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A Natural Alternative to Viagra

February 4, 2009 Written by JP    [Font too small?]

Viagra has rapidly become one of the best known pharmaceutical drugs in the history of modern medicine. Cialis is very high up on that list as well. The reason for their popularity is two-fold: 1) these drugs provide an effect from which many men benefit, and 2) both of these drugs are “quick fixes”. You can still smoke, eat horribly and live a sedentary life, but as long as you use these powerful medications, you can still function “normally”.

Well I’m here to tell you that there’s another option available to many men. It’s cheaper, it’s safer, and it’s likely to promote a longer life as well. I wish I could bottle the information that I’m about to share. But sadly, this kind of information can only be enacted by those who read it.

Learning from Gastric Bypass Surgery

In my research, I came across three recent studies that examined the role that weight loss, exercise and diet could potentially play in male sexual function. The first study was published in the December 2008 edition of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

97 men with an average age of 48 years enrolled in the study. They had a few things in common: a) they all had gastric bypass (weight loss surgery); and b) they suffered from varying degrees of sexual dysfunction. To measure the degree of dysfunction, the authors of the study had the volunteers complete a questionnaire called a Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory (BSFI).

The researchers then followed up on the weight loss and any changes in sexual function for an average of 19 months. Here are the results they reported:

  • There were significant improvements in all areas tested, including: sexual drive, erectile function, ejaculatory function and sexual satisfaction.
  • The degree of symptomatic improvement was directly proportional to the amount of weight lost. In other words, the greater the weight loss, the greater the improvement in sexual function.
  • Those who lost 67% of their excess weight reported sexual functioning that was comparable to men who were not obese.

Another study, in the January 2009 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism provides some additional evidence that may help to explain these desirable changes. In this study, a group of 22 obese men (who had gastric bypass surgery) agreed to have their body mass index and hormone levels tested. They also completed a special quality of life questionnaire that focused on their sexual lives. The men were tested prior to their surgery and again two years afterward.

The researchers found several keys changes in the obese men that positively affected their sexual functioning. The changes included the following:

  1. A significant decrease in their BMI (Body Mass Index) – which indicates major weight loss.
  2. A profound drop in estrogen and an increase in total and free testosterone levels. Testosterone replacement therapy (and estrogen reduction therapy) is sometimes used to improve male sexual performance. In this case, the men’s diets produced a similar (but milder) result to what is typically brought about by prescription hormones and medications.
  3. A dramatic improvement in sexual quality of life was reported at the 2 year mark.

The researchers concluded that, “Hormonal alterations and diminished sexual quality of life among obese men are related to degree of obesity”.

And finally, a study from the end of 2008 appeared in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. It was a review of the scientific literature relating to diet, exercise and obesity-related erectile dysfunction.

The authors’ analysis can be summarized as follows:

  • A lack of physical activity negatively impacts erectile functioning.
  • A “Mediterranean-style diet” and a reduction in calories likely improve sexual performance.
  • Combining a healthy diet and exercise can help combat some of the underlying causes of erectile dysfunction – blood sugar abnormalities, excess inflammation, heart disease, poor circulation, etc.

Now I’m sure that certain groups that profit from gastric bypass surgery will seize upon similar information and use it to promote their business interests. And truthfully, gastric bypass surgery may offer benefits to some. But what if the same positive health effects could be achieved without the surgery? The final study I cited provides evidence that it is not only possible, but probable – provided that those who are interested, are willing to do the work required.

Update from June 9, 2009 – Click Here

Be well!

JP


Posted in Diet and Weight Loss, Men's Health

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