This simplified but very broad definition is a frequently misunderstood and subjective mouthful. In this article we are going to give you a good understanding of this dysfunction and what may or may not be going on inside of your physical sexual health. Although this article will touch more on the physical aspects, we are not ignoring the psychological effects.

Oftentimes, men will occasionally experience an erection that doesn’t last and then sound the mental alarms out of worry or panic. This isn’t a real cause for huge concern as several small reasons that are not erectile dysfunction may be to blame.

Flaccid vs. Erect Penis

Before taking a deeper dive into ED, let’s first go over the basics. Flaccid vs erect penis: A flaccid penis is a penis that is relaxed, whereas an erect penis is an aroused, blood-filled penis. During sexual arousal, blood vessels in the penis relax and then open up, allowing them to fill with blood. When blood is trapped under high pressure, an erection is the result. The erectile tissue of the penis is made up of elastic fibers, collagen, smooth muscles, arteries, and veins. All of these things together allow the penis to become erect. With age, however, the penis can lose tissue elasticity and in turn may affect how well and how long the penis stretches. People may also experience inflammation and reduced blood flow to the penis as they age, which can affect an erection as well.

Causes Of Erection  

There are a few reasons that a man can experience an erection, but the two most common reasons are due to physical or emotional stimulation. Physical stimulation such as touch is a reflex erection and emotional stimulation is induced by thought, also known as a psychogenic erection. In contrast to a healthy erection, ED can be induced by psychological or organic (physical reasons). Organic reasons include physical ailments such as hypertension, neurological problems from diabetes, or hormonal dysfunctions like low testosterone. Although these are the usual suspects that cause ED, there is no specific test to diagnose the condition, so evaluating and concluding if a man is suffering from ED is heavily reliant on the sexual experiences of the individual male, coupled with a questioning of physiological stressors, blood tests, urine tests, and physical exams. 

ED Is Not Just A Problem For Older Men

Please understand that ED is a serious sexual dysfunction suffered by men of all ages and from all walks of life. A problem once believed to be the sole burden of old men, ED is no longer the “grandpa disease;” rather, it is now the potential burden of all men. To demonstrate this fact, a collection of contemporary evidence and large multinational studies have come to prove this truth. Studies have estimated that ED is more present in the younger and younger men. Studies also show that ED is a huge problem for young men under the age of 39; in fact, that rate is as high as 52% and growing.

Surprised by this information? Well, hold on to your seat. What’s even more surprising is that ED has become such a common condition in young men that having ED is no longer a surprise. What’s also surprising is the highly ignored fact that 79% of men with ED have a BMI that exceeds 25 – a common factor among men who overindulge in foods in the Standard American Diet (SAD). That means they consume more fast and processed foods no matter which country they live in. Processed foods and fast or fried foods are not just abundant in America; rather, these foods are everywhere. 

How Health Relates To ED

As of 2021, around 30 million men in the United States alone were found to be actively suffering from various forms of ED, experiencing mild to severe symptoms. Some of the top sources of physiological issues include bad dental hygiene, heart disease, obesity, alcoholism, estrogenic filled diets (such as soy products), and diabetes. It’s a well-known fact that diabetes can affect anyone of any age, weight, race, or sex, but did you know that diabetes is one of leading physical causes of ED? This is due to the nerve damage and restrictive blood flow to the penis.  

While we have focused predominantly on physical causes of ED, we must let you know that an important health concern can negatively affect a man’s psychosocial well-being. ED can also be attributed to a psychological hindrance, including depression, anxiety, and partner-related difficulties. Men who suffer mental trauma from their ED concerns experience an even greater loss as it spills over into their everyday lives. The most frightening aspect of this is that these men tend to experience a sudden onset of symptoms, with decreased libido and reduced quality of spontaneous or self-stimulated or partner-induced erections. 

What Can You Do About This?

