All posts by SRH Matters

Did you know! Women can experience non-stop orgasm for 4 months!

Did you know! Women can experience non-stop orgasm for 4 months!

2016-08-01

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Guess what? Women can not only experience longer orgasms than men but a sexual health expert claims they can experience one for four straight months! Hard to believe? It’s true! Read to know more…

An applied practice termed as “orgasmic meditation” or OM, continually allows women to live in a continually aroused state that helps them embrace all areas of their life with sensuality and vigour.

This practice as sex instructor Nicole Daedone explains is not foreplay; it’s practised separately from sex and away from the bed and is not designed to induce orgasm, but to keep the woman on a plateau of sensation. Daedone, who is the author of ‘Slow Sex, The Art And Craft Of The Female Orgasm,’ further states that the practice of “orgasmic meditation” requires dedication.

She adds that couples should set aside 45 minutes daily, over ten days, to get any sense of OM’s benefits as according to her, an orgasm is the body’s ability to receive and respond to pleasure and although, sexual climax is often a part of orgasm, but it is not the sum total.

For “orgasmic meditation” to be a success, the woman must concentrate ‘mindfully’ on the sensations she feels, without letting her thoughts run amok, while the man’s role is to concentrate on his woman. They would be able to prolong sexual pleasure and delay climax for a much longer period with this practice.

It’s a fact! Women don’t even need to have sex to reach orgasm
Coregasms: Some researchers have found the exercise triggers sexual arousal and even climax in some women. Termed as ‘coregasms’, because of its linkage with exercises for core abdominal muscles, they could occur while biking, spinning, abdominal exercises or even rope climbing.

Thinking her way to an orgasm! A recently conducted study on the female brain during an orgasm had an interesting find. Some women claimed that they did not need to visualise a sexual or romantic fantasy to reach climax. They further stated that merely focusing on wanting an orgasm was enough and their body would respond.

Oral sex is enough: A study on the sexual behaviour of men and women in the United States discovered that while men relied on vaginal intercourse to reach orgasm, women were able to climax by participating in non-penetrative sex acts such as oral sex.

Speaking of oral sex, recent studies have revealed that indulging in it is actually beneficial to a woman’s health. Some sexual health experts are of the opinion that ingestion of semen from oral sex is quite healthy since it contains “mood-altering chemicals” elevates mood, increases affection and induces sleep. This is also why some doctors recommend that pregnant women should perform oral sex on their partners to cure the effects of morning sickness.
– With inputs from agencies

Louis’ story: Why did I blame myself after I was raped?

Louis’ story: Why did I blame myself after I was raped?

My name’s Louis. Louis who was the first openly gay School Captain of my Catholic high school, I was voted upon graduation ‘Most likely to be rich and famous’. I’m Louis from the large, loving family who’ve always supported me. I’m Louis who on a whim travelled on my own to Bali for my first trip overseas for a month to teach English to children in Ubud. I’m Louis who’s been asked the question “How do you smile so much, all the time?” more times than I could count.

I’m Louis, a victim of rape.

Soon I’ll have my final checkup back at the clinic, giving one third and final verification that I don’t have HIV. I have to say at 20 that’s not a sentence I ever thought I would have to say or write or even think, none of this is really. There’s been a lot of that though so far, a lot that I hadn’t previously fathomed would ever become a part of my story.

I’ll never forget walking out of the sexual health clinic past the waiting room and seeing at least six solemn faces of mostly young, clearly homosexual men and suddenly witnessing the reality of a side of our community that I was always aware of but never thought applied to me.

I’ll never forget sitting on a park bench the next day and calling my mother. It was getting dark, I was looking at the traffic lights and the cars passing through them nearby when I tried but couldn’t bring myself to actually say the words out loud.

I’ll never forget hearing her say to me: “You were raped.”

I’ll never forget the look on my sister-in-law’s face when two weeks later she was picking me up from the kitchen floor when I was crying uncontrollably. I don’t remember beginning to cry, I just remember washing dishes and the next moment there she was with her arms around me sitting on the tiles.

I’ll never forget the first night I spent alone in the house after it had happened and the quiet sense of terror that I ignored until sunrise, but that no matter how much Gwen Stefani I played I inevitably couldn’t escape.

I’ll never forget feeling like a piece of me had been taken. That I had become less complete than I was before.

The words “You didn’t deserve this” are ones that I’ve now come to know quite well, and honestly while with everything I know and everything I’ve learned through this experience tells me that these words are of course truth, these are still words I struggle with.

