormone that can decline with age and leave you tired, overweight and apathetic in the bedroom.

On top of those benefits, it also lowers your risk of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity — all of which contribute to impotence.

As Dr. Chrysohoou says, “It offers men a long-term solution without taking any medication, such as Viagra.”

So, if you’re ready to enhance your bedroom prowess, get back in the saddle or just maintain good blood flow and testosterone levels to prevent erectile dysfunction later, switch to a Mediterranean diet and get at least nine tablespoons of olive oil each week.  It’s the long-term solution for healthy erections — no little blue pill necessary.

Editor’s Note: If you just pay $1 to help cover the shipping costs… The Olive Oil Hunter, TJ Robinson, will send you a complimentary $39 bottle of one of the greatest olive oils I’ve ever tasted… You must check this out

Sources:

1. 3 overlooked causes of erectile dysfunction — Easy Health Options®
2. Olive oil ‘better than Viagra’ at slashing impotence — The Independent
3. Viagra — RxList

The post The oil that works better than “those” ED Pills appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

However, the truth is that the more you know about what contributes to erectile dysfunction, the more you can do to prevent the problem and improve sexual prowess and function.

In fact, there are three often overlooked causes that could be behind your bedroom boredom…

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#1 – Diabetes

A recent study, led by the University of Exeter and the University of Oxford, looked at data on more than 220,000 men across three cohorts, 6,000 of whom experienced erectile dysfunction.

Using cutting-edge genetic analysis, the team was able to delve deeper than ever before into the complex correlations between diabetes and aspects including body weight. They found that having a genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes was linked with ED, providing evidence that diabetes can be a cause of erectile issues.

Dr. Anna Murray, of the University of Exeter Medical School, co-lead author on the study said: “Erectile dysfunction affects at least one in five men over 60, yet up until now little has been known about its cause. Our paper echoes recent findings that the cause can be genetic, and it goes further. We found that a genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes is linked to erectile dysfunction. That may mean that if people can reduce their risk of diabetes through healthier lifestyles, they may also avoid developing erectile dysfunction.”

In other words, if you take steps to control your blood sugar through proper diet and exercise, you may be able to avoid ED altogether.

#2 – Poor sleep

According to Dr. Geo Espinosa, the Director of the Integrative Urology Center at New York University Langone Medical Center and the Chief Science Officer at Prostate Research Labs, lack of quality sleep is a significant cause of erectile dysfunction.

In fact, one study found that men with ED were more than twice as likely to have obstructive sleep apnea (the most common type of sleep apnea which causes your airways to collapse during sleep, keeping you awake and leaving you exhausted) than men with no sexual dysfunction.

While another study found that almost 65 percent of men with this sleep disorder also lived with erectile dysfunction.

This means that if you want to overcome erectile dysfunction, you must first address any health problems that are preventing you from getting the quality sleep you need.

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#3 – Vitamin deficiency

According to Craig Cooper, an “Ambassador” for the global men’s health foundation “Movember,” one vitamin deficiency, in particular, has been shown to lead to erectile dysfunction – a deficiency in vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin.

That’s because a deficiency of vitamin D promotes endothelial dysfunction (a problem with the inner lining of your blood vessels). And, when your vessels can’t supply enough blood flow to the penis, erection problems are the result.

In fact, a study reported in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that almost 46 percent of men with arteriogenic ED (a condition where the arteries don’t supply enough blood to the penis to support an erection) were deficient in vitamin D.

And, it found that men with severe or complete ED had much lower levels of the vitamin compared to men with only mild erectile dysfunction issues.

So, if you want to prevent or alleviate your ED problems, you need to optimize your D levels by getting more sunshine each day or taking a quality vitamin D3 supplement.

Erectile dysfunction can seem unbeatable but if you know the causes behind the condition, it’s a fight you can win. Prevent ED by controlling your blood sugar, getting more and better sleep and address any deficiency in vitamin D. And, if you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction, talk to your doctor about these health concerns.

