Optimizing Male Health and Sexual function

There are several facets to optimal male function and not one of them should be neglected.  In today’s simplified and quick fix pharmaceutical perspective, the whole is neglected in favour of the parts.  Usually one part is fixated on to the detriment of the whole being.

Here is what you need to have optimal health and sexual function as you go through life, in no particular order.

1. Physical fitness:  This is not about looking good, this is about FEELING good.  Your physical fitness will translate directly to your sexual fitness.  Guys, your penis is not an entity unto itself and if your body is falling apart or desperately unfit guess what will follow?   Your exercise also affects hormone levels, for example keeping Testosterone at a healthy level by lifting hard and heavy and infrequently,   excessive exercise will lower levels and immune system,  exercise that includes mobility (olympic lifts, yoga, martial arts) will keep you limber and strong.  Strength is important, blood flow is important, exercise also manages blood sugar.
   
   
2. Diet:   There is no supplement that will compensate for a poor diet.  Sugar, grains, and too many omega 6’s lead to inflammation.  Eat foods that are unprocessed, contain plenty of natural healthy fats, plenty of protein and avoid grains and sugars.   I am going to repeat this: do not avoid saturated fats, your body needs them, and cholesterol is a precursor to testosterone so eat those shrimp!  For the person who needs to supplement for better erectile function my biggest recommendations are,  AFTER you have your diet in order and have eliminated smoking,  Zinc and Arginine (3000mg).   Less conclusive are Ginseng, Yohimbe, and Tribulus.   A final note is that I am doing some research into “superfoods”  which have been getting excellent reports.  However, I am skeptical of anything with the word super in front of it so will take some time for my opinion to form.
   
   
3. Emotional Health:  Do you have your stuff sorted out?   If you’re moody, temperamental, have issues and baggage, depression, a loose cannon or someone who feels emotionally volatile, anxious or vulnerable,  address this.   Do you think well of yourself?  Are you someone who lives a life of integrity so that you can think well of yourself?  How is your sexual self esteem?  Do you feel accomplished and happy in life? If you do not have much self esteem then educating yourself sexually can help.  Take some courses, improve yourself and add to your toolbox.  You are an adult and responsible for your emotional health now.  Whatever happened to you in the past, it is up to YOU now to discover how to live in a positive and healthy way.
   
   
4. Relationships:  Your relationship with your long term partner or spouse will have an enormous impact on your sexual health.  It is important that you feel respected, loved, secure in the relationship, and desired.  If your partner does not have a high libido or is not aggressive sexually,  interactions where you feel closely bonded and are able to provide immense pleasure will help with this.  
   
   
5. Sexual practice: Your sexual practice needs to be mindful!  Practicing ejaculation management improves vitality, increases erections, pleasure capacity and libido.  Take an active role in developing and maintaining intimacy in your relationship. Intimacy is connection  and leads to better sex, it is not necessarily having intercourse every night.  Mindless sexual practice will lead to no sex eventually.  Develop patience, learn the art of cultivating anticipation and savouring tension and play, rather than pushing for the release.  If you masturbate, do it mindfully and do NOT use it simply as a daily stress relief.   Avoid pornography for the most part, and pleasure yourself in a way that enhances sensitivity rather than desensitizing.  Look after your genitals, do not abuse them.  Look after your erotic mind -- it is plastic and with your thoughts and actions you mold and change how it is you sexually respond.   Use what feels good and is fun as a gage, do not use pornography or external sources of sexual entertainment as something to compare or hold your own relationship up to, it is the best way to destroy it.
   
   
6. Medications:   the list of medications that cause Erectile Dysfunction is far too long to list.   Improve your health using diet and exercise and natural techniques such as Emotional Freedom Technique and Hypnosis to improve yourself so that you do not NEED to be on medications.   If you’re a type 2 diabetic, change your diet or risk your sexual function!  Stop smoking, and that includes marijuana.  If you’re on anti-depressants,  in conjunction with your doctor seek a holistic protocol, same with high blood pressure and cholesterol.  Rather than popping pain medications every day,  figure out a way to decrease the pain and inflammation in your body!   So much unnecessary medication is taken due to bad habits rather than simply living a healthier life.  I am not saying medication is not necessary, I am saying there is MUCH unnecessary medications being taken that interfere with sexual function and health,  that could be avoided by improving lifestyle.
   
   

All of these are facets of the whole.  Learn to look at your sexuality in a holistic manner and tend to the different aspects of it in a nurturing, nourishing way.  Then, reap the rewards!