 

Ultimately I’m a very lucky human being, I’ve lived a life of opportunity, have travelled and have people who I love ready to support me, as I would for them all around me. I made a series of decisions the night it happened that lead me to the single most traumatic event of my entire life. A series of decisions that really aren’t that uncommon for a lot of people my age, but a series of decisions that ultimately I’ve paid for.

Again though, I continue to be lucky, if there’s anything that I’ve come to realise through all of this it’s that one night of seemingly standard, alcohol-infused behaviour could ultimately be the difference between life and death. I am still alive, I’m now physically unharmed and I’ve been able to go on with my life. There are many people who sadly haven’t had this luxury, have been or continue to be violently assaulted and have had a lot more taken from them than their dignity.

So before I write anything more, I want to be clear that I am grateful to be here and don’t for a second forget that this all could have been much, much worse.

For me it’s all a very familiar tale, picked a guy up in a bar, went back to his without really knowing where I was and things became progressively darker from there. What could have been a funny one night stand story just happened to end up being an ongoing source of many sleepless nights. The details themselves are still quite painful and on a lot of levels extremely humiliating to share but essentially I was in the wrong place with the wrong person, in the wrong state of mind and the word ‘no’ was repeatedly ignored until all 170 centimetres, 62 kilograms of me was left without a choice and I was overpowered.

48 hours later I was sitting across from a nurse who has now reserved a place in my memory as one of the most incredible, personable and funny people I’ve ever met, with tears running down my face I said words that have haunted me since the moment they crept into my mind and out of my mouth,

“I hate that I let myself become a stereotype. I’m just another statistic.”

This is a concept I’ve had to come to terms with before this point. I’m a relatively slim built, feminine gay man who’s been dying his hair since he was 14 and cried far more than any person should when I saw Lana Del Rey live for the first time in concert. I have always said if I could be more masculine then believe me I would have figured out how to do so effectively a long time ago but the reality is I could walk into a room and fifty metres away I have no doubt a blind man could lean over to the guy next to him and say, “I know which team he bats for.”

I’ve always been an advocate for being proud of who you are, stereotype or not, but it was sitting in that sterilised room that screamed of a hospital scene in Days of our Lives, with a stack of papers piled in front of me that had my name and the words ‘SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE’ right next to each other that I felt ashamed. I felt like I was every cautionary tale from that spurts from the hateful mouth of every bigot you see in modern day media. I felt like I had let my community down, that through my own choices I had contributed to archaic imagery that has so damaged the LGBT community of promiscuity, a dancefloor and liquor.

In those moments I felt ashamed and disgusted in myself not only because of what, at the time, I felt like I had invited to happen to me, but because I have always advocated that I want to live a life that is mine, my own choices, my own dreams. This meant that if I was happy but my characteristics or way of speaking were considered stereotypical without my trying to then so be it, but it had never been my intention to live in a way where I allowed myself to become a stereotype that continued to feed into negative and generalised misconceptions. I was raised by people who are open-minded and loving and good, I had a blessed childhood full of memories that still put me in tears of laughter, even now in early adulthood as my parents are divorced they are respectful and genuinely good to one another and all my siblings and I love my stepfather.

Sitting in that hospital, I felt like none of that mattered anymore because I was just another statistic. Everything I had ever worked for as Louis, as an individual, all the aspects of my life that had nothing to do with my sexuality were all suddenly moot because I had let myself become another number that lobby groups could use in their studies or promiscuity and sexual abuse amongst gay men.

Basically I felt like I had let myself down, I had let my family down and I had let my community down.

Today, months later, in the late hours of a particularly dark day of mine wherein I struggled yet again with my sense of self-worth to the point where I even went as far as questioning those closest to me as to why and how they could love me I want to say for myself, and potentially to others if this ever gets read:

I was wrong. Wrong to feel like I let the community down. Wrong to blame myself.

It was my mother’s words this evening that are the latest to resonate with me, I was crying and blaming myself again for my share in the whole affair and she said to me:

“Are you kidding me? If this was one of your sisters would you tell her it was her fault? Would you let others tell her that?”

And she’s right. No matter what the circumstances were leading to it, no matter the choices made by her, if anyone did to any of my sisters what was done to me I would never for a second tell them it was their fault, because if you say no, whether it’s verbal, or it’s with your actions, black and white, plain and simple:

It is not your fault.