First off, keep in mind that you are not alone. Sword Vitality is here for you, so you don’t have to be stuck with the burden of ED. Secondly, you may want to have a careful diagnostic evaluation with a focus on the identification of any underlying conditions to ensure appropriate management, or pay a visit to your choice of health practitioner to help determine the root cause. Thirdly, you can opt to exercise an herbal self-care regimen. Whatever you choose to do, Sword Vitality aims to be a resource for you.

The post Do You Have Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence)? appeared first on Sword Vitality.

Erectile Dysfunction’s Relation To Zinc

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common sexual problems that men have to deal with. We know there are a host of different causes of ED, ranging from nutritional deficiencies to clinical depression. That said, recent studies found that ED is a common symptom of zinc deficiency. When levels of zinc fall below the recommended threshold, problems begin. Researchers discovered that low zinc is a known culprit in cases of hypogonadism, masculine growth and development during puberty or enough sperm or both, and impotence. 

The body cannot store excess zinc, which means that continuous dietary intake is necessary. The body can maintain zinc levels within skeletal muscle, skin, and heart if zinc intake is insufficient. However, zinc levels in bone, testicles, liver, and plasma begin to decline without regular zinc intake. It is unfortunate that many adults do not get enough of this mineral that occurs naturally in many different food sources. If you don’t get enough via your diet, supplementation is always a viable option, but you may want to discuss the dosage of zinc with your doctor first. 

Zinc For Men

It’s important to understand that when it comes to men, zinc brings an array of benefits to the table. According to several studies, zinc works to enhance sperm production and support prostate health. While men need zinc for a range of reasons, specifically in regards to testosterone maintenance, men especially need it for their thyroid function. According to one study, an excess or deficit of thyroid hormones can alter testicular function, including semen abnormalities. Not only does zinc deficiency directly affect the male reproductive organs, but it also indirectly affects them via the thyroid and the hormones it produces.

When a man ejaculates, he loses zinc, as it is present in semen. So that he can enjoy a powerful ejaculation again and again, and because his body needs zinc but cannot produce it, it is important to replenish after ejaculation.

Health Benefits Of Zinc 

Again, zinc benefits the body in many ways, but we are taking a deeper dive into zinc and how it benefits male reproductive health. Continue reading to learn more.

• Enhances Sexual Health and Testosterone Levels: Zinc is important to sperm production and low zinc content can lead to decreased semen volume and testosterone levels. Increasing zinc intake works to prevent the body from converting existing testosterone into other chemicals. Zinc ultimately improves testosterone levels in healthy men that have low levels of zinc. Keep in mind that guided supplementation may be the best option for increasing your testosterone.
• Lessens the Risk of Prostate Cancer: Prostate health is not something many men like talking about; however, it is best to maintain a healthy prostate to reduce the risk of prostate cancer later in life. According to scientists, cancerous prostate tissues have significantly less zinc than healthy prostate tissues. Furthermore, it was revealed that the zinc in prostate cells offers some sort of protection, so lower zinc levels may reduce the body’s ability to fight against prostate cancer.
• Improves Sperm Motility: Yes, motility. It is not a typo. Having a healthy sex drive and healthy sperm count is important, but high sperm motility is of equal importance. Sperm motility refers to the endurance and strength of your sperm cells to swim toward the egg and fertilize it. Inadequate levels of zinc, as well as other nutritional deficiencies, can cause low sperm motility.

Problems Associated With Low Levels Of Zinc

Zinc is an integral mineral to optimizing male health, as we’ve detailed previously. We also want you to know that zinc loss can decrease libido and lead to a variety of different problems. Common indicators of low zinc levels are detailed as follows:

• Hair Loss or Thinning: Your body may starve your hair of zinc so that it can distribute the essential mineral among other tissues that are more important for survival.
• Loss or Change of Taste: Your taste buds are not as important as many other internal organs, so the body will redirect zinc from your tongue to more important processes. Studies found that supplementing with zinc worked to improve taste disturbances, or loss of taste. 
• Muscle Loss: In addition to influencing metabolism, zinc depletion in men reduces testosterone in the body. Testosterone is integral for fat burning and muscle growth, or maintenance of existing muscle. Additionally, low zinc levels may reduce one’s athletic performance, endurance, and overall strength.

