Male sexual dysfunction isn’t the end of sex life as you know it. You can overcome these problems, improve your sexual performance, and take your sex life to new heights.
A healthy lifestyle is necessary here, including careful selection of some vitamins, minerals, and other natural compounds that can benefit your sexual health and function. Keep reading to learn more about these mens sex health vitamins, minerals, or supplements below.
Overview of sexual dysfunction in men
Sexual dysfunction is defined as a problem that occurs during any stage of the sexual response cycle. This problem doesn’t allow a person to experience satisfaction from their sexual activity. Men of all ages can develop some type of sexual dysfunction. These may include:
- Erectile dysfunction – difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection long enough for satisfactory intercourse
- Low libido – decreased interest in sex
- Premature ejaculation – achieving orgasm too quickly upon sexual stimulation
- Inhibited or delayed ejaculation – achieving orgasm too quickly or not at all
Causes of male sexual dysfunction can be physical or psychological. Physical causes may range from low testosterone levels and certain prescription drugs to blood vessel disorders such as atherosclerosis and high blood pressure. Other physical causes of sexual dysfunction in men include nerve damage due to stroke or diabetes and unhealthy habits such as alcoholism, drug abuse, and smoking. Overweight and obesity are also common causes of sexual problems.
Psychological causes of male sexual dysfunction include stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, past sexual trauma, and concern about sexual performance.
Can natural remedies help?
Male sexual dysfunction has a significant impact on the quality of life and confidence of a person. The good news is these problems are manageable. There’s a lot you can do to tackle your sexual dysfunction and improve your sex life. Many guys use natural remedies, and you may be wondering if they can help.
You see, natural remedies deliver vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other healthy compounds we need for hormonal balance or sexual health and wellbeing. Instead of masking the symptoms, these remedies aim to fix or manage the root cause of sexual dysfunction. Many of these remedies have been used for centuries, and science has a lot of catching up to uncover their mechanisms of action.
Natural male enhancement remedies are also an adjunct to doctor-recommended treatments and prescription medication in some cases. They are a part of a healthy lifestyle, not a replacement for it.
10 best vitamins and minerals to help improve male sexual health
Some vitamins, minerals, and even some herbs can improve men’s sexual health in an entirely natural manner. Scroll down to see the 10 best options you may want to try out. Keep in mind if your sexual problem is caused by serious diseases such as prostate cancer. You should always consult the doctor before you start using natural remedies and male enhancement formulas.
Vitamin D
In its active form, this sunshine vitamin acts as a steroid hormone and may be essential for sexual function in men. What’s more, increasing stores of vitamin D could increase testosterone levels and improve sperm quality. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with low testosterone, but this vitamin is also essential for other aspects of sexual function. Evidence shows low vitamin D level is linked to erectile dysfunction. Low levels of sunshine vitamin make ED symptoms worse. Vitamin D may aid the management of ED by promoting blood flow to the penis to contribute to penis enlargement and increase testosterone levels. With higher testosterone, your libido is going to increase too.
Vitamin C
We usually reach for vitamin C during winter to boost the immune system, but this micronutrient can do so much more than that. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, and that could be behind its potential to improve male sexual function. This vitamin may improve blood flow and increase testosterone. Additionally, vitamin C could manage stress and high cortisol. This is useful to know because cortisol and testosterone are “enemies,” and a higher concentration of one hormone decreases the levels of the other. The best thing about vitamin C is that it’s easy to obtain it through diet alone.
Zinc
Zinc takes part in over 100 chemical processes in the human body. It happens to be one of the most significant minerals for male sexual health. Zinc enables your body to produce testosterone. Additionally, this mineral has a positive impact on arousal and erectile function. Low zinc levels impair testosterone balance and may also contribute to ED. It’s also useful to mention low zinc concentration may decrease the sense of smell. That said, a sense of smell is important for sexual desire and sexual stamina (6). Men who want to start a family with their significant others may want to ensure they’re getting enough zinc. Decreased levels of this mineral can contribute to fertility-related problems too. In other words, zinc is necessary for both sexual and reproductive health and function. You can obtain it through diet, through foods such as oysters, beef, chicken, nuts, and lentils.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and manages oxidative stress or damages it causes. Thanks to its antioxidant potential, vitamin E supports cardiovascular health. And generally speaking, everything that’s good for your heart is also good for your penis. So by improving blood flow, vitamin E could keep your vascular system healthier and thereby benefit your erectile function. Supplementation with vitamin E could increase the production of testosterone. As a result, this vitamin could have a positive influence on your libido too. Nuts and seeds are good sources of vitamin E, but they are also present in dietary supplements.
Magnesium
Magnesium takes part in over 300 processes and functions in the body. For that reason, it comes as no wonder it’s beneficial for your sexual health and function too. Evidence confirms magnesium supplementation is associated with the rise in both free and total testosterone. These effects were present in sedentary and active men, but the latter experienced better effects. Moreover, reduced levels of magnesium increase vasoconstriction from decreased nitric oxide. This activity could lead to premature ejaculation. Magnesium may be involved in the transport of semen. In a nutshell, magnesium may support testosterone balance, improve ejaculatory control, and support your erectile function. Through higher testosterone, magnesium could indirectly increase your libido.
Niacin
Niacin, or vitamin B3, could improve erectile function in men. A study from the Journal of Sexual Medicine revealed niacin alone could manage symptoms in men with moderate to severe erectile dysfunction. Additionally, niacin could improve serum testosterone levels and the antioxidant status of testes. Since niacin helps blood flow faster and easier, it is important for healthy orgasms. The vitamin may also help adrenal glands produce more sex hormones.
Folic acid
Folic acid, or vitamin B9, is vital for many functions in the body, including erectile function. Studies show low levels of folic acid are present in many men with erectile dysfunction. Supplementation with folic acid could be a practical treatment of erectile dysfunction. Considering that folic acid may act as a mood stabilizer, this vitamin could aid the management of premature ejaculation.
Panax ginseng
While technically not a vitamin or mineral, Panax ginseng and supplements or male enhancement products below deserve a place on this list. Panax ginseng is also known as natural Viagra, a male enhancement pill, because it promotes the release of nitric oxide, relaxes the smooth muscles of the penis, and improves the strength and rigidity of erections. This type of ginseng, found in products like Ben’s Male Boost, contain compounds that increase testosterone levels in the body and thereby improve libido.
Horny goat weed
Horny goat weed, a male enhancement supplement, can lower the levels of cortisol and increase testosterone production in your body. As the name suggests, this herb can also increase your libido and erectile strength. Horny goat weed contains a compound called icariin, which inhibits the activity of PDE5 that doesn’t allow arteries in the penis to dilate. In other words, this herb works like Viagra.
Maca root
Maca root herbal extract comes from Peru, and it is a well-known ingredient in supplements for male sexual health. The best thing about maca root for men is that it could help with sexual dysfunction, including increasing sperm motility and elevating libido. Considering that maca root is an adaptogen, it reduces the effects of stress, a major enemy of your sexual performance. Besides maca root, ginkgo Biloba is also associated with strong stress management properties.
Conclusion
In this post, we discussed vitamins, minerals, and some supplements that support male sexual health. Enrich your diet with these nutrients, consider dietary supplements, but also strive to adopt other healthy habits such as regular exercise.
