Are These Medications Killing Your Sex Life?

Most medications come with several side effects, ranging from mild dry mouth to severe life-threatening diseases. For most men, some of the worst—and the most common—are adverse sexual effects.

Some sexual side effects of medications can include erectile dysfunction, impotence, low testosterone, and even low sperm count or infertility. This is because certain medications impact hormone levels, nerve function, and blood circulation, all of which are an important part of sexual health.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is typically not a disease in its own right. Instead, it is usually a symptom or side effect of another underlying condition, like high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes, which is why most men with erectile dysfunction are also on prescription medications to treat these conditions.

Erectile dysfunction has been linked as a side effect of numerous diseases along with the medications that treat those diseases.


What medications can cause erectile dysfunction and other sexual dysfunction?

What can you do to treat both your condition and your erectile dysfunction in a healthy way?

1. Blood pressure medications

Use

Blood pressure medications are used to treat high blood pressure. High blood pressure can be a serious condition as it damages blood vessels and causes arteries to harden and narrow. This can limit blood flow throughout the body, including to the heart (heart disease) and penis (erectile dysfunction).

Men with high blood pressure often have ED because the blood can’t properly flow to the veins in the penis.

Impact

Men with erectile dysfunction are 38% more likely to have high blood pressure than those without erectile dysfunction; the reverse is also true. There is a direct link between blood pressure and sexual function.

Healthy blood pressure is necessary for an erection. In order to achieve an erection, blood needs to flow into the penis to make it “hard.” If the blood pressure is too high, the arteries in and around the penis become narrowed and damaged, which prevent blood from filling up inside the penis.

Diuretics, a type of blood pressure medication, interfere with blood flow to the sex organs. They also increase the body’s excretion of zinc. Men need zinc in order to produce testosterone and diuretics can decrease the body’s concentrations of free-floating zinc.

Beta-blockers are blood pressure medications that interfere with nerve impulses. This means that the brain-penis connection is severed making sexual arousal nearly impossible. Beta-blockers also reduce testosterone levels, which lowers libido and sexual interest.

There is also an indirect link between blood pressure medications and lifestyle. Lifestyle factors like eating unhealthy foods, not exercising, and smoking can cause men to take medication for high blood pressure which may also lead to sexual dysfunction. This is also directly linked to chronic inflammation in the body, which is at the heart of nearly all major diseases.

Types

  • Atenolol (Tenormin)
  • Bethanidine
  • Bumetanide (Bumex)
  • Captopril (Capoten)
  • Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
  • Chlorthalidone (Hygroton)
  • Clonidine (Catapres)
  • Enalapril (Vasotec)
  • Furosemide (Lasix)
  • Guanabenz (Wytensin)
  • Guanethidine (Ismelin)
  • Guanfacine (Tenex)
  • Haloperidol (Haldol)
  • Hydralazine (Apresoline)
  • Hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix)
  • Labetalol (Normodyne)
  • Nethyldopa (Aldomet)
  • Metoprolol (Lopressor)
  • Nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia)
  • Phenoxybenzamine (Dibenzyline)
  • Phentolamine (Regitine)
  • Prazosin (Minipress)
  • Propranolol (Inderal)
  • Reserpine (Serpasil)
  • Spironolactone (Aldactone)
  • Triamterene (Maxzide)
  • Verapamil (Calan)

Note that some blood pressure meds have more side effects than others. The medications that are least likely to cause adverse sexual effects are ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin II receptor blockers. Talk to your doctor about switching your blood pressure medication if you’re experiencing any form of sexual dysfunction.

2. Antihistamine

Use

Antihistamines are most commonly used to treat allergies. You’ve likely taken Benadryl if you got a bad bug bite or Claritin or Zyrtec for the springtime sniffles. Antihistamines are also used to manage nausea, relax muscles, and induce sleep.

Impact

Experts don’t know exactly how antihistamines impact the sexual system, but it may be due to their impact on the nervous system. Antihistamines are used to reduce the body’s natural response to foreign bodies. 

When you have an allergic reaction to something—like pollen or a bee sting—your body releases a surge of histamines and white blood cells to “fight off” that unknown object. Antihistamines minimize this response, which often reduces the redness and itchiness in your system. But it can also depress your body’s natural immune response.

Histamines are used as a transmitter in the brain and spine, so suppressing this transmission may impact the brain’s ability to send signals to the penis to gain an erection.

Studies have also shown that histamines actually play an important role in erections. Histamines activate the H2 and H3 receptors, which help signal the penis to have an erection.