This then got me thinking about how I would respond if one of my friends, or a partner told me this had happened to them, how I would then respond, and then comparing how all of these people have reacted when I’ve shared with them my story.

In my fear of being another statistic that casts a negative shadow over the LGBT community I completely forget what really I should have been focusing on to help get me through and that is what our community is built on.

Love.

The ongoing battle for rights within the LGBT community, especially in Australia is still being fought and still prevalent within society because we are a people that fight together, fight for one another, we support each other’s rights to love and to live as freely and openly as anyone else. It’s a community that celebrates difference and diversity and embraces all of those who embrace the cause of open mindedness and freedom. Every person I know who is a part of our community or in support of our community that I’ve spoken to about my incident has met me with support, with understanding, without judgement, even in moments I’ve felt that I deserved it.

I am more than a statistic, and if you’re reading this and you’ve been through anything like I have then I want you to know that you are more than a statistic too.

I’m not done healing yet, there is definitely still work to be done. I’m seeking counselling because I feel as though I’m ready to really talk about it and face what I need to, to build a positive future. I’m writing this, not because I’m looking for attention, or because I think I have unheard of insight into the issue but because I think that sharing about such an issue is maybe an important step within all those dealing with something like this to know that it is OK to share within our community and that you will be met with more love and acceptance than judgement.

I’m not a finished story and that’s exactly why I wanted to write this, because sometimes it’s not about reflecting on something when it’s a part of your past, but instead it’s about living it and sharing it as best you can while it’s happening.

You are still you. You’re more than your choices, and you’re definitely, completely, certainly more than someone else’s. We as members of the LGBT community are fighting as a collective but we are still individuals with varying hardships and specific circumstances that we may battle with on our own but know that when it comes to sexual assault you don’t have to battle alone.

There is support, there is care, there are people you can speak to, people who will listen.

There are people who exist who disgustingly and unfortunately will take what they want in life without considering the consequences or ongoing ramifications of their actions, but these are not the only people in the world, not by a long shot, and these are not the people who anyone should let define their sense of self-worth.

 

I am still Louis. The Louis who spent most of today crying, but also the Louis who is taking another volunteer trip to South East Asia early next year to teach more English. I’m still Louis who gets emotionally involved in Agatha Christie novels and still doesn’t quite get the hype with Game of Thrones (sorry).

I’m Louis with work to be done, with some love in myself still yet to be rediscovered but I am still me.

Not a statistic, not a stereotype, I’m a part of a community where love and acceptance is the foundation and reminding ourselves of this is important.

I am a victim but I am so much more: I am me.

Special dermatologic needs for men who have sex with men

Special dermatologic needs for men who have sex with men

2016-07-29

Kenneth A. Katz, M.D., M.Sc., M.S.C.E., a dermatologist in San Francisco, occasionally finds himself asking male patients about their sex lives: Do they have intercourse with men? What about multiple partners? Condom use?

He has both their skin health and their overall health in mind. According to him, men who have sex with men—a category that includes gay and bisexual men—face unique risks of skin conditions because they’re more likely to suffer from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

“Sexual orientation doesn’t put someone at risk,” he tells Dermatology Times in an interview prior to making a presentation at the summer meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology in Boston. “But behavior linked to these conditions does.”

Dr. Katz is presenting “Taking Care of Gay Men and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men: What the Dermatologist Needs to Know.”

“Dermatologists should appreciate that men who have sex with men are at higher risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases,” he says. According to him, more than 80% of 20,000 syphilis cases in the United States were in gay and bisexual men, as were 75% of 45,000 new HIV cases.

These men also face higher risks of skin cancer, MRSA and meningococcemia, a rare bacterial infection. Earlier this summer, health officials reported an outbreak of meningococcemia in Southern California among gay and bisexual men; one man died. Other outbreaks have been reported over the past two years in the Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City areas.

Dr. Katz urges dermatologists to look for these signs that could indicate sexually transmitted diseases:

  • Rashes or sores in the genital and perineal areas are a possible sign of syphilis or meningococcemia. In addition, he says, “a full body rash can be a manifestation of acute HIV infection and is a hallmark of secondary syphilis.”
  • Purpuric lesions, non-blanching spots of blood that escaped the blood vessels under the skin, can be a sign of meningococcemia, among other diseases.
  • Spots on the soles and palms are a hallmark of secondary syphilis.

