Maintaining overall health is crucial, and this includes sexual health, a topic that often remains under-discussed due to its sensitive nature.
In Canada, where the conversation around erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment is becoming increasingly open and informed, men are exploring various avenues to enhance their sexual performance and well-being.
Among these options, natural supplements play a vital role. In this article, we delve into the world of vitamins and natural supplements, shedding light on how they can support and potentially improve men's sexual health.
From diet augmentation to complementing ED treatments available in Canada, we'll guide you through everything you need to know about sexual health vitamins, unlocking the secrets to a healthier and more satisfying sex life.
Topics covered in this article:
Let's dive in.
Sex isn't just a fun experience. It's an incredibly vital part of a man's life. On the one hand, it's a hormone-driven bodily function meant to keep our species going. On the other hand, it's an incredibly pleasurable experience that connects to many other parts of our bodily health, both physically and mentally.
Sexual health refers to a man's state of well-being that allows him to fully participate in and enjoy sex. Several different factors can affect this, including physical, interpersonal, psychological, and social factors.
Optimal sexual health for men includes having strong sexual desire (libido) as well as the ability to get and maintain an erection (erectile function).
While most people typically associate having good sexual health with physiology, mental and emotional health also play huge roles as well.
Also, being sexually healthy doesn't just mean you don't have any diseases. Other sexual difficulties include premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, or the inability to experience an orgasm (anorgasmia). Male sexual health also covers the prevention and treatment of STDs and male infertility.
But the most common problem among men is erectile dysfunction (ED), or the inability to get an erection and sustain it long enough to have sex.
Several things can cause this, including:
Erectile dysfunction can even be an early warning sign for heart disease. Besides the serious implications of ED, most men who have experienced it can tell you that it's an embarrassing and undesirable situation.
While there are several different pills, injections, devices, treatments, and surgeries that can help men with these issues, many would argue that the best treatment is prevention.
Just like any other health issue, sexual health has a wide range of natural ingredients that can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Almost half of all Canadians (45.6%) over one year old report using a nutritional supplement.
Many research studies have been conducted that prove that vitamins have a positive effect on men's sexual health. Most of the time, sexual issues happen because men are deficient in different vitamins and minerals.
These deficiencies can cause a lack of nutrients and result in sexual health problems. Vitamins are a great and easy way to make sure you're getting the essential nutrients that you need to have a satisfactory sex life.
Of course, no "miracle" vitamin will completely fix or increase your sex life as a whole, but certain supplements can help in different situations.
They come in many different forms, whether they are pills, powders, or liquids. But no matter what, the goal is the same: to supplement your diet to get the nutrients your body needs and to enhance your sexual health.
All supplements will contain at least one dietary ingredient, including:
However, the specific benefit that a supplement has depends on what it is. We'll take a deeper look below.
When it comes to choosing the right supplement for you, there are a couple of steps you need to consider.
First, you need to evaluate the problem you are trying to solve. Not all sexual health problems are the same, as mentioned earlier. Figure out what your problem is and go from there.
Next, it's important to evaluate any documentation and studies that show the effects of the supplement and your sexual health issue. It's important to check the science behind the product rather than the claims made by the manufacturer.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of snake oil salesmen in the sexual health industry that could be selling useless pills, or worse, something that could be even more detrimental to your health.
As mentioned earlier, maintaining men's sexual health involves several different factors and problems. There are plenty of natural substances created on this earth that have a positive effect on sexual health, and not all of them are the same. Let's take a look at some of the most popular options for vitamins.
Vitamin C, which is also called ascorbic acid, is one of the most important vitamins in helping your sex life. It increases the production of nitric oxide (NO) as well as facilitates a better flow of blood. Both of these factors help improve the quality of erections while making sex more enjoyable.
Also, vitamin C can help prevent and get rid of urinary tract infections that can happen to men as they get older.
A study conducted in 2020 found a link between vitamin D deficiency and severe erectile dysfunction. Previous studies have also found that people with low levels of vitamin D also suffer from hypogonadism.
Hypogonadism is when the body doesn't produce enough sex hormones, leading to low libido and issues getting an erection. These results have linked vitamin D deficiency with erectile dysfunction.
