Fabulous Folate Facts

What is Folate?

Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin that occurs naturally in food. Folic acid is the synthetic form of Folate that you
will find in supplements and fortified foods, such as breakfast cereals and breads. Folate is a general term used for the various forms of the B vitamin. The parent form is folic acid.

Sources of Folate

Folate can be found in green, leafy vegetables, fruits, and dried beans and peas. Many grain products are also
fortified with folic acid, such as breads, cereals, pastas, rice and corn meal. Spinach, salad, asparagus, tomatoes, cucumbers, whole-grain products, liver and some tropical fruits are also rich in Folate. Only trace amounts are found in meat and fish.

Functions of Folate

Folate helps to produce and maintain new cells. This is especially important during periods of rapid cell division
and growth, such as infancy and pregnancy.

Folate is also essential to help maintain normal levels of homocysteine, an amino acid which at high levels can
be a marker of potential heart disease.

Folate & sex in men

Folic acids help metabolize proteins, which is a necessary process for all life processes, including reproduction. It is believed that folic acid work with testosterone to produce sperm, semen and other male characteristics; such as penis and scrotal enlargement, facial hair and a deep voice.

Folate deficiency

Folate deficiency is especially concerning for pregnant women, as it can cause birth defects, low birth weight
babies, and premature birth. Other signs of folate deficiency include: sexual weakness (in men), reduced libido (sexual desire), anemia, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weakness, sore tongue, headaches, heart palpitations, irritability, forgetfulness and behavioral disorders.

How much Folate do you need?

For adults, an average daily intake of 400 micrograms of Folate will help maintain normal related functions.

Introduction

Hygiene is a cornerstone of modern civilization. It might be said that hygiene has become one of those things that
are taken for granted among civilized people. Accumulated dirt, sweat and bacteria (or germs) in the intimate area can cause infections at one point or another in the future. Penis hygiene, therefore, is part of the daily cleaning
“ritual” and is considered to be just as important as overall hygiene. The sex organs are more sensitive than other parts of the body and frequently engaged in intimate contact, which is why they should be as clean as possible, if not cleaner.

Penis hygiene tips

Here are some natural hints and tips on how to maintain good and healthy penis hygiene:

• The male genitalia (especially penis) should be washed regularly to remove any buildup of exudate or smegma and to keep the organs clean.
• Get adequate sleep and rest by adapting a healthy constructive daily
• Routine and maintaining appropriate sex relations.
• Regularly shave off unnecessary hair around your penis and in the pubic area as long and thick pubic hair can be a potential breeding ground for germs, debris and allergens.
• You should practice regular bathing and cleansing of the body; anointing the body and the penis with aromatics unguents and medicated oils. After thoroughly washing your genitals make sure you dry them off completely with a clean towel. This will protect you against getting a rash or other infection from the mpness
  and bacteria from your undergarments.
• Keep your penis (and the testes) protected during games or sports. A hard plastic protective cup, i.e. a “jock strap,” or the “guard” provides baseball catchers, hockey goalies and football players protection from collisions. Wear a jock strap or a cup to protect your reproductive potential.
• Condoms are the only form of protection that can both help to stop the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV/AIDS and prevent pregnancy.
• Avoid using tight fitting undergarments and pants as blood needs to flow through your penis for its proper functioning and growth.

All in all, a regular and proper penile hygiene is the science of self healing. It is the art of personal health maintenance and disease prevention. Proper hygiene practice is the foundation of all good health. Improper or faulty hygiene is the origin of most penis or sex-related diseases such as STDs, infections and even pimples.

Limitations & drawbacks

Penile Injection Therapy has been used for several years to stimulate erections in men with various disorders. It has also been used by men with poor erections due to diabetes and other medical problems for many years. If used properly, it will restore the ability to obtain erections to most men following a spinal cord injury.

However, you should remember that any of the penile injections will not enable you to ejaculate.

What drugs are used in penile injections?