How can a dermatologist sensitively bring up a patient’s sexual history when his or her condition suggests a possible link to an STD?

Dr. Katz says something like this: “I ask all my patients with a rash like yours some sensitive questions about their sexual history because it’s important to my care for you. Is that OK with you?”

If the patient agrees, he says, “then I’ll ask in a straightforward and nonjudgmental way: Are you sexually active? What are the genders of your sex partner or partners? What’s your HIV and sexually transmitted disease status? How frequently do you use condoms during sex? What’s your vaccination history?”

Keep in mind, Dr. Katz says, that gay and bisexual men often haven’t felt comfortable discussing their sexual history with physicians.

Disclosure: Dr. Katz reports no relevant disclosures.

Randy Dotinga

Randy Dotinga is a medical writer based in San Diego, Calif.

Inside the world of male sex workers

Inside the world of male sex workers

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The well-dressed father of two earns good money. He speaks English and works for an international NGO that combats HIV/AIDS. He used to be a sex worker, a man who has sex with other men, and then became a government informer, reporting back to the police on other sex workers who were then arrested. He resorted to drink and drugs because of his shame and isolation. And now he wants to talk about it.

The root cause of all his problems, says Ko Kyaw Zayyar Swe, 38, is poverty. He was forced out of school at 15 because his soldier father could not afford the tuition fees. He worked as a waiter at a Chinese restaurant, but the owner cut his already low wages after giving him a dumpling for lunch instead of money. He quit.

Because he never made it to 10th standard, he could not find a good job, and money was always short. When he married at the age of 17, making ends meet became almost impossible.

“I was working in a shop in Bogyoke Market. One day, two foreigners I’d seen before in the market bought me jeans and shirts. Nobody had ever given me anything before,” he said.

The men invited him for drinks, then brought him back to their hotel room and asked for sex.

“I was shocked. But I needed money urgently for my family so I agreed to do it,” he said.

More contacts were made, and more money came in. He became a regular sex worker, offering services for gay men. Since foreigners paid much better than local men, Ko Kyaw Zayyar Swe decided to learn English.

He came to know many other male sex-workers like himself, working around Bogyoke and Theingyi Zay markets and Sule Pagoda Road, and even further afield.

In 2003 he was arrested under a law banning “inappropriate” sex, along with a friend and two foreigners, and spent two-and-a-half years in Insein Prison. The law is also used against transgender people.

This was the first time his parents and his wife became aware of his secret life.

When he was released, the Ministry of Home Affairs asked him to turn informer against the male prostitutes of Yangon. As his friends went to prison, he got paid. “I received K10,000 a day for some years. That was a lot of money. I didn’t want to destroy other people’s lives because I knew what it was like to be in that position. In the end, I stopped informing and went back to being a sex worker myself,” he said.

All the other sex workers did what they did because they were poor, he said, and saw no other way out. “We didn’t dream of this profession. But with no education and no work but odd jobs, how can you support a family? We didn’t want to be rich. We just wanted enough to get by for a family life.”

Conditions for sex workers changed with the advance of the internet. Now they don’t have to hang around on the street, but make contact online through dedicated websites. At one time, you could see up to 50 sex workers around the markets at night, chatting to customers. There is a thriving market for male sex-workers among gay men, with more male than female customers.

Though the money is the best they have ever made, male sex-workers feel disgusted, lonely and depressed. They feel nobody stands up for their rights, and everybody looks down on them.

“This way of life makes us angry. We can’t share our feelings with family or friends. It’s a big problem for society too,” said Ko Kyaw Zayyar Swe.

Many drink to forget, he said, and then go on to take drugs.

One day, a man from Bangladesh involved in promoting health awareness for male sex-workers asked him to take a part-time job at his NGO, which was gathering information about prostitution and developing training programs for public health professionals.

Ko Kyaw Zayyar Swe said sex workers needed both physical and mental support, as well as job opportunities, to be provided by the government, NGOs and INGOs.

“I never even knew how to use a condom with customers. Luckily, I didn’t get HIV. Knowledge is very important and we need that,” he said, adding that courses in leadership skills, empowerment and capacity building would also help to raise self-confidence.

Dr Aung Myo Min, director of Equality Myanmar Human Rights Group, said male sex workers were hard to reach because they isolated themselves. Too much isolation, he warned, could turn them into drug addicts, or even susceptible to becoming terrorists.

“They are ashamed of what they do. They only do it for the money. Even within the group, there are problems of competition for customers,” he said.