Types

  • Cimetidine (Tagamet)
  • Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
  • Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
  • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
  • Doxylamine (Unisom)
  • Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)
  • Meclizine (Antivert)
  • Nizatidine (Axid)
  • Promethazine (Phenergan)
  • Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
  • Ranitidine (Zantac)

3. H2 blockers

Use

H2 blockers, also called histamine H2-receptor antagonists, are used to treat gastrointestinal disorders. Common uses include treatment of GERD, gastric ulcers, peptic ulcers, heartburn, and esophagitis.

Impact

Like antihistamines, H2 blockers deactivate the H2 receptors that are necessary for an erection.

Research has found that they may cause impotence and male breast enlargement if taken at high doses for a long period of time. This is likely because they impact the endocrine system and interrupt the H2 signaling process (as discussed above with antihistamines).

Types

  • Famotidine (Pepcid)
  • Cimetidine (Tagamet)
  • Nizatidine (Axid)
  • Ranitidine (Zantac)

4. Antidepressants

Use

Antidepressants are prescription drugs used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Some doctors prescribe antidepressants as a means of smoking cessation. Low doses of antidepressant medications have also been used to treat chronic pain, menstrual cramps, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Impact

Antidepressants influence the function of neurotransmitters and hormones in the brain, including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Serotonin and dopamine are the “happy” hormones, but they also play an important role in libido and sexual satisfaction.

Antidepressants suppress these hormones, which in turn suppresses the body’s ability to get “excited” by sexual stimuli.

These hormones are also used as signals between nerve cells. With minimized signals, the brain has trouble alerting the nerves in the penis. This means that the penis doesn’t know it needs to have an erection. Even stimulating the nerve endings on the penis wouldn’t be able to signal the brain that it’s time to have sex. This inability for the brain and penis to interact is a direct cause of erectile dysfunction.


Overall, studies have shown that antidepressants—especially SSRIs—cause decreased sexual desire and excitement, diminished or delayed orgasm, and erectile dysfunction. There are also some cases of painful ejaculation, penile numbness, and spontaneous erection.

This proves that antidepressants have a direct influence on sexual function—even if the reason is still unclear.

It’s important to note that sexual dysfunction is often psychological. Depression and anxiety are known causes of erectile dysfunction. Thus, men on antidepressants may still have that psychological roadblock that is causing their erectile dysfunction, even while on medication.

 One study found that sexual side effects were actually worse when patients did not adhere to their depressive disorders. This suggests that for some individuals, depression and anxiety are a greater cause of sexual dysfunction than the antidepressants themselves.

Note: The same effect occurs with antipsychotic medications.

Types

  • Amitriptyline (Elavil)
  • Amoxapine (Asendin)
  • Buspirone (Buspar)
  • Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
  • Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
  • Clomipramine (Anafranil)
  • Clorazepate (Tranxene)
  • Desipramine (Norpramin)
  • Diazepam (Valium)
  • Doxepin (Sinequan)
  • Fluoxetine (Proxac)
  • Fluphenazine (Prolixin)
  • Imipramine (Tofranil)
  • Isocarboxazid 9Marplan)
  • Lorazepam (Ativan)
  • Meprobamate (Equanil)
  • Mesoridazine (Serentil)
  • Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
  • Oxazepam (Serax)
  • Phenelzine (Nardil)
  • Phenytoin (Dilantin)
  • Sertraline (Zoloft)
  • Thioridazine (Mellaril)
  • Thiothixene (Navene)
  • Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
  • Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)

5. Statins/fibrates

Use

Statins and fibrates are used to treat high cholesterol. They’re often used in conjunction to help lower cholesterol, especially for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Impact

Statins and fibrates are medications that inhibit the production of cholesterol, which happens to be the building block of testosterone and other hormones.

Statins are known to cause rhabdomyolysis, which breaks down muscle tissue and releases protein into the bloodstream, which can impact blood flow and sexual function.

One study found that statins and fibrates, which lower lipids, were significantly related to the incidence of erectile dysfunction cases.

Types

  • Fenofibrate (Tricor, Fibricor, Lofibra)
  • Gemfibrozil (Lopid)
  • Pravastatin (Pravachol)
  • Simvastatin (Zocor)
  • Lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev)

6. Benzodiazepines & anticonvulsants

Use

Also known as tranquilizers, benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety, insomnia, agitation, muscle spasms, and are sometimes used to prevent seizures.

Anticonvulsants are drugs specifically used to control seizures for those with epilepsy. They may also treat certain types of chronic pain like migraines or neuropathic pain.

Impact

Both benzodiazepines and anticonvulsants have muscle-relaxant properties, which lessen sexual interest and sensation. They also interfere with the production of testosterone, often leading to low T levels, which impact one’s sex drive, as well as, the ability to have orgasms.

