Sexual Dysfunction in humans generally affects quality of life, relationships, and self-esteem.
One of the most important body parts for men is the male genitalia for making love, which enables reproduction and on the other hand gives pleasure to their female partners. Women reach the highest form of pleasure when they reach orgasm during sex. Over the years, various unions have been threatened by erectile dysfunction.
Recent research by an endocrinologist from Brooklyn, New York, USA, Dr. Florence Comite, stated that excessive consumption of red meat or ice cream damages some blood vessels, making it difficult to maintain an erection or reach orgasm.
In research, it was noted that a lot of sugar, cholesterol and iron in the bloodstream have the ability to narrow the vessels and prevent blood from reaching the phallus and vagina. Comite noted that the consistency, content, and flow of a person’s blood play an important role in their sex life.
In the case of red meat, the excess iron component leads to erectile dysfunction, while the high sugar levels destroy human nerves and blood vessels, making the blood thicker and not allowing it to reach to manhood to have an erection. A person suffering from hypercholesterolemia would also have restricted blood flow, making orgasm or erection difficult.
The research also indicated that both sexes can have a loss of libido due to excessive consumption of red meat and ice cream. In fact, in men, it was suggested that it could also make the erection inconsistent.
However, the research added that blood-related bedroom problems were reversible through a change in diet.
Eating foods rich in zinc, such as beans, flavonoid-rich berries, and vitamin B6-rich oily fish can help cleanse arteries and optimize blood flow.
The Massachusetts Male Aging Study indicated that about 52 percent of men experience some form of erectile dysfunction, noting that total erectile dysfunction increases by about five to 15 percent between the ages of 40 and 70. A review of the global prevalence of erectile dysfunction in 2019 by BJU International found that the global prevalence of erectile dysfunction ranges from three percent to 76.5 percent.
For its part, an investigation by the National Library of Medicine of the United States indicated that the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction increased with age, going from 22% in women under 20 years of age to 75.7% in women between 40 and 50 years. FSD was detected as a desire problem in 45.3% of the women, arousal problem in 37.5%, lubrication problem in 41.2%, orgasm problem in 42.0%, satisfaction in 44.5% and pain problem in 42.5%.
A population-based study in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, of men aged 30-80 years on the prevalence of erectile dysfunction and potential risk factors among southwestern men conducted by the United States National Library of Medicine. United States, showed that the prevalence was high among male adults.
The research stated: “The overall prevalence of ED in this study was 58.9 percent. Sixty-seven (47.2 percent), 16 (11.3 percent), and 59 (41.5 percent) of the respondents had mild, moderate, and severe erectile dysfunction, respectively. Age, hypertension, use of antihypertensive medications, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease had significant unadjusted associations with erectile dysfunction, but their adjusted associations were not statistically significant. Diabetes mellitus maintained a statistically significant positive relationship with erectile dysfunction after adjustment for potential confounders.”
However, the research indicated that physicians need to pay more attention to their patients’ sexual history in order to more frequently diagnose and monitor erectile dysfunction.
Another population-based study of a university community at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, indicated that female sexual dysfunction was common in the university setting, with the highest prevalence in the 41- to 41-year-old age group. 50 years.
There are other causes of erectile dysfunction in both sexes that cannot be given much importance but are potentially dangerous.
A doctor from University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Dr. Owodunni Ismail, stated that the psychology of erection in men has to do with the accumulation of blood in the blood vessels of the penis.
He said: “It is important that the blood vessels in the penis are in good condition to ensure that a man has a normal erection. Without being in good condition, there can be problems. This is why multisystem diseases such as diabetes and hypertension that affect the blood vessels are associated with erectile dysfunction.”
Ismail noted that it was important for both genders to be aware of what they consume for food before it affects their sex lives.
He said: “People should stop or reduce their intake of red meat and eat white meat that is found in poultry products. Eat vegetables and eat enough fruits. They should also eat legumes, all kinds of nuts, fish, and vegetable oils.”
He noted that adding regular exercise to the routine and generally avoiding a sedentary lifestyle could help both sexes regain their sexual fitness.
For his part, a consultant urologist at Ogah Hospital and Urology Center, Fugar, Edo State, Dr. Gabriel Ogah, said that women need to control their blood pressure, diet and weight if they want to achieve a high level of erectile function.
He said: “Both sexes should eat a more plant-based diet and exercise more, control their weight and diabetes if they have it. Hypertension must also be controlled. Once they exercise a lot, control their weight, and eat more vegetables while avoiding starchy foods, they are likely to have better erectile function.
“Eating a lot of red meat is dangerous for anyone who wants to have healthy erectile function. It is to be mediated to be healthy in that part.”
Ogah pointed out that it was not only red meat and ice cream that caused such development in both sexes, stating that there were other causes.
He noted: “When women are in menopause, when people have a hormonal imbalance, such as thyroid imbalance abnormality, men who have thyroid disease and many other related diseases can have erectile dysfunction. Many of these people need to see a doctor right away and make sure these illnesses are corrected in their bodies.”
On the fact that high cholesterol is another factor that can affect the blood vessels, Ogah added that it was obvious, noting that this is why he advised people to control their weight, eat plenty of vegetables and do exercises to improve their erectile function. .
He said: “It is well known that lowering blood pressure by five percent can only improve erectile function. Research proved this many years ago. It should be paid attention to and people will get better.”
A nutritionist, Dr. James Oloyede, pointed out that only a healthy diet can be recommended to combat problems related to erectile dysfunction in humans.
He said: “We are fully aware that there are some nutrients that are good for fertility and sexual problems, which can possibly help. But you see, those who are promoting one type of food or another to help erection, it is not about nutrition but about medicine. There are some fruits and certain leaves that are medicinal that can help this defect, but it is not within the reach of a nutritionist.”
Oloyede advised eating foods rich in fruits and vegetables, noting that the things many people touted as helping erections were present in fruits and vegetables.
He added: “When people eat a healthy diet, they will function normally, including the sexual organs of such individuals. It is when people start eating an unhealthy diet that problems start to appear and affect the reproductive system. We always promote a healthy diet and that will be the best approach.”