Various drugs have been found to be capable of stimulating erections when injected into the erectile tissue of the penis (the corpora). No single agent is guaranteed to be effective in all cases. However, Papaverine is widely used and accepted. Another drug which is becoming more widely used is Prostaglandin E1 (also known as Caverject).

Mode of action

Almost all of the drugs used in the penile injections have their effect by causingdilatation (widening) of the blood vessels to the penis. Hence, they create an erection by relaxing the smooth muscles and widening the blood vessels in the penis

Limitations of penile injections

Extra care needed: You must inject into a specific area of the penis. This is so you do not injure nerves, arteries, or veins. Do not inject straight down on the top or the bottom of the penis.

Difficult dosage adjustment: It usually takes between two to six injections to find the right dose for an erection firm enough to have sex. It is important that you follow the suggested course of therapy.

Temporary effects: While the erection usually starts between 5 to 10 minutes after the injection, it usually lasts between 1 and 2 hours and not more.

Limited usage: Also, self injection into the penis may be performed a maximum of two to three times per week and never more than once in any 24 hour period.

Side effects

Like all other drugs, penile injections too have some side effects and these may vary according to the dosage used and the sensitivity of the individual to the substance. Some of the common side effects include:

Prolonged Erection (Priapism): An erection lasting for more than 4 hours has occurred in some cases following penile injection. Sometimes this is due to people injecting themselves with excessive doses of the drug.
Occasionally it can happen at the first injection because of the persons sensitivity to the drug.

Abnormal thickening of the penis (Fibrosis):
Occasionally after long term use of injection therapy,fibrosis (thickening or hardening) in the erectile tissues of the penis may occur.

Bruising:  Bruising at the site of the injection occurs in many cases. This may be tender for a few days and further injection must not be given until there is no sign of any bruising.

Conclusion

Based on the above discussion, it is evident that the option of penile injections to treat erectile dysfunction is not suitable for everyone because of its numerous limitations and high risk of side effects.

A human sexual response cycle is  the overall period during which people are sexually stimulated and have sex with one another.

Sexual response stages are similar in both females and males but not identical. It means that, while the stages or phases in both genders are more or less same in sequence and general features, they do differ in mechanism and some other characteristics.  Following is a general overview of human sexual response cycle and mostly represents those features that are considered to be common or similar in both sexes.  One should, however, keep in mind; these stages are variable, and very individual. Although men & women will progress through the stages in order, the amount of time spent in each stage can vary dramatically.

1-  Excitement (Desire):
Excitement is the first phase of sexual arousal during which the pulse rate increases, blood pressure rises, breathing quickens, and the skin may show a rosy flush (especially in females). This stage can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Sexual activity during this stage is often called foreplay. Extending foreplay can sometimes make the other stages more intense.

Phase 1 further consists of 3 components: sexual drive, sexual motivation, and sexual wish. These reflect
the biologic, psychological, and social aspects of desire, respectively. Sexual drive is produced through psychological and hormonal mechanisms. Drive is also highly influenced by hormones, medications (e.g., decreased by antihypertensive drugs, increased by dopaminergic compounds) and legal and illegal substances
(e.g., alcohol, cocaine).

The most important characteristics of this phase of human sexual cycle is vasocongestion. It is defined as the accumulation of blood in the pelvic area during early sexual arousal contributes to erection of the penis in males (& of clitoris in females). The degree of erection during this phase depends on the intensity of sexual stimuli.

In males, routing of blood to the penis requires a working nervous system and the body to be relaxed enough and free from anxiety. Constriction of blood vessels, due to stress or anxiety, does not allow enough blood to enter the penis to cause an erection.  During an erection, the inner diameter of the urethra doubles and the scrotum pulls toward the body.  Similarly, muscular tension increases in the body. Heart rate and blood pressure both increase. It is normal for men to experience periods when the erection is lost during sex play, but then regained.  Distraction can lead to loss of excitement and erection. Emotional or mental well-being can affect desire, excitement/arousal and therefore, erectile functioning. For example, depression is associated with increased sexual problems.