Studies show that vitamin D has several positive benefits when it comes to sexual health, including:
Vitamin D is primarily acquired through sunlight, but finding supplements is a great way to make sure you're getting the nutrients you need in your diet. Around 1 billion people in the world suffer from a vitamin D deficiency, so it could be worth checking if it's right for you.
Vitamin E helps increase stamina and energy, both of which are important factors in a healthy sexual life. It increases testosterone levels, which improves libido and sex drive.
It is also known as the "sex vitamin" because it can increase blood circulation in the genitalia, making it a great option to add to your dietary supplement list.
Vitamin B9 is also known as folic acid or folate. It is known to increase sperm count when combined with the supplement zinc. Like vitamin D, there have been studies that show a connection between erectile dysfunction and a deficiency in vitamin B9.
Vitamin B3 is also known as niacin. It has several sexual health benefits, including:
Vitamins B9 and B3 are often included in multivitamins for men's sexual health.
Vitamins aren't the only things that can help your sexual health. Here are a few other popular natural sexual health supplements that have been known to boost sexual health as well.
Maca is a plant that is native to Peru. It is a cruciferous vegetable similar to a turnip or potato. It has been used for hundreds of years by the Peruvian Inca people and is known to increase strength, stamina, libido, and sexual function.
Along with its supposed sexual benefits, it is loaded with nutrients like arginine, which is an essential part of producing nitric oxide for erections.
Red ginseng is often called "herbal Viagra." Several benefits can help with issues regarding erectile dysfunction.
Red ginseng has some called ginsenosides that help relax smooth muscles in the penis. This leads to improved erection quality and even helps improve cardiovascular health.
L-arginine is an amino acid that helps increase nitric oxide production, an important chemical needed to produce and maintain an erection.
In 2020, a study showed that 2,500 mg of L-arginine a day was just as effective at treating mild erectile dysfunction as tadalafil — an FDA-approved ED medication.
Normally, it doesn't matter what time of the day you take vitamins. However, some vitamins are absorbed by the body better under special conditions.
Water-soluble vitamins, as the name suggests, dissolve best in water. You don't need to take them with food. The following vitamins are all water-soluble:
On the other hand, fat-soluble vitamins need fat for proper absorption, so it's best to take them with fat-soluble compounds with a meal that has fat in it. These include:
When it comes to multivitamins, research shows that it is best to consume them with a meal. This can help the body absorb the nutrients without upsetting your stomach.
Although pills that say they can boost your sex life might be appealing, it's important to research carefully before purchasing anything. Although the claims might be tempting to most men, some of them are not backed by evidence and can even lead to negative vitamin side effects.
Certain ingredients can trigger side effects or cause allergic reactions. They might also interact with other drugs that you may be taking. If it is a shady manufacturer, it could even have dangerous amounts of hidden pharmaceutical drugs that can be unsafe to the user.
It's important to remember that the FDA has no responsibility when it comes to approving supplements (as opposed to conventional pharmaceutical medicines).
By law, supplements must have at least one mineral, vitamin, enzyme, amino acid, or other substance used by the body. However, the rest of the ingredients may include components that aren't tested for safety or effectiveness.
That's everything you need to know about men's sexual health vitamins.
When it comes to choosing a vitamin or supplement to add to your diet, the best course of action is to always speak to a doctor. That way, you can always make sure it is safe and doesn't conflict with your past medical history or any other medications you are taking.
If you're looking for products that can help you up your game in the bedroom, look no further. UPGUYS carries everything you need to maintain and improve your sexual health and keep her satisfied in the bedroom.MD
Still have questions? Here are a few more frequently asked questions about sexual health vitamins.
There are many different supplements that help factors that pertain to men's sexual health, but a few good options to start with are vitamin D, vitamin B3, L-arginine, vitamin E, and zinc.
It's important to not self-diagnose yourself for a health condition. It is best to see a doctor or healthcare provider to determine how best to reach your optimal health.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides a free online tool that allows you to find everything you need with just a few pieces of information about yourself.
No, dietary supplements are not meant to treat, diagnose, prevent, or cure any diseases. Although they might help certain conditions, it's best to see a doctor about it first.
No — not the same way it regulates medications. It regulates dietary supplements more like food than medication. Supplement makers do not have to show how safe or effective their product is before selling it on the market.