They are not even particularly high-profile. Most of the small counselling groups set up by NGOs in Myanmar for HIV and health awareness cater to female and transgender prostitutes because most of them suffer exploitation, discrimination and even torture. Male sex-workers are seen as being in the profession mainly for the money.

“Even their customers can find them difficult to deal with because of their lack of self-esteem and feelings of indignity. There has to be a way of allowing them to change their profession,” said Dr Aung Myo Min.

A doctor who provides health support for people living with HIV and AIDS said male sex-workers are particularly difficult to contact. “Both sex-workers and customers have to be aware of sexual health issues. Now there are many drop-in centres, including day-care centres for HIV-positive patients, where they can express their feelings and receive support,” said the doctor.

According to 2013 figures from the UN agency UNAIDS, there are an estimated 70,000 sex workers in Myanmar. About 8 percent of them are living with HIV.

Retiring to the bedroom: Older people still enjoy healthy sex life after 50

Retiring to the bedroom: Older people still enjoy healthy sex life after 50

WE MIGHT like to think that parents and grandparents stop having a sex drive at 50 but the reality is starkly different.

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By FRANCESCA FRAWLEY

A new study has revealed that geriatrics not only continue their antics between the sheets, but they explore their sexuality even more.

Professor Liza Berdychevsky at the university of Illinois and Galit Nimrod, from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel looked at how older generations view sex in their later lives.

And the results were surprising.

They analysed 14 leading online communities for the over-50s across the English-speaking world, including the UK and the US.

Looking at their chats on sex, researchers discovered that many “remained sexually able, interested and active.”

While some were happy to give up their sex lives – blaming health conditions and a lack of drive – others used their twilight years to make up for lost time.

Prof Berdychevsky told Medicalxpress.com: “Although some older adults reported abstaining from sexual activity due to health conditions or loss of interest, others refused to renounce sexual activity.

“Their health problems or society’s ageist stereotypes that portray seniors as asexual were not going to become excuses to give up on life – or sex.”

She revealed how many older people surveyed were inspired to explore their sexuality more and try new ways to spice up their love lives.

Last year, research by The University of Manchester told how more than half of men and a third of women over 70 in England are still sexually active.

In online chats, many revealed the ‘ageist stereotypes’ they faced, with some telling how their concerns about sexual health were dismissed by doctors.

Similarly they were met with disapproval from their children if they were candid about their sex lives.

Popular discussions online included dating advice, continuing a sex life after a bereavement and new sexual relationships.

Despite being happy to swap anecdotes online, some were embarrassed to try sex tips or aids in their own lives – for fear of judgement.

The report concluded that older people who accepted their physical imitation and adopted accordingly  continued to enjoy a healthy sex life.

While many admitted they were happy to abstain, advertising for sex enhancements featuring younger models was a focal reason for problems in the bedroom.

Prof Berdychevsky said: “These stereotypes caused performance anxiety in some older men and some older women believed that both partners should have a say in whether sex enhancement drugs are prescribed.”

Diet, Substance Abuse and Male Fertility

Diet, Substance Abuse and Male Fertility

2016-07-25

alcohol

Recently, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine held their annual meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. The topic of male fertility, in terms of diet and substance use, came up. Recent studies have found conflicts which leave specialists scratching their heads. But endocrinology and andrology experts say observational studies alone are not significant. Though in vitro fertilization (IVF) is better overall for those men who consume more fruits and vegetables, one study showed that eating produce with a high amount of insecticide residue affected sperm quality. But another study showed that vegetarians tended to have poorer sperm concentrations than omnivores. Another paper found that tobacco smokers have a higher risk of erectile dysfunction. But those who drank alcohol were less likely to experience it. Urologists often tell men to stay away from alcohol when trying to conceive. Yet, the final study showed that those men who had a high caffeine intake had more trouble conceiving, while male alcohol consumption seemed to increase chances.

The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Craig S. Niederberger, MD said, “While the results of some studies presented at the meeting seem to be contradictory, it is important to remember that observational studies often can’t tell the whole truth.” He went on, “A more rigorous scientific approach would include randomly assigning people to diets—what scientists call prospective randomization—and seeing what happens.” He added, “So we’re left with a basic rule of thumb: if it’s healthy for other parts of the body, it’s probably good for reproduction, too.” President of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Rebecca Z. Sokol, MD, MPH said, “The human organism is complex and substances we inhale and imbibe have systemic effects beyond the stimulation the user is seeking.” She went on, “These studies provide new information that can help men make healthy choices for themselves, their partners, and their future children.”