2-   Arousal (plateau):
It is second phase of sexual arousal during which the physical changes that began in the first phase are continued. Arousal is brought on by psychological and/or physiological stimulation. Multiple functional changes occur in men and women that prepare them for orgasm. In men, increased blood flow causes erection, penile color changes, and testicular elevation. In women, it leads to vaginal lubrication, clitoral tumescence, and labial color changes. In general, heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate Read More

Introduction

Testosterone is the main male sex hormone. In other words, it is your key to sexual growth, performance and
power. Testosterone is produced by the testes that performs and maintains various body functions e.g. muscle mass and strength. It encourages the development of male sexual characteristics (penis growth, muscle development and Masculine features), fat distribution; bone mass, sperm production, sex drive, and potency.

Why testosterone is so important in men?

Testosterone is so important in men because it causes the development of the male genitals (the penis and testicles) in the womb and at puberty helps all of the male characteristics to develop – like enlarged penis size, deeper voice, increased muscle mass, body and facial hair etc. Testosterone also continues to be important during all stages of a man’s life. In fact testosterone could be thought of as being central to a man’s mind, body and sexual function.

How to naturally boost your testosterone levels?

Taking synthetic or artificial forms of testosterone such as pills or injections can be dangerous because of
increased risk of side effects. Here are some nutritional and dietary recommendations to raise your testosterone levels in the most natural way possible:

Lose weight: If you are too obese or overweight, then your testosterone level will be naturally low. Therefore,
shed those extra pounds.

Increase sex frequency: Sex triggers your body to produce more testosterone. When you get aroused you are signaling your sex organs to perform so they start taking action to follow that order. This is great news. Inform your partner/s to step up the action. The hotter that better.

Make muscle: Bodybuilders use compound exercises, exercises that use more than one muscle group, to
accelerate muscle building. Free weights and squats increase this process.

Take rest: Increasing your workout will fatigue you so you need to counter that with adequate sleep and power
naps.

Eat monounsaturated fat: Research has found that men who ate diets rich in monounsaturated fat, the kind found in peanuts, avocados, fish and healthy oils like flax seed, olive and canola are a great way to naturally boost testosterone levels. Try not to eat too much fat but remember that the fat in any kind of nuts will push up your testosterone level.

Avoid alcohol: Research indicates that excessiveness of the alcohol use lowers testosterone levels.

Is there anything to worry about?

Pimples on the penis can be just pimples, like spots on the face, or they can be signs of a sexually transmitted
infection (STI) or just a normal occurrence.

What cause pimples on penis?

STDs: If you have never had sex, you almost certainly don’t have an STI. However, if you recently had sex
without a condom, the pimples could be a sign of STIs like genital warts, syphilis, chancroid or genital herpes such as HPV (human papillomavirus), which can cause genital warts that are either raised or flat, white orflesh-colored,
and usually don’t itch or burn. Less common is MCV (molluscum contagiosum virus), which is related to the pox family of viruses and appears as clustered, whitish bumps with a central indentation. Both conditions often require removal by a topical treatment or surgical procedure. Herpes may also show up as bumps, bite-like pimples or a crusty rash with no physical discomfort, though it more often manifests as sores or blisters that do itch and burn.

Penis pimples – what is normal

On the other hand, however, keep in mind that penile skin is often bumpy and lumpy, so it’s possible that you’re
simply having your lower landscape. The bumps on your penis could also be sebaceous cysts of hair follicles or an allergic reaction, both of which are harmless and noncontagious and should be left alone. Or, the raised surfaces
could be pearly penile papules, which often appear as one or two rings of small “pearly” or domelike bumps that form around the glans (the head) of the penis and are also nothing to worry about.

In addition, pearly penile papules are common; there may be only a few lesions on the penis, or they may be abundant. These are normal glands, typically located around the corona of the glans penis. They seem to develop more prominently during the teenage years and can be alarming. Although they will never disappear completely, they do become less noticeable with increasing age. Patients often request treatment for cosmetic reasons, but this is not recommended.