Some research suggests that newer anticonvulsants, like gabapentin and topiramate may have fewer side effects.

Types 

  • Xanax
  • Ativan
  • Valium
  • Librium
  • Gabapentin (Neurontin)
  • Topiramate (Topamax)

7. Recreational drugs

Use

Recreational drugs are used for recreational purposes… I do not recommend the use of recreational drugs.

Impact

Most recreational drugs (and alcohol) decrease the arousal response to stimuli in the brain, which removes the mental part of getting an erection. If your brain doesn’t respond to the idea or arousal of sex, then it isn’t able to send signals to the penis to have an erection. Painkillers like morphine, oxycodone, and codeine also have similar effects.
Moreover, recreational drugs impact your genetic expression. They can cause methylation on key DNA groups, which can “turn off” healthy genes that stop disease progression and “turn on” unhealthy genes that unleash genetic disorders. Learn more about the epigenetics of drugs here.

Types

  • Amphetamines
  • Barbiturates
  • Cocaine
  • Marijuana
  • Heroin
  • Nicotine

How to stop sexual side effects?

The good news is that most of these adverse sexual side effects are reversible after you stop taking the medication. If you’re suffering from impotence, low libido, infertility, or other sexual dysfunction, you’ll want to talk to your doctor about possibly changing your prescription or approaching your condition with a more natural remedy.


But isn’t taking a medication for your heart more important than a healthy sex life?
Actually, no. A healthy sex drive is a predictor for overall health. Your sex organs are one of the first to stop working when your body is going through some sort of “shock,” like disease or infection. Your essential organs start taking all of the blood and nutrients, so none is left for your sex organs.

Thus, if you have a healthy sex life, it’s likely that your other organs are working in tip-top shape.

Plus, sex is a great method of exercise. It can help burn calories, clear out your arteries, build muscle, boost the immune system and keep your body in shape to ward off disease.

Don’t settle.

There are a number of ways to try to improve your health condition before resorting to heavy medications or therapies. For instance, if you’re currently taking statins and fibrates for high cholesterol, talk to your doctor about instead taking a mixture of vitamin B12, folic acid, and vitamin B6.

Check out the 7 supplements every man should take for optimal health here. One of the supplements I recommend for every man, especially those over 40, is a probiotic pill.

Moreover, changes in lifestyle have been shown to have an impact on cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, heart health, blood pressure, depression, anxiety, metabolic syndrome, and other conditions that typically require ED-inducing medication. 

Lifestyle changes can influence your epigenetic expression. Therefore, if you can alter your genes to be healthy and immune to disease, you won’t have to take any of the above medications that have ED-causing side effects. Learn more about how you can change your genes and risk for disease below with our Epigenetics Series.

Never stop taking a medication without first consulting your doctor.

Conclusion

There are a number of disorders that can cause erectile dysfunction, and a number of medications for those disorders can also cause ED.

Thankfully, sexual dysfunction is rarely permanent. You can change your pillbox—and your disorders—with certain lifestyle changes.

Check out our Male 90X program to start reducing your risk for disease and prescription meds.

If you don’t want to be on drugs with nasty side effects, it’s time to take control of your health.

Sign up for Male 90X’s genetic-based report and private consult to get started and own your health!

You should always talk to your doctor about any and all potential side effects of your medication before starting a regimen. You should also talk to a doctor before stopping any medications to try other avenues.

Ready to take the next steps?

Schedule a Call

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11 Ways Zinc Controls Your Health And Sex Life


Did you know that there is 5mg of zinc expended with each ejaculation?

Did you also know that the highest concentration of zinc is found in your prostate cells?

That’s because zinc plays a critical role in sexual health. It’s a building block for sperm quality, prostate health, and testosterone levels.

Zinc is one of the most vital nutrients for libido, fertility, and sexual prowess.

It is also important for overall wellness, impacting immunity, protein synthesis, and cellular function.

In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the importance of zinc for overall health and sexual wellbeing.

What is zinc?

Zinc is an essential mineral that plays an important role in your health. Your body needs it just as much as Mother earth needs it.

In fact, your body can’t function properly without zinc because it is found in every cell in your body. It’s also found in your major organs, fluids, and tissues. It’s found in especially high concentrations in semen and within the prostate gland.

What are the benefits of zinc?

Zinc is a key component in over 300 enzymes and it facilitates natural enzyme activity, including the production of protein. “Protein” is what your body is made of. Your skin, hair, and nails are all made of protein. Zinc is a vital and necessary component of the protein synthesis process, which makes it essential for healing wounds because your body needs zinc to produce the skin (protein) that will cover the wound.