Foreplay Techniques She’ll Crave

Foreplay Techniques She’ll Crave

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Men are ready at the flip of a switch. Women however take some time to get in the mood both physically and psychologically. As a guy it’s your job to warm up her engine. Foreplay isn’t always easy. It takes time, patience and forethought to pull off right. Of course it all depends on what mood she’s in, what she’s doing, if it’s a good time. Women are complicated. What you need to do is strike at the right time. Not when she’s first come in the door from work, but after supper, say when you’re getting cozy on the couch. But that’s not enough. You also need the right approach. Here are some foreplay techniques that she will crave, upping your chances of success, and making it a wild ride. Remember how hot it was to make out on the couch as teenagers? Why does that have to end? Don’t try to take her clothes off just yet. Don’t let the pressure of sex weigh on her. Instead take some time. Tease her and let her feel how excited she makes you. What really turns a woman on is being desired. If you can make her feel how much you want her, she’ll want you back. Keep ramping it up and she’ll want you so bad.

Why not sext with her earlier in the day? Don’t outline every detail. Instead, add in a little mystery. Let her imagination start to work. Remember that some women don’t like it if you are too graphic. Err on the side of subtlety. The mind is where it all begins. So if you can, get her all riled up before she even gets home, if she’s turned on when she comes to see you, half the battle is already won. And who doesn’t like it when a turned on female shows up at your door? If you are out and about together, do secret naughty things to her. That will get her so turned on. Slip your hand up her shirt when sitting in a darkened theater. Work your hand up her thigh at the coffee house. Play footsie under the table when out at the bar with friends. Pull her into darkened corners and kiss her passionately. When you’re at a show or concert, slip your hand down her pants and play with her a little. Chances are you’ll be driving to a secluded spot or jumping right in the back seat because neither one of you can wait until you get home. The number one rule in foreplay is to take your time. Think of foreplay as enjoying the courses to a fine meal. Don’t rush through the appetizer and main course just to get to dessert. Savor each and every course. She’ll be quivering in your arms if you are passionately touching and kissing her all over. With dirty talk, remember a little goes a long way. Compliment her then say something naughty in a low and sexy tone. Whisper it breathlessly in her ear and she’ll be all over you.

Drinks that Increase or Dampen your Sex Drive

Drinks that Increase or Dampen your Sex Drive

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When it comes time to order a drink, do you ever consider your sex life in the decision? Most men don’t. But what’s in your cup may be ramping up your libido or killing it. Lots of times when we have a drink, we never even consider how it will affect our sex drive. But believe it or not, what’s filling your glass may give you a boost or hinder your desire, even your ability to perform. Here are some drinks that increase your sex drive and others that dampen it. A lot of guys use booze to loosen up, shake off the jitters and get into the mood. But in fact, it can have the opposite effect, making you too sluggish to “get-it-on.” One or two drinks might be okay, but any more than that and you are risking a night of celibacy. For those who have functioning issues, perhaps skip the alcohol altogether. Whatever you do, don’t have a gin and tonic. Quinine, the active ingredient in tonic, was shown to lower testosterone in one German study.

The cooler months bring with them a delicious treat, apple cider. Try it warm with some cinnamon and cloves. Cinnamon is a proven libido booster for men, and cloves give the reproductive system an overall boost. Some guys are soda guys. No matter where they go, they always order a cola. But all of that sugar isn’t good for your waistline. Extra body fat sucks up testosterone, lowering your sex drive and functionality. For those who opt for diet soda, look out for the artificial sweetener, aspartame. This has been proven to lower sex drive. Why not sweeten some lemon seltzer or fresh iced tea with honey instead? Honey aids in the production of testosterone and so helps stoke the fires of desire. Try honey in ginseng tea. Ginseng was shown in one South Korean study to go so far as to reverse ED. Now that you know, you can select a beverage that will get your engine running, instead of having one that revs but never starts.

The new secret to losing weight? Water

The new secret to losing weight? Water

2016-07-21

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN

Suddenly starving? Try drinking some water.