Finally, since it’s impossible to determine what the bumps are without a medical diagnosis, you should immediately get checked out by a doctor while the bumps are still visible. Until then, your best bet is to play it safe and avoid contact with your partner’s genitals (even with a condom) until you get a clean bill of health, please go to the clinic
immediately. Most STIs are easily cured if you treat them quickly.

Male sexual dysfunction is a change in your ability to have or enjoy sex like you did before. These changes are
sometimes referred to as sexual dysfunction caused by certain diseases (such as cancer) or their treatments.

What is the difference between sexual dysfunction and erectile dysfunction?

At this point you should not confuse the term “sexual dysfunction” with “erectile dysfunction”. While both terms are
interrelated, there are certain key differences between the two conditions.

First of all, erectile dysfunction is only specific for men. However, sexual dysfunction can occur both in men and
women. Erectile dysfunction can be a cause of sexual dysfunction in men but sexual dysfunction, in turn, does not always lead to erectile dysfunction i.e. it is quite possible that you have a capability of producing a fully normal
erection and yet are lacking sufficient desire to get sexually excited.

What are some signs of male sexual dysfunction?

Some signs of sexual dysfunction men may experience include:

• Inability to get or keep a firm erection (erectile dysfunction or ED)
• Loss of desire for sex
• Difficulty reaching climax
• Having a dry orgasm – a climax without any semen
• Orgasms (climaxes) that don’t feel as good as they did before cancer
• Pain in the penis or testicles during sex

What causes male sexual dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction (impotence):
The number one and the most common cause of sexual dysfunction in men is erectile dysfunction or impotence. . Erectile dysfunction (ED) can increase with age. It can also increase if the man is drinking too much or doing drugs. Men can suffer from performance anxiety and also worry about climaxing too quickly, which is premature ejaculation. When a man is anxious he may decide to forgo sex altogether rather than be a disappointment in bed. All those disorders, such as diabetes, which can lead to ED can indirectly lead to sexual dysfunction as well.

Cancer:
A long-term, debilitating illness like cancer can also lead to male sexual dysfunction either directly or
through the side effects of its treatment i.e. chemotherapy.

Drug treatment:
Side effects of certain allopathic medical drugs can also lead to sexual dysfunction.

In general terms, any passionate interest or form of life force is considered as “libido”. However, today, most of us know it simply as “sex drive” and have at least a passing interest in the topic.  Libido is part of a healthy human
life and just like any other wellness topic, it deserves attention. Fortunately, for those whose natural libido is not as strong as it could be, nature has provided help in the form of various herbs, formulae and certain everyday vitamins and minerals offer support. There are also male health care products that can help instigate or enhance exercising your libido. However, before know how to naturally increase one’s libido; we should first understand what actually causes decrease in our libido.

What causes reduced libido?

The causes of reduced or lessened libido can be categorized into two main categories:

Physical causes:

Physical causes for reduced sex drive may include:

• Pain during intercourse
• Inability to orgasm,
• Disease
• Fatigue
• Alcohol
• Drugs
• Certain prescriptions – antidepressants, antihistamines and blood pressure or chemotherapy medications
• Aging can naturally affect libido, too, with menopause or the decline of testosterone hormone

Psychological causes:

Mental and emotional reasons for low libido are numerous and complicated such as:

• Low self-esteem
• Poor body image
• Anxiety
• Depression and cultural factors
• Stress
• Relationship issues such as lack of connection with a partner, unresolved conflicts and poor  communication of sexual needs and preferences.

It should be noted that, at times, there are also physical issues with strong “mind” components such as infertility, genital or breast surgery and history of physical or sexual abuse.

Tips to naturally boost your libido

Exercising / increased physical activity:
Regular aerobic and strength-training is a time-tested libido-boosting practice. Exercise can not only increase stamina, improve body image and reduce stress, but it may also elevate mood via release of endorphins. Yoga and stretching exercises can stimulate blood flow and provide increased flexibility.