Zinc also plays an important role in the cell. Since Zinc is an antioxidant, it helps protect your cells from oxidative stress. These harmful free radicals, aka “oxidative stress,” can cause disease, aging, and cancer. This antioxidant property also makes zinc a great boost for immune health.

Zinc is also highly linked to sexual health, including testosterone levels, prostate vigor, sperm motility and count, and fertility. We’ll dive into this more below.

Zinc is even necessary for adequate smell and taste reception! That’s right. You need zinc if you want to taste a lemon or stop to smell a rose.

Unfortunately, your body can’t make zinc on its own as it can with other vitamins, so you need to intake zinc through food and supplements.

What is zinc deficiency?

An estimated 17% of the global population suffers from a zinc deficiency. However, this deficiency is much more common in the developing world as it’s associated with an imbalanced or poor diet. Most Americans get enough zinc in their diet to maintain at least moderate levels of zinc in their body.

However, even if you aren’t fully “deficient” in zinc, low levels can cause serious health concerns, especially with regards to sexual health.

Vegetarians and vegans are most at risk for low zinc, as a majority of our daily intake of zinc comes from meat or fish.

Men over 65 can also have low zinc levels. This is because, with age, the body has more trouble absorbing nutrients. It’s also possible that some men eat less meat as they age because they are trying to minimize their cholesterol or high blood pressure. A minimized diet can create nutrient deficiencies, like low zinc levels.

Certain conditions can also interfere with the absorption of zinc and other nutrients:

  • Chron’s disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Ulcers
  • Liver disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Eating disorders

Certain medications, like diuretics, can impact the body’s ability to properly absorb essential nutrients.

What are the symptoms of zinc deficiency?

Symptoms (and effects) of low zinc include:

  • Frequent illness or colds
  • Chronic respiratory issues or pneumonia
  • Skin rashes
  • Weight loss
  • Lack of appetite
  • Hair loss or thinning
  • Fatigue and loss of energy
  • Mental tiredness
  • Slow healing wounds
  • Acne/dermatitis/psoriasis
  • Sensory impairment, especially taste and smell

Most importantly, low zinc can cause low testosterone, low libido, and drastically diminished sexual health.

Why is zinc important for health?

Zinc plays a number of critical roles in the body. Below, I’ll go through some of the proven ways zinc can impact your health—starting with the ones you care about the most – its impact on your sex life.

1. Balances testosterone levels

A number of studies have shown a proportional link between zinc and testosterone. More zinc = more testosterone. Low zinc = low testosterone.

A study in 1996 looked at young men with normal testosterone levels. They were put on a zinc-deficient diet for five months. Researchers found that these participants’ total testosterone levels dropped by nearly 50%.

Simultaneously, they looked at a second population. Researchers gave zinc gluconate to older men with low testosterone levels. After five months of zinc supplementation, their total testosterone levels had doubled.

This proved that zinc affects the amount of testosterone in the body.

Basically, no zinc means no testosterone and high zinc means high testosterone.

Another study of elite wrestlers found that total and free testosterone was higher following zinc supplementation than without supplementation. This was true both at rest and after exercise.

This concluded that zinc supplementation has a direct effect on testosterone regardless of diet and exercise.


We aren’t exactly sure why zinc plays a role in maintaining healthy testosterone levels. Experts believe that zinc inhibits the aromatase enzyme. This enzyme transforms testosterone into estrogen. If zinc can intercept this enzyme, it can prevent this conversion, thus preserving the body’s free testosterone.

In reverse, low zinc levels may increase the rate of transformation of testosterone to estrogen, like the low levels of vitamin D does.

One study found that zinc could be a useful erectile dysfunction treatment for those with long-term kidney disease. It does this by boosting testosterone levels.

So why does the zinc-testosterone link matter?

Because testosterone is the foundation of your manliness. Low testosterone is linked to low libido, fatigue, low muscle mass, brain fog, and even erectile dysfunction.

If you want high sexual function and overall health, you need strong testosterone levels and avoiding low testosterone levels may be as simple as ensuring you have adequate zinc intake.

2. Promotes a healthy prostate

Normal prostate tissue has 10x more zinc than other tissue cells in the body. Research has shown that zinc is found in healthful prostatic fluid and semen.

However, studies have also shown that cancerous or diseased prostate tissue has significantly less zinc than healthy organ tissue.

There is a direct relationship here. A healthy prostate has high levels of zinc. An unhealthy prostate has low zinc.  

