There is a significant interdependence between food and human sexual function. Both traditional and modern medicine believe that certain dietary choices can achieve effects such as strengthening sperm, enhancing yang, and nourishing the kidneys, and they can have a positive impact on sexual desire, sexual response, and sexual behavior. From the perspective of maintaining and regulating sexual function, people should master the following principles in their daily nutritional choices:
(1) Eat more high-quality protein
High-quality protein mainly refers to animal protein such as poultry, eggs, fish, and meat, as well as bean protein. Protein contains various amino acids required for human activities, and they participate in the formation of human tissue cells, including sexual organs and reproductive cells. For example, arginine is an important raw material for sperm production and has the effect of improving sexual function and eliminating fatigue. Soy products and fish contain more arginine. Some animal foods themselves contain sex hormones.
Enzymes are special proteins with catalytic activity in the body that can accelerate chemical reactions and are extremely beneficial to human health. Once the body lacks enzymes, it can lead to reduced function, including a decrease in sexual function, and even loss of fertility. Enzymes exist in various foods, and when cooking food, excessively high and prolonged temperatures, especially methods like frying, roasting, and pan-frying, can easily destroy enzymes.
Japanese scholars have pointed out after research that abalone, octopus, and shellfish such as clams, oysters, ark shells, turban shells, and scallops are rich in amino acids and are effective sperm-strengthening foods. Slippery aquatic products also have a sperm-strengthening effect, and these foods include eel, loach, and swamp eel.
(2) Consume an appropriate amount of fat
In recent years, because most adult men worry about high cholesterol leading to obesity, heart disease, etc., they have adopted a principle of low intake. However, from the perspective of maintaining sexual function, a certain amount of fat should be appropriately consumed. Because the body's sex hormones (androgens and estrogens) are mainly converted from cholesterol in fat, long-term vegetarians have reduced sex hormone secretion, which is detrimental to sexual function. In addition, fat contains some essential fatty acids required for sperm production. When essential fatty acids are deficient, not only is sperm production affected, but it also leads to a decrease in sexual desire. Moderate consumption of fat also helps in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A and vitamin E. Meat, fish, and eggs contain more cholesterol, and moderate intake is beneficial for the synthesis of sex hormones. Especially animal organs themselves contain sex hormones and should be consumed.
(3) Supplement vitamins and trace elements related to sexual function
Studies have shown that zinc deficiency in the human body can lead to a decrease in sperm count, an increase in abnormal sperm, and a decline in sexual and reproductive function, even infertility. Both vitamin A and vitamin E have the effect of delaying aging and avoiding sexual function decline, and they have a good effect on sperm production and improving sperm motility. Vitamin C also has a positive effect on the maintenance of sexual function.
Zinc is found in high-quality protein, especially in animal liver, pancreas, meat, shellfish, milk, grains, beans, potatoes, vegetables, and brown sugar. Vitamin A is found in liver, poultry eggs, dairy products, fish, crab, shellfish, cabbage, spinach, chives, celery, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, dried chili peppers, and tomatoes. Vitamin E is found in germ, egg yolk, beans, nuts, vegetable oil, chicken, wheat germ, oatmeal, bread, margarine, peanuts, and sesame seeds. Fresh dates, various vegetables, and fruits all contain large amounts of vitamin C.
(4) Be cautious with foods that are detrimental to sexual function
Cottonseed oil, pig brain, sheep brain, rabbit meat, black fungus, winter melon, water caltrop, cannabis seed, and almond are considered foods that are detrimental to sexual function. The specific mechanisms of their effects are not yet fully understood, but traditional Chinese medicine believes they have adverse effects such as damaging essence qi, harming the yang passage, and weakening sperm and cooling the kidneys.