Many things can reduce erections in men: poor heart health, smoking and certain medications are often the cause of problems below the belt. But bad nutrition is also a big killer.
What you eat, how much you eat, and how often you eat certain foods can affect your energy levels, blood flow, and hormones—all of which are key players in your sex life.
See five ways your diet can be ruining your sex life—and exactly what you can do to improve your performance.
Too much 'junk'
Like any other training, training in the bedroom requires strength and endurance. In other words, any eating habit that is bad for your performance in the gym is also bad for your sex life. When your heart is in trouble—for example, your arteries are clogged—it can cut off blood flow to your penis, opening the way to erectile dysfunction (ED).
A diet high in unhealthy fats and added sugars can make the problem worse.
It is common knowledge that obese men have lower levels of testosterone, the hormone that stimulates sex drive, he reports Ordination.
The cure? Eat a diet full of whole foods rich in various nutrients and exercise at least 150 minutes a week. Anything that helps reduce the amount of fat in your body will help naturally increase your testosterone levels, experts explain.
Decaffeinated coffee
Your daily dose of coffee plays a bigger role in bed than you think. This is because caffeine intake can affect your circulation.
A big part of sexual health is about increasing blood flow, since better blood flow means better erections, says Joshua Gonzalez, a urologist specializing in sexual medicine.
Too much alcohol
Alcohol is a depressant, so it can numb feelings of sexual stimulation and change blood flow to and from your penis. Heavy drinking can lower your testosterone levels while raising your estrogen levels, which can lower your libido, lower your mood, and make it harder to have an orgasm, even when you can get an erection.
Sugar is a sex life killer
A diet high in sugar will affect your overall health, the health of your cardiovascular system. which can then affect your sexual potency. Stick to natural sugars, such as those found in fruit. When it comes to added sugars — like those in sodas and baked goods — don't eat more than 36 grams a day, experts say.
Huge portions
Piling food on your plate not only makes you gain weight, but it also sets you up for a major energy slump.
If you overeat, especially carbs and sugar, you're likely to experience low energy and feel too tired to do anything but lie on the couch or sleep.
Instead of three large meals, aim for four or five smaller meals a day, full of protein and slower-digesting carbohydrates that are full of fiber, such as oats, quinoa and vegetables.
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