Additionally, research has shown that zinc isn’t just a result of a healthy prostate—it’s a critical component that keeps the prostate healthy. For example, studies show that high levels of zinc can reduce the risk of BPH (an enlarged prostate) and prostatitis. This is likely due to zinc’s anti-inflammatory properties.

Zinc abundance may also help fight the risk of prostate cancer. One study found that taking 15mg of zinc showed a 66% reduction in the risk of developing advanced prostate cancer. Another study found that a higher intake of zinc was linked to a 36% reduced risk of dying from prostate cancer.

It’s not proven that zinc deficiency causes prostate cancer or that zinc intake conclusively prevents it… but there is definitely a correlation.

Read: Can You Prevent Prostate Cancer Through Diet?

3. Boosts sperm count, quality, and motility


If you are looking to be a father, you need healthy sperm. This means you need a high sperm count with strong motility.

Zinc plays a direct role in the health and quality of your sperm (and thus your fertility). Your testes need enough zinc in order to produce sperm. Zinc deficiency is linked to decreased sperm motility. Generally, men with lower levels of zinc have lower sperm counts and an increased rate of abnormal sperm morphology.

But high levels of zinc are linked to strengthened sperm and fertility. One study found that 66mg of zinc was actually able to increase sperm counts in sub-fertile men. (Don’t try this at home, though. Over 40mg of zinc daily can be toxic if not monitored by a physician.)  

Another study found that a combined supplement of zinc, folic acid, and golden root improved ejaculatory control of men with previous premature ejaculation concerns.  

4. Improves endurance and energy

Zinc facilitates the conversion of energy. Your body uses zinc to turn food into usable energy. If you don’t have enough zinc, your body starts to lose energy. This leads to low endurance, reduced muscle strength, and even minimized organ function.

Studies have shown that zinc supplementation may be able to increase endurance and performance.

This energy boost keeps you motivated throughout the day… and throughout the night when it’s time to get sexy. Who doesn’t want greater endurance in the bedroom?

5. Enhances immunity

Zinc is a strong antioxidant that can help neutralize free radicals to keep your immune system strong and thriving. It also increases the production of white blood cells that fight infection.

Zinc creates more white blood cells and more aggressive white blood cells. This means your cells can release a greater number of antibodies to fight off illness faster and more forcefully. 

Because of this, zinc is often used as an infection fighter—especially for the common cold. 

The Cleveland Clinic published a report in 1996 that made a huge splash in the medical world. They found that zinc reduced the severity and duration of a cold by nearly 58%. (However, some have speculated this was slightly exaggerated to sell a new product.)

Still, literature has come to conclude that zinc can help attack cold viruses and boost the immune system.  

You’ll even find zinc lozenges and nose sprays for over-the-counter cold and flu relief.

An enhanced immune system is especially important as we age and as our bodies naturally start to slow down. Thus, zinc could be a potential solution to slow this decline and maintain one’s immunity against disease and infection.

6. Thickens hair

As discussed earlier, zinc plays an important role in protein synthesis. Your hair is made of keratin, which is a type of protein. Zinc is a building block of hair.

Low levels of zinc can cause weak, brittle hair. This can often result in thinning hair or balding.

However, high levels of zinc lead to thick, luscious locks that won’t stop growing.

Thus, zinc may help slow down and even reverse the process of growing bald. There are even some topical products that have zinc as an active ingredient to help hair regrow!

7. Heals cells

Your body is subjected to free radicals on a daily basis. From pollution to fatty foods, your cells are constantly bombarded with oxidative damage (which is what causes disease and illness).

Even exercising causes damage. You stress out your body, breaking down your muscles on a cellular level. During the recovery period, your cells have to rebuild.

Your cells use zinc to synthesize the protein needed to rebuild your muscles. With available zinc, your body can make more protein, which makes your muscles grow back bigger and stronger.

So zinc plays a dynamic role. It helps prevent oxidative damage that hurts cells and it helps cells to rebuild after receiving damage.  


(It’s important to note that working out causes heavy sweating and low-calorie intake, both of which can cause insufficient zinc levels. Thus, it’s especially important to intake more zinc on heavy workout days, like HIIT lifting.)

8. Improves brain health

There are high concentrations of zinc found in the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning.

A study at MIT and Duke University found that zinc doesn’t just hang out in the hippocampus; it plays a role in long-term memory and learning. You need sufficient levels of zinc to keep your brain cells working properly.

Another study found that zinc may help protect the brain from viruses and toxins. Healthy zinc levels may actually help defend against brain diseases like schizophrenia, seizures, and even addiction.

9. Improves heart health


Like your muscles and brain, zinc plays a role in cellular restoration and healing the heart. This can help prevent heart concerns and maintain heart health after any damage has occurred (like after a heart attack).