We hope this information proved helpful and provided a new insight to the importance of zinc. Feel free to contact us with any questions regarding zinc and how it may improve your health.

The post Testosterone: From A To Z (Arousal To Zinc) appeared first on Sword Vitality.

What Is The Difference Between Cacao Butter And Cocoa Butter?

Both cacao butter and cocoa butter come from Theobroma cacao beans by means of grinding them into a powder. Cacao butter is raw and unrefined. Cocoa butter undergoes refinement at high temperatures, ultimately changing the DNA of the original source. In doing so, the heating destroys much of the molecular structural properties, removing some of the health benefits. Cacao is essentially the raw version of cocoa, meaning that it retains many of the antioxidants, fiber, and lipids present in the original source. 

Cacao butter contains polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that work to protect the body from free radicals. In fact, cacao butter is one of the richest sources of polyphenols (up to 87%), and contains more flavonoids than many other foods. Polyphenols are extremely beneficial for heart health and blood flow, two things that you need to thwart erectile dysfunction. While cacao butter is edible, it is not very palatable because of the high astringency and bitterness from the raw cacao. 

Nutrients In Cacao Butter

Cacao butter is rich in vitamins K, E, B1, B2, B3, folate, calcium, omega-3s, and other fatty acids called palmitic, stearic, lauric, and myristic acids. Roughly 35% of the fat in cacao butter is monounsaturated fat (oleic acid), and 1% polyunsaturated fat (linoleic acid). It also contains L-arginine and eight of the nine essential amino acids. Cacao butter is also high in vitamin D2 and potassium, which helps in lowering blood pressure. It also contains zinc, which is integral for supporting immune health and sperm reproduction, and magnesium for supporting muscle and nerve health. 

Does Cacao Butter Improve Your Libido?

One of the many invigorating attributes in Sword Vitality’s XXL Xtreme cream is the presence of L-arginine in the cacao butter. According to several studies, topical application of L-arginine triggers the production of nitric oxide (NO), which is overwhelmingly responsible for increasing blood flow to the penis. It does this by helping the muscles in the penis relax, which ultimately allows the penis to fill with blood and become erect. 

Researchers continue to discover how ancient civilizations utilized natural health remedies to treat numerous health conditions. Remembering the universal axiom, “your food is your medicine,” you won’t go wrong by taking the natural route. But don’t let the word “natural” confuse you. The “natural” that we are speaking of references a holistic approach to remedying the body. Unfortunately, “natural” is an eye-catching word tossed around loosely. Natural does not always translate to healthy or good. It’s still possible for many toxins or harmful chemicals to be disguised in terms like “natural flavors” or “fragrances.”

Historical Use Of Cacao

An example of history’s most prodigious uses of the cacao bean comes from the ancient Aztec men. As it was in Africa, Jamaica, and other Caribbean territories, cacao was reserved for the wealthy nobles, lords, and kings. The only other exception of sharing cacao was with soldiers just before battle because it made them more virile and aggressive in battles. 

Bloody practices of the ancient Aztec men aside, they also regularly indulged in these exotic beans predominately to prepare themselves for love making. In fact, it is well known that Montezuma, the Aztec emperor, ingested many goblets of a cacao infused drink so that he would be at his most virile state when walking into his harem. 

Thousands of years ago, the scientific names for cacao beans were not established, but what is certain is that ancient men realized the undeniable power and usefulness of them, especially when it came to male strength and sexuality. Today, we have established scientific and specific benefits of the cacao bean. We now know that the vital profile and active alkaloids found within cacao beans are Theobromine and Phenylethylamine (PEA). These two, in conjunction with all of the elements previously mentioned, give cacao its ability to energize and help give men a natural rush of stamina that is beneficial for romance.

The post Cacao Butter Vs. Cocoa Butter appeared first on Sword Vitality.