Sources:

1. Erectile Dysfunction and Depression — WebMD
2. Depression and Erectile Dysfunction — Cleveland Clinic
3. Convincing evidence that type 2 diabetes is a cause of erectile dysfunction — American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

The post 3 overlooked causes of erectile dysfunction appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Penile pain is a delicate subject, pun intended, but the presence of pain in the root (the part that connects the penis to the abdominal wall), shaft (main external body of the penis), head (glans penis) or urethra (the tube that allows urine and semen to move through and out of the penis) can be serious and should not be ignored.

In fact, before I go any further to discuss the symptoms and causes of penis pain, I want to emphasize the importance of seeking immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• An erection that lasts four hours or longer (a condition known as priapism).
• Injury or trauma to the penis or testicles that may occur in an accident or sports injury.
• A cracking or popping sound during an erection or sexual intercourse.
• Inability to urinate.

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Symptoms Of Penis Pain

Symptoms of penis pain may develop gradually or suddenly and last only moments, or be persistent. The pain itself may be dull, sharp, or variable and interfere with urination, sexual activity, fertility, or daily activities. It may cause only mild, temporary discomfort. Penis pain that is accompanied by other symptoms should be checked by a medical professional.

What are some of those accompanying symptoms?

• Blood present in the ejaculate
• Bruising of the penis
• Discharge from the urethra
• Erectile dysfunction
• Hard growths or lumps in the groin area or on the penis
• Inflammation of the penis
• Itchy penis
• Pain in the abdomen, bladder, prostate gland or testicles (scrotum)
• Premature ejaculation
• Presence of a thick secretion (smegma) that accumulates under the foreskin
• Sores, lesions or rash on the penis
• Swelling of the penis or adjacent area
• Urination problems, such as pain or burning when urinating, bloody urine, difficulty urinating

Generally, it’s a wise choice to seek medical help when any of these symptoms accompany penis pain. To best help your doctor with a diagnosis, be sure to make a note of when the pain and the other symptoms started, what may have precipitated them, how severe the symptoms are, whether you notice any particular time or circumstance under which they occur, any history of these symptoms in the past, and what you may have done already to alleviate them.

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Causes Of Penis Pain

The causes of penis pain range from a wide variety of diseases or conditions that can affect the penis or the urethra and urinary tract and include sexual activity or physical trauma associated with an accident or surgery. Possible causes of penis pain include the following:

• Allergic reaction to spermicides, soaps or detergents
• Bites, either human or insect
• Bladder stones
• Cancer of the penis
• Sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea or syphilis
• Injury, such as being kicked or hit by a ball during sports, or while riding a bicycle or motorcycle
• Infection, such as a urinary tract infection (not just a female problem!), balanitis (infection that develops under the foreskin of uncircumcised men) or from an infected penile implant
• Paraphimosis (when the foreskin has been pulled back and cannot be returned to its normal position, causing swelling, pain, and disrupted blood flow to the penis
• Penile fracture, which can occur if the penis experiences a blunt blow during an erection
• Phimosis, in which the foreskin is extremely tight and cannot be retracted
• Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland)
• Peyronie’s disease (painful curvature of the penis caused by scar tissue)
• Pimples
• Poor hygiene
• Reiter syndrome (type of reactive arthritis that affects the urethra)
• Sickle cell anemia, which can cause painful erections
• Trauma from difficult removal of a urinary catheter
• Urethritis, inflammation of the urethra

Naturally, treatment of penis pain depends on the cause. However, delaying the identification and diagnosis of penis pain may result in unintended consequences, including serious complications such as erectile dysfunction, gangrene, serious infections, urinary incontinence, and the spread of cancer (if penile cancer is the diagnosis). Therefore, don’t be embarrassed by penis pain: Seek professional medical advice.

The post What you should know about penis pain appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a frustrating problem for many couples. Many men over 40 may experience it from time to time due to many factors, such as stress, psychological problems, declining testosterone levels and other medical reasons.

If you have been noticing that your erectile function is not what it used to be, it may be time to look at natural treatments for ED. One natural way to treat ED is through diet and eating some of the foods I recommend below, which are some of the four best foods to eat for better sexual health. These foods can boost your testosterone levels and nitric oxide levels, resulting in better erectile function without exposing you to the dangers of erectile dysfunction drugs.

The post 4 best foods to treat erectile dysfunction (slideshow) appeared first on Easy Health Options®.