Because zinc is an anti-inflammatory antioxidant, it helps minimize plaque buildup and cardiovascular disease. One study gave 40 healthy older adults 45mg of zinc gluconate daily for six months. They found that it had a positive impact on minimizing factors of atherosclerosis (cardiovascular disease). A second study found that zinc helped protect the myocardium (heart muscle) from damage.

Zinc protects your cells from damage, which in turn can protect your heart from damage.

10. Improves liver and gut health

The antioxidant powers of zinc may help detox the liver and rebalance the gut.

Research has shown that zinc boosts metallothionein (MT), which is a detoxifying compound. Low MT levels make the liver sensitive to potential damage, especially alcohol damage. High MT levels help stabilize the gastrointestinal tract to minimize inflammation.

Thus, zinc supplementation may help boost detoxifying effects, stabilize the GI tract, and reduce inflammation, which in turn, boosts immunity by clearing the major organs of extra “gunk!”

Learn about the dangers of chronic inflammation in the gut here.

11. Fights adult acne

If you’re suffering from adult acne, it’s likely that your hormones are unbalanced.

Zinc can help overcome unsightly (and annoying) acne in three ways.

  1. Zinc helps rebalance your hormones by boosting testosterone levels.
  2. It’s an anti-inflammatory agent, which means it can be applied as an ointment to help blemishes heal faster.
  3. Zinc is involved in protein synthesis, which helps wounds (like acne) heal faster to be replaced with new, healthy skin.

How can I get the zinc I need?


The daily recommended intake of zinc is 11mg. Most people consume 13mg of zinc daily.

If you’re eating a balanced diet, you’re probably getting the zinc you need.
You’ll find zinc in:

  • Lean red meat
  • Dark meat chicken
  • Liver
  • Seafood
  • Milk
  • Yogurt
  • Cheese
  • Nuts
  • Seeds
  • Spinach
  • Mushrooms
  • Whole grains

Oysters have the highest levels of zinc. There is about 74mg of zinc in a 3-oz serving of oysters. This high level of zinc is what makes oysters such an aphrodisiac. The zinc helps your testosterone levels skyrocket, which makes your libido off the charts!


Protein diets also have zinc. Beef, pork, lamb, and chicken will give you the most zinc for the smallest amount. Four ounces of lean beef will give you 5-6mg of zinc, which is half the daily recommendation.

Don’t overeat your meat, though. A high-protein diet can be just as damaging as a low-protein one; Everything in moderation!

Yes, you can have a small cut of steak to boost your zinc when you go out with your friends. Just be mindful of how much meat versus veggies, carbs, and fat that you’re consuming to avoid damaging your system.

Did you know that what you eat can even impact your genes?

If you’re not getting the zinc you need from your diet, there are zinc supplemental options as well. Most multivitamins will include small doses of zinc in them. Other zinc options include zinc+:

  • Gluconate
  • Sulfate
  • Acetate
  • Orotate (most accessible for the body)

You should not get more than 40mg of zinc daily. This can put you in toxic levels that may damage your health. High levels of supplemented zinc can also cause a harmful copper deficiency. If taking zinc vitamins, you might want to add copper to your supplemental regimen as well.

If you’re using zinc as a means of therapy, work with your doctor to create a plan that will boost your health without harmful side effects.

Should I supplement zinc for sexual health?

Zinc is not a proven treatment for sexual health concerns. However, it’s worth discussing zinc supplementation with your doctor.

Zinc therapy is different than other treatments because it helps raise your testosterone levels naturally. You’re not using synthetic hormones, like with testosterone replacement therapy. Your body uses zinc to prevent the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. This helps preserve testosterone, thus boosting free-floating and overall T levels.

Zinc supplementation also has a number of other benefits inside and outside the bedroom.

Work with your doctor to make sure you have sufficient zinc levels for optimal health.

Want to start improving your sexual and overall wellness in a few short weeks?  Sign up for our newsletter and schedule a consult.

 

5 Benefits Of Pomegranate For Your Sexual Health

Is pomegranate the ultimate solution to all of your “sex-drive” needs? What are the benefits of pomegranate?

What if I told you pomegranate could help all of your sexual health problems, from low testosterone and diminished libido to erectile dysfunction to even prostate cancer? This superfood is filled with antioxidants that have proven results to help both men and women have better sex lives. This fruit can increase testosterone levels, improve sperm quality, and increase sex drive and mood.

Pomegranate has three times more antioxidants than even red wine and green tea. Antioxidants are what improve blood circulation, decrease inflammation, reduce the risk of heart disease, and fight harmful free radicals that cause aging, illness, and cancer. Pomegranate antioxidants have even been known to help fight breast cancer.

