Keeping Healthy – Tips on Sexual Health

It's a simple fact of life that our bodies begin to slow down as we get older. You can see the symptoms the morning after a few drinks. While back in your youth you may have been able to drink all night with nothing more than a mild headache you'll find that as you get older those hangovers start to stretch further and further into the following day – and even longer.

It isn't just your staying power in the bar that begins to fade, either. Beginning at around the age of 30 our levels of the male hormone testosterone begin to fall – and will continue to fall at the startling rate of 10 percent with each additional decade.

This loss of testosterone manifests itself differently with every man. Some experience a lack of sex drive, hair loss or just a simple lack of energy. In all, our plummeting testosterone levels can cause a wide range of problems, including:

• Hair loss
• Bone and muscle deterioration
• Irritability and fatigue
• Excessive sweating
• Depression
• Aches and pains
• Reduced sex drive
• Reduced semen production
• Sleeping problems

While this may seem a daunting prospect to face as we age, there are several measures we can take to offset the effects of reduced testosterone – especially when it comes to sexual performance.

Quit Smoking

This is a no-brainer – the physiological effects of smoking are well established. Smoking retards circulation by constricting the blood vessels that supply blood to the penis. By quitting – or, at least, cutting back – you can reduce the risk of impotence, erectile dysfunction and shrinkage of the penis.

Improve Your Diet

Perhaps the most effective – and simplest – method to improve erectile function is to maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet. Load up on fibre, avoid saturated fats and steer clear of the junk food. This will help maintain clear blood vessels and ensure strong blood flow to the penis well into your old age.

Take Your Vitamins

While you may find it difficult to cut out the cigarettes and ignore your sweet tooth you have no excuse not to take vitamins. Taking your recommended daily allowance of Vitamins A, B, C and E – along with Chromium, Zinc, and L-arginine – will help maintain erectile function as well as improving your general health and boosting energy levels. You can get most of these from a simple daily multivitamin.

Cut out the Booze and Drugs

Most of you won't need to be told to avoid illegal drugs, but the majority of men enjoy a drink. While there's nothing wrong with a tipple – in fact, some claim that the occasional drink can actually improve general health – excessive consumption of alcohol increases the risk of impotence. Besides the long term effects, most men will experience temporary erectile problems immediately following consumption of large amounts of alcohol. This may not be a problem in the short term, but be aware that the problem may become more permanent if you keep up the heavy drinking.

Practice Makes Perfect

While this is a subject many prefer to avoid discussing, regular sex and masturbation will help maintain a healthy penis and prostate, and regular penis exercises can also aid in enhancement of length and girth. It may not be a case of the old school yard claim that if you don't use it you lose it, but there is some truth to it.

Get a Sweat On

Finally, it goes without saying the regular exercise benefits overall health, and that includes your penis. While you may not be able to avoid reduced production of testosterone as you age, by taking 30 minutes exercise at least 3 times a week you can maintain blood flow, boost energy levels and reduce the general effects of ageing.