That recommendation isn’t new — but it suddenly got some serious evidence to back it up. A study of nearly 10,000 adults ages 18 to 64 shows that staying hydrated by drinking water and eating more water-loaded fruits and vegetables could help with weight management, especially if you’re overweight or obese.
“Staying hydrated is good for you no matter what, and our study suggests it may also be linked to maintaining a healthy weight,” said lead author Dr. Tammy Chang, an assistant professor in the department of family medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School. “Our findings suggest that hydration may deserve more attention when thinking about addressing obesity on a population level.”
Being dehydrated can mess with your mental, physical and emotional health. Numerous studies show attention, memory and mood can be damaged, and physical distress such as headaches, constipation and kidney problems can result.
But when it came to weight loss and gain, the science on the role of water has been murky. Some studies found drinking water helped control weight gain, yet other studies showed the opposite. Part of the problem, said Chang, was the way hydration has been measured.
“Water consumption is not an ideal measure of hydration,” explained Chang. “The amount of water it takes to stay hydrated depends on your body size and many other factors like your activity level and the climate you live in. Imagine if you were a landscaper in Arizona versus a receptionist in Michigan. The amount of water it takes to stay hydrated will be drastically different.”

Some need more water to stay hydrated

Chang and her fellow researchers at the University of Michigan looked at the topic in a new way — not how much water you drink, but how well hydrated you are when you do so. To do that, they measured the concentration of water in urine.
They found that staying hydrated — which helps your heart pump blood more efficiently to your muscles, which then makes them work more efficiently — was especially important for anyone with a body mass index (BMI) over 25, which is technically overweight and unfortunately applies to all too many of us. In fact, two out of every three Americans are overweight or obese.
“We found hydration and BMI/obesity are associated,” said Chang. “A bigger person needs more water than a smaller person to stay hydrated.”
“It could be that those people with higher BMI are more likely to be inadequately hydrated or that those that stay well hydrated are less likely to be obese.”

Signs you need more fluids

More research is needed, said Chang. But in the meantime, here are ways you can find out if your body has enough fluids.
“Feeling thirsty is the most straight forward way to know if your body needs more water,” said Chang. “Your mouth may feel dry. You may feel run down or less alert. However, I have found that my patients often confuse these symptoms with other urges like hunger or general fatigue.”
The color of your urine is another good way to tell. If your urine is light yellow, almost the color of water, you’re in good shape. If your urine is dark yellow, it’s time to drink up.
And yes, water is best. “Other beverages come with other substances like sugar in soda, or caffeine in coffee that are not recommended in large amounts,” said Chang. “Soft drinks typically contain sugar or chemical sugar substitutes that I do not recommend to my patients. Water is the best for hydration for most people.”
Here’s another easy way: Increase your intake of water-laden foods, such as cucumbers, celery, watermelon, raw broccoli and carrots, plums, apples and peaches.
“Eating fruits and vegetables with high water content is good for you not just because of the nutrients they deliver to your body, but also because they can improve your hydration.”
And they don’t come with a ton of calories. It’s a win all around.

Worried About ED? Look at Your Diet

Worried About ED? Look at Your Diet

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Lots of things can cause erectile dysfunction. But the most common is the onset of heart disease. In this case, ED is generally brought on by a poor diet and lack of exercise. Foods high in fat, sugar, and cholesterol add to the buildup of plaque on artery walls.

Since the arteries that supply the penis with blood and create an erection are much smaller than those in other parts of the body, they tend to clog up first, which is why physicians count ED as an early symptom to a more pressing problem. If left unchecked, it could lead to a heart attack or stroke. Too much sugar in the diet, along with a lack of exercise and being obese, can also lead to type 2 diabetes. If left uncontrolled, the elevated sugar level can damage nerves and tissues, including the nerves which cause an erection. So diet can lead to ED in that sense as well.

Obesity may also cause a lack of testosterone. This is a crucial hormone for the sex drive and erection formation. Fat cells trap testosterone. But the body does not make more, thinking that there is enough in the system. In this way, a high fat diet can also affect male fertility, as a certain level of testosterone is required for proper sperm production. One’s diet should consist mostly of fruits and vegetables.

When you look at your plate, two-thirds of it should be from produce. Lean proteins such as chicken or fish, and whole grains are also important, and should make up the other third. Red meat and high fat or high caloric foods can be eaten occasionally, red meat just once per week. But the majority of one’s diet should be healthful. With the right diet and cardiovascular exercise, most of the time, ED can be avoided. If you are already experiencing the condition, be sure to talk to a doctor or urologist. A serious medical condition could be causing it. Take heart. There are also many treatment options. One is sure to help you.