Adapted from Consumer Reports, this diagram shows the basic structure of the diet that is best for a man’s sexual prowess. (Image credit: Womensheart.org)
November is Impotence Education Month in the US, and with a large segment of readers at Greenprophet from the States, we thought we’d share some eco-sexy news with regards to genital health and a man’s diet.
“The link between the Mediterranean diet and improved sexual function has been scientifically established,’ said Irwin Goldstein, MD, director of sexual medicine at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego,” in a feature article on WebMD.com. In other words, fella’s who eat a Mediterranean diet are less likely than their burger-munching buddies to suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED).
For more on the specifics, we turned to the experts at the Mayo Clinic for this two-part segment on men, diet and impotence (read part II on diet and impotence here). In part I of this series, we cover the benefits of the med diet with regards to proteins. Part II will take us to the land of fats and carbs – foods some of you might shy away from – but not after you read about all the sex-bennies that come from this Eco-Sexy food affair.
Eat, Drink and Be Frisky the Mediterranean Way
The Mediterranean food affair – which is a blend of how the southern Italians and French, the Greeks and some of the communities in the Middle East – emphasizes getting plenty of exercise and eating a plant-based diet. This includes 7-11 servings a day of fruits and vegetables a day, plus reasonable amounts of pasta and rice, whole grain breads, olive and canola oils and fats from nutritious sources like nuts dominate the menu.
In general, those who follow this meal plan obtain their calories in the following proportion: 50% to 60% from carbohydrates, 30% from fats, and 10% from proteins. But it’s the specifics in each group that distinguish this lifestyle, sexually speaking.
The meat of the matter: Specific fish and poultry are eaten a few times a week, with red meat making the cut only once or twice a month. Protein is also obtained from legumes, beans and nuts.
From a sexual health point of view, it’s true that juicy steak may make a man salivate, but eaten more than twice a month, and he’s likely to see his pecker putter. All those trans-fats are bad for the heart, and since a vigorous erection depends on a strong pump, you don’t want to interfere with blood flow to your love muscle.
Nuts deserve some special attention in this discussion, especially since people may avoid them because they are high in calories and fat. The good news is that it is good fat, the kind that nourishes the brain, for instance. Even better from his gherkin’s point of view: certain nuts are genuine aphrodisiacs.
Great bets for male libido include almonds, pistachios and pine nuts for their high level of protein (energy in the bedroom), healthy fat (the precursor to testosterone) and zinc (critical to a man’s sexual performance). A handful a day keeps Mr. Limpy at bay…
One added benefit: these sources are cheaper than red meat, and the production is often less harmful to the environment. Be smart and sexy, and go for organic, locally produced, and sustainable.
Continue reading more about the facts and friction of healthy fats, wine and more in Part II of this series, to be published Friday, November 12, called Do These Fats Make My Handle Look Big? Eco-Sexy Nutrition for a Man’s Erection (here).
More eco-sexuality and sexual health news:
Birth-Rate in Middle East Bad News for Mother Earth
The Ecology of Sustainable Love
How Vegetarians can Solve the Middle East Water Crisis
Tinamarie is a regular contributor to Greenprophet.com. You can follow her on @ModernLoveMuse and facebook. She blogs at www.tinamariebernard.com.
Author: Tinamarie Bernard
Tinamarie combines her interests in two of her favorite topics – relationships and the environment – for Greenprophet.com. As our eco-sexpert, she explores ways to make our personal lives more sustainable, whether it’s between a couple, the sheets or our ears. While eco-sexuality is a new term and still unfamiliar to many, being conscious about what we use in moments of intimacy is connected to better stewardship of the planet. The idea that green is sexy and sex can be green is one she is thoroughly enjoying discovering. This married mom of two also believes we owe it to our children to teach them to love themselves, each other, and the environment for futures to come. Intimacy isn’t something we are born knowing. Neither is good stewardship of the earth. In her spare time, she muses about sacred sexuality, conscious love, intimacy, feminism and parenting as the top-rated Modern Love column for Examiner.com and several other media outlets. She composes poetry (mostly in her heart), mediates (when time allows), rides horses in the Galilee, and searches for delicious parve dessert recipes. She considers chocolate a righteous sin, and won’t give up a single pair of red shoes. You can find...