Don’t worry, be happy:
A positive attitude and  optimistic outlook on  life are always a good  thing for mental health  and personal well-being,  not to mention it’s  attractive. Similarly, learning to manage stress has uncountable benefits to health overall and can positively affect sex drive.

Eat good foods:
Just as with most health concerns, deficiency in certain nutrients may result in less-than optimal functioning of organs and levels of hormones, stress and energy. Go for a healthy everyday diet with a variety of whole foods providing nutrients as well as essential fats and fiber. Steer clear of artificial additives and hydrogenated fats.  You
must also not forget that throughout history, specific foods have been linked to sexual performance. According to the experts, some may be on the list for increasing blood flow, others for containing high levels of nutrients that
benefit sexual function and still others for the simple fact that their “treat” factor makes you feel good.  some of the
examples of such foods are asparagus, chocolate, oysters, white onions, coffee, parsley, mustard, cola, fennel, anise cayenne, sage etc.,.

Counsel & communicate:
Conflict is a natural part of relationships, so practicing honest, open communication can help maintain a stronger emotional connection and thus  intimacy. It is also important for partners to communicate about sex itself, with or without the guidance of a third-party professional.
Choose a safe, natural libido-boosting supplement:
With so many male health supplements available in the market, it’s important to purchase supplement from a trusted source because studies of commercial products have revealed that you may not always get what the label
promises. You should, therefore, choose a supplement that contains the best ingredients that are strong enough to benefit the male system. The supplements should also come without the unwanted side effects of drugs.
Based on the above discussion, it can be concluded that many men complain of sexual performance problems or low libido, especially as they age. A man’s libido absolutely depends on the state of his health. A healthy diet and
lifestyle have the greatest impact on a man’s sexual function and enjoyment. Every man can develop his sexual potential to its utmost no matter what his age. A man’s sex drive is dependent on testosterone and a good blood supply to the erectile tissue, factors that rely on good nutrition and regular exercise.

The natural way

We’re all well-aware of the term “erection” and “erectile dysfunction”. However, not many of have ever heard of
“erectile capacity”. In fact both terms “erection” and “erectile capacity” while interrelated, are indeed different from one another.

Understanding the difference between erection & erectile capacity

Erection: Erection is the state or condition of enlargement and hardening of the penis caused by increased blood
flow into the penis and decreased blood flow out of it as a result of sexual excitement.

Erectile capacity: The erectile capacity of the penis is its ability and extent to achieve and maintain sufficiently firm, hard and consistent erection until the time of ejaculation.

The mechanism of erection

An erection usually occurs as a result of sensory or mental sexual stimulation, but it may also occur spontaneously, often at night during erotic dreams. When a man is sexually stimulated, nerve signals trigger the flow of blood from the arteries into the spongy tissue of the penis.

The blood creates pressure, causing the penis to expand and become erect. When the penis muscles contract to stop the inflow of blood and open outflow channels, the erection subsides. If there is any interference with the nerve signals or blood flow responsible for activating erections, impotence may occur.

Medical drugs for weak or absent erectile capacity

Medications such as Viagra (Sildenafil) increase blood flow to the penis, which enhances sexual performance. Although these drugs can help to treat the problem, they have some adverse side effects which include headache, upset stomach, flushing and vision problems, and even cardiovascular problems. More serious conditions such as low blood pressure and heart attacks may occur as a result of these side effects. Men may also choose to have drugs injected or inserted into the penis, which widen the arteries that supply blood to the penis.

Surgery for erectile capacity

In more severe cases when impotence does not respond to treatments, surgery may be required. A device that
simulates an erection (prosthesis) can be surgically implanted in the penis.

How to naturally boost your weak or absent erectile capacity?

There are a number of natural and holistic treatments such as nutritional supplements, herbal remedies and
acupuncture that are highly effective in enhancing your natural erectile capacity. A variety of herbs have been identified as having strong aphrodisiac properties along with the ability to improve sexual functioning and overall
systemic health.