If you’re looking to improve your sexual health, you need to add pomegranate to your daily lineup. From juice to seeds to supplement extracts, it’s easy to enhance your life with the wonders of pomegranate.

Let’s take a deep dive into the 5 benefits of pomegranates for your sexual and overall health.

1. Boosts testosterone

Testosterone is the “manly” hormone that controls your facial hair, deep voice, muscle growth, and even your sex drive. Low levels of testosterone can become a serious health problem leading to lowered energy, depression, diminished libido, weight gain, muscle loss, brain fog, and more. Women also need testosterone for their sex drive and regulation of estrogen levels.

By the way, low T means low libido… and low libido means a low desire for sex. If you have been losing your interest in sex recently, you may be suffering from low testosterone levels.

I always recommend increasing testosterone levels the natural way before resorting to costly (and often ineffective) testosterone replacement therapies. A daily intake of pomegranate is one of the easiest (and tastiest) ways to improve your testosterone.

Firstly, pomegranate is shown to block estrogen production. The Beckman Research Institute in California reported that pomegranate is rich in ellagittanins (ET). ETs convert into compounds that are used to stop your androgens from turning into estrogens. Basically, ET helps lower the production of estrogen.

This is critical to testosterone levels. Too much estrogen can interfere with libido, hurt erectile health, and damage bone strength. Plus, estrogen actually blocks testosterone production. High levels of estrogen actually further diminish T levels to create an unhealthy imbalance of hormones that are destructive to male sexual health.

A study at the Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Scotland found that participants who were given one glass of pomegranate juice per day for two weeks had a 24% increase in testosterone on average. They also saw further results linked to improved testosterone, balanced hormones, and regulated mood:

  • Decreased blood pressure
  • Decline of stress levels
  • Increase in positive emotions, especially self-confidence
  • Heightened mood
  • Lowered feelings of shyness, fear, and sadness

2. Treats erectile dysfunction

It’s important to note that the Queen Margaret study found not only an increase in testosterone levels, but also an increase in positive emotions as well. Stress, anxiety, low self-confidence, and fear are all major causes of erectile dysfunction. This study demonstrated that pomegranate might be able to improve psychological concerns that could cause erectile dysfunction.

Furthermore, pomegranates help address three major causes of erectile dysfunction: restricted blood flow/high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity.

Blood flow

You need proper blood flow in order for your penis to fill with blood and get “hard.” If you have high blood pressure, damaged arteries, or vascular problems, blood flow to the penis can be restricted, thus causing erectile dysfunction. Some studies show that pomegranate juice can reduce systolic blood pressure with “promising acute hypotensive properties.” This lowered blood pressure can help promote blood flow to the penis when it’s time for an erection.

Furthermore, a 2007 study found that drinking 100% pomegranate juice (POM Wonderful brand) actually helped manage erectile dysfunction. 50% of participants who drank the juice saw an improvement in their erections. They concluded that this was due to the high antioxidant content of pomegranates, which can stop free radicals from inhibiting blood flow to the penis.

Additionally, pomegranate is high in vitamin C. Vitamin C plays a crucial role in the production of nitric oxide (NO) by converting nitrites to nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide is the chemical that relaxes blood vessels and flexes muscles near and in the penis. This NO process prepares your penis for an erection. A 2005 Italian study found an increase in levels of nitric oxide and a decrease in oxidant damage in all blood vessels after consumption of pomegranate juice.

Heart disease

In a similar “vein,” heart-healthy pomegranates (filled with vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals) can open up your blood vessels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Heart disease is another cause of erectile dysfunction and lowered libido. Pomegranates can help lower cholesterol, remove arterial deposits (bad cholesterol), limit inflammation, and encourage blood flow—all lowering the risk of heart disease.

One study found that daily pomegranate seed oil for four weeks improved participants’ ratio of triglycerides to HDL, basically lowering bad deposits and raising good cholesterol. Researchers discovered that half a glass of pomegranate juice and three dates had enough antioxidants to help protect against heart attacks and strokes. A second study also showed that pomegranate juice could reduce bad cholesterol in those with type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.

Obesity

Being overweight can cause erectile dysfunction, lowered testosterone, imbalanced hormones, heart disease, diabetes, and more. Pomegranates also have been shown to help fight obesity by curbing hunger pains and improving satiation levels.

A 2016 study at Queen Margaret found that those participants who took a daily supplement of pomegranate had less desire to eat, were less hungry, and felt more satiated while eating than the placebo group. Researchers hypothesized that this was because of the fruit’s polyphenols (a specific type of antioxidant), which can act as an appetite suppressant.

