Studies show that up to 80% of male impotency cases are caused by high cholesterol, and men with high cholesterol also have a 50% higher rate of impotency than those with healthy cholesterol levels.
Additional studies also show that men with total cholesterol higher than 240 milligrams/dl were twice as likely to have high cholesterol impotence than men whose cholesterol levels below 180 mg/dl (for an explanation about cholesterol levels, please see our article on “Understanding Your Cholesterol Levels”). Although there are many medications and treatments available to treat high cholesterol and erectile dysfunction, a healthy diet and exercise can be your best ally in lowering your cholesterol and ramping up your sex life!
When it comes to lowering your cholesterol levels, your first step should be to remove the saturated fats from your diet that raise your LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels. Here are some examples of foods with high levels of saturated fat:
• Fatty cuts of meat, including meat drippings
• Bacon, sausage and processed meats
• Duck, chicken, or turkey with skin
• Egg yolks
• Butter
• Fat or oil that is hard or in stick form, lard and shortening
• Hydrogenated vegetable oil
• Coconut, coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil and cocoa butter
• Cream, half-and-half and whole-milk dairy products, such as cheese, ice cream and sour cream
• Processed grain products, such as cookies, cakes, muffins and pastries
Now that you know which foods to avoid, which tasty foods can help to raise your HDL or “good” cholesterol?
Foods high in Omega 3 – Flax seed oil, salmon, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and walnut oil, soybeans, dark green leafy vegetables like seaweed, greens, broccoli and kale. Spring leaves, dark salad leaves, cabbage and Brussels sprouts are also high in Omega 3.
Foods high in soluble fiber – Oat bran, oatmeal, beans, peas, rice bran, barley, citrus fruits, strawberries and apple pulp.
Soy products – Soy milk, soy patties and any other food that substitutes animal products with soy can go a long way towards lowering your cholesterol.
Exercise is also very beneficial for men with high cholesterol and erectile dysfunction. Working out not only lowers your LDL cholesterol and raises your HDL cholesterol but will help you shed pounds and look your best for when your sexual performance returns. Not only will your ability to perform sexually likely improve, you’ll look stronger and healthier after some exercise! Just 30 minutes a day, either at the gym or working out at home, can have great health benefits.
The best exercises to raise your HDL cholesterol are aerobic exercise like jogging, swimming, yoga, running or taking a brisk walk. Aerobic exercise will also help maintain a healthy heart and build muscle tone. If you don’t exercise currently, start slowly and work your way up to a more rigorous routine. Going full speed from the get-go may cause health risks, so move at your own pace and gradually ramp it up as you go.
If you suffer from high cholesterol, eating right, exercising and taking any prescribed medication is the best way to help regain your sexual performance, as well as your overall health. Remember, once your bad cholesterol levels go down, you just may notice something else beginning to go up!
