Vitamin D has been shown to imrove testosterone levels. There are also other lifestyle changes you can make to boost testosterone levels, including exercising more and getting sufficient sleep.
For men experiencing erectile dysfunction (ED), they may initially assume that the problem is related to a lack of the male hormone testosterone. Actually, the studies show us that, in most cases, ED isn’t related to testosterone levels, unless testosterone levels are abnormally low.
With that said, it is true that testosterone levels tend to decrease with age, and that is distressing to some men. The good news is, the lifestyle practices that are good for testosterone are in many cases the same ones that are good for erection function, such as: maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, getting good sleep, eating nuts and beans and other healthy foods.
Let’s look at the problem and some of the solutions in more detail.
ED, Aging, and Testosterone Levels
Science has proven the importance of testosterone as a male sex hormone. The levels of testosterone gradually decline as a man ages, which causes a breakdown of muscle mass and sometimes hair loss and weight gain. Low levels of testosterone do not cause ED, however, a lowered sex drive does correlate with less interest in sexual activity.
While there are medications that can increase testosterone, a 2016 study pointed out that the long term negative effects and safety of these medications has not been firmly established. Instead, many doctors recommend lifestyle changes that can naturally boost testosterone. Ironically, many of these same recommendations also have shown to improve incidents of ED in men without the use of Viagra.
For men worried about ED and low testosterone levels, who want to try a natural alternative to Viagra, here are some suggestions for improving your sexual health.
- Get plenty of sleep
A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association linked a lack of sleep with ED. The research followed a small group of men and their sleep habits in a lab setting. The study interrupted the patient’s sleep to just five hours a night. After one week of sleep restrictions, the research concluded testosterone levels dropped by up to 15%, which decreased the study participant’s interest in sexual activity. The lesson? Men need to get the recommended eight hours of sleep to improve their sexual health. - Exercise more
Another study called “Physically Active Men Show Better Semen Parameters and Hormone Values than Sedentary Men.”In this case, the study title tells the story; staying active and weight loss causes a natural increase in testosterone without the use of Viagra to treat ED. - Reduce stress
Could your job inhibit your testosterone levels? One study showed that high levels of stress in men had a detrimental impact on the levels of the male sex hormone in the blood. Finding ways to unwind without drugs or alcohol can help men naturally improve their testosterone production. - Add vitamin D to your diet
Finally, another study showed that vitamin D supplements could improve testosterone levels. Vitamin D can also be harvested from the sun; getting 15-minutes a day or more of sunshine can help testosterone levels, as well.
Men experiencing low testosterone levels that decrease their sex drive can also take Viagra for their ED. See your doctor to map out a series of changes that can improve your life.
