Category: Medical Issues for Men (Page 33 of 38)

Watermelon the new Viagra?

July 1, 2008 / Anthony Stalter

woman holding watermelon

Looking for a natural sex boost, gentlemen? Skip the pills and head straight for the fruit section at your local grocery store, because according to THE HUFFINGTON POST, watermelon is the new Viagra.

In watermelons, these include lycopene, beta carotene and the rising star among its phyto-nutrients – citrulline – whose beneficial functions are now being unraveled. Among them is the ability to relax blood vessels, much like Viagra does.
Scientists know that when watermelon is consumed, citrulline is converted to arginine through certain enzymes. Arginine is an amino acid that works wonders on the heart and circulation system and maintains a good immune system, Patil said.
“The citrulline-arginine relationship helps heart health, the immune system and may prove to be very helpful for those who suffer from obesity and type 2 diabetes,” said Patil. “Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it.”
While there are many psychological and physiological problems that can cause impotence, extra nitric oxide could help those who need increased blood flow, which would also help treat angina, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.
“Watermelon may not be as organ specific as Viagra,” Patil said, “but it’s a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side-effects.”

I’ve also read that blueberries contain a lot of the same health benefits as watermelon because of the amount of antioxidants that come packed in the fruit. It’s recommended to pop a handful of blueberries a day to keep your ticker running strong and your Johnson pointing north.?

Foods products, Medical Issues for Men, Men's Health and Wellness, Nutrition, Sexual Health

Boost your sex drive Viagra

6 OXO – higher test, lower estrogen

February 19, 2008 / Mike Furci

Better health, better wellbeing, more muscle and a higher libido are all side effects of higher testosterone levels.? What red blooded male doesn’t want to feel stronger more aggressive and hornier??

During male puberty, androgens (testosterone) cause secondary sex characteristics to develop:?? deeper voice, broader shoulders, more muscle mass, wider shoulders and facial hair growth.?? These levels of testosterone continue until we start to get into our early 40’s.? As men proceed through midlife, we slowly start producing less and less testosterone.? Unfortunately we have an inverse production of estrogen.? This change in hormone levels is sometimes referred to as andropause.

Hormone replacement therapy is a healthy solution to combat the symptoms of andropause.? However, for those who do not want to take hormones or for those who just can’t afford it, a few supplements offer a viable drug free alternative.

A study reported in the Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition 2007,4:13, analyzed the effects of? supplementing for 8 weeks with 6-OXO, a supplement made by Ergopharm purported to be an aromatase inhibitor.? 16 males consumed 300mg or 600mg in a double blind manner.? Blood tests were taken at weeks 0,1,3,8 and 11(a 3 week washout period).? Results showed significant increases in testosterone, free testosterone and an increase in the testosterone to estrogen ratio, all being desirable.?

Looks like a winner!

Anti-Aging, Hormone replacement, Men's Health and Wellness, Testosterone boosters

Hair Triggers

January 18, 2008 / Anthony Stalter

In the Feburary issue of Men’s Health, the mag offers advice to fix four hidden causes of shedding:

1. Sudden Hair Loss
The trigger is emotional or physical trauma. The shock can cause telogen effluvium, a condition that makes hair stop growing and fall out. “Imagine going bald overnight,” says Jessie Cheung, M.D., an assistant professor of dermatology at New York University school of medicine. As your mind and body recover, so too will your hairline.

2. Steady Hair Loss
Hair follicles demand a steady infusion of nutrients to sustain rapid growth. If you’re shedding more than usual for 2 or 3 months straight, look at your diet: Too little iron, biotin, or zinc can send hair into starvation mode. To restore those nutrients, eat more broccoli, spinach, and eggs. Also, pop a daily multivitamin, such as Centrum.

3. A Round, Smooth Patch
A silver-dollar-size bare spot signals alopecia areata. The cataglst is still unknown, but stress and genetics are likely culprits, says Kevin McElwee, Ph.D., an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of British Columbia. See a dermatologist for corticosteroid injections to ease the inflammation causing your hair to hibernate.

4. A Round, Scaly Patch
You probably have tinea capitis, a fungal infection. (Think athlete’s foot of the head.) Your body battles back with a wave of white blood cells that harm hair follicles. Try an over-the-counter antifungal shampoo, such as Nizoral. If that doesn’t work, as for a prescription antifungal medication, such as Lamisil.

Magazine Hype, Medical Issues for Men, Xternal Fitness, Xternal Furci

Christmas trees and allergies.

November 25, 2007 / Mike Furci

While bringing home a live Christmas tree marks the beginning of the holiday season for many, the mold that thrives on its branches can trigger weeks of suffering for some, a new study shows.
Connecticut researchers have found that the mold count from a live Christmas tree rose to five times the normal level two weeks after the tree was brought indoors, and that can prove problematic for people with mold allergies. Their research was presented this week at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology annual meeting, in Dallas.
“Christmas trees are another possible source of mold exposure during the holiday season,” said study co-author Philip Hemmers, an allergist and immunologist with St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, Conn. “Mold allergies peak in the fall, and we see a second peak with a lot of our mold-sensitive patients during the holiday season. Our finding correlates with this second peak of mold sensitivity.”
The researchers studied the mold growth of a live Christmas tree in a house in Connecticut. The study found that the mold spore count was 800 spores per square meter (m3) for the first three days. Normal spore counts are less than 1,000 spores/m3, said Hemmers. However, the spore count rose after day four, reaching a maximum of 5,000 spores/m3 by day 14.
“This mold spore count is five times above normal. These high levels have been correlated with allergic rhinitis and an increased rate of asthma symptoms and asthma-related hospitalization in other studies,” said Hemmers. “So if you don’t feel well during the holidays, consider the Christmas tree as a possible source of allergies.”
Hemmers recommended that people with mold sensitivity keep a live Christmas tree in the house for only four to seven days. An artificial tree may be a better option for people with mold allergies.
Vitacost.com Daily Health Tip

Medical Issues for Men, Men's Health and Wellness

Vitamin D just gets better.

November 22, 2007 / Mike Furci

Vitamin D3, which is technically a prehormone, has a whole host of benefits. This invaluable substance has a role in preventing or treating the following:

Cancer: It is now accepted that Vitamin D3 reduces the risk of seventeen types of cancer.

Multiple Sclerosis: It has been well demonstrated that the risk of MS increases rapidly the further away people live from the equator. The American Academy of Neurology has identified a lack of vitamin D as a predictable indicator in incidence of the deadly disease.
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Hyperparathyroidism
Hypertension
Mental illness
Osteoarthritis
Osteopourosis
Muscle weakness
Periodontal disease
Ulcerative colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease

The study authors established a strong link between vitamin D3 levels and telomere (protects the ends of chromosomes) length. They found that after taking into account the age of the subjects, women with higher vitamin D3 levels were more likely to have longer telomeres.
This meant that the telomeres in the subjects with high vitamin D3 levels were five years younger than the telomeres in the subjects with low vitamin D3 levels.
The researchers believe that the results demonstrate for the first time that people who have higher levels of vitamin D3 may age more slowly than people with lower levels of vitamin D3. (Vitamin Research Breaking News Nov. 20, 2007)

As with most nutrients in our food supply vitamin D has also almost completely vanished due to over-processing and bad farming. Supplements are your best bet, but make sure you’re using D3 (cholecalciferol).

Anti-Aging, Cancer, Heart disease, Men's Health and Wellness, Nutrition, Supplements, Vitamin D, Vitamins/Minerals

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