Plus, pomegranates can help improve exercise performance, helping you lose weight and gain muscle at a faster rate. Pomegranate has a high amount of nitrates, which enhance blood flow throughout the body. This improved blood flow to the muscles can improve exercise performance, efficiency, and endurance. The better you workout, the more your body can burn off that extra flab. Regulated, healthy weight can reduce ED symptoms—and make you more energetic, happy, and productive!

3. Lowers risk of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer affects 11.6% of men at some point in their lives. What seems to be an inevitable disease is actually preventable—and maybe even with a delicious fruit like pomegranate! Recent research suggests, “pomegranate is likely to be valuable for treatment of some forms of human prostate cell life.”

One study looked at the reason why pomegranates may have this effect on prostate cancer. Data suggests that pomegranate extract down-regulates HR which sensitizes cells to DSBs, growth inhibition, and apoptosis.” Basically, pomegranate polyphenols help your cells kill themselves. “Apoptosis” is your body’s natural process where unhealthy cells self-destruct before spreading their “disease” to other cells. When damaged cells don’t self-destruct, they begin to breed and grow into tumors and cancers. Pomegranate extract helps keep this natural process of apoptosis functioning, so cancerous and damaged cells will continue to die off at an appropriate rate.

4. Improves sperm quality

A Turkish study found that rats that drank pomegranate juice had significant increases in healthy sperm. Generally, “healthy” sperm refers to the quantity, movement, structure, and fertility of the sperm. Healthy sperm is more likely to fertilize an egg and create a healthy embryo. If you and your partner are trying to get pregnant, it’s time to start glugging the pomegranate juice.

Turkish researchers also found an increased amount of natural antioxidants in sperm and blood, further demonstrating that pomegranate extract helps to send nutrients directly into the bloodstream to fight against damaging oxidation.

5. Other benefits of pomegranate

Pomegranate also has a number of health benefits that will make your overall wellness significantly better. For example, pomegranate’s ability to fight oxidative stress and minimize inflammation has been shown to fight rheumatoid arthritis, joint pain, and swelling. It has also been shown to aid brain health, improve memory, and fight off signs of dementia and Alzheimer’s.

As we age, our body’s natural processes start to slow down. If you want to stay functioning with optimal health, you need to take care of your sexual, physical, emotional, and mental wellness in tandem. Pomegranates have proven benefits in all of these wellness facets.

How to consume

There are a number of ways to get your daily dose of pomegranate. Pomegranate juice and pomegranate supplements are a popular way to get a shot of healthy goodness.

But be careful. Steer clear of most store-bought pomegranate juice, which tends to be filled with sugar—and sugar can actually make your sexual health worse. If you’re going to buy store-bought, stick to all-natural 100% juice like POM Wonderful.

I like making pomegranate juice right at home, so I can control the taste and consistency myself. Here’s how:

  • Cut open a fresh, organic pomegranate.
  • Scoop out the seeds and place in a bowl filled with water.
  • The seeds will sink to the bottom, and their white goopy membrane will float to the top.
  • Strain the water, which will clean the seeds and remove the membrane.
  • Place the seeds in a blender and blend to a pulp.
  • Strain the seed mixture into a pulp.
  • Add water and agave sweetener to taste.
  • Eat the rest of the pomegranate or use in your cooking!

And don’t neglect pomegranate seeds! They burst in your mouth for a hydrating and sweet snack. If you have a midnight sweet tooth like me, pomegranate seeds are a deliciously healthy way to curb those cravings.

Bottom line

Get back to the sex life you want with boosted T, high libido, diminished erectile dysfunction, lowered risk of prostate cancer, improved sperm quality, higher energy, regulated weight, improved memory, fewer aches and pains, and so much more… all with pomegranates!

Adding pomegranates to your morning routine or midnight snack is one of the easiest and tastiest ways to boost your sexual health and wellness. In fact, you’ll start seeing most of the benefits of pomegranates in as little as four weeks.

What else can you do to upgrade your health? 

Well, you can flip the page on your calendar.

And you can renew your vitality and vigor with a Male 2.0 Consult! Sign up to start living your best life in now!

 

Tracy Gapin, MD FACS is a board-certified Urologist, Men’s Health Expert, Author, and Professional Speaker. Using state-of-the-art biometric monitoring, nutrition and lifestyle intervention, Dr. Gapin coaches Fortune 500 executives and evolutionary leaders of business, sports medicine, and high performance. He specializes in cutting-edge precision medicine with an emphasis on epigenetics, providing men with a personalized path to optimizing health & performance. www.drtracygapin.com