You can’t seem to watch any sporting events without getting a large dose of commercials for Viagra or Cialis. There seems to be an erectile dysfunction epidemic that only pharmaceutical companies can cure. But these drugs can have significant side effects and can even be dangerous for health-impaired segments of the male population. Exercise has been shown to improve sexual function and help treat or prevent erectile dysfunction altogether. Exercising on an elliptical trainer provides the kind of intense exercise that will keep you physically fit, and fitness equates to a healthy sex life.
Erectile dysfunction is generally caused by a lack of blood flow to the penis. Since exercise improves blood flow throughout the body, it would make sense that it also helps with erectile dysfunction. In fact, exercise has been shown to help this problem just as much as taking Viagra. German scientists, in a paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association of Uruology, found that putting men with erection problems on an exercise program was as effective in improving erection capacity as taking Viagra. Another study examined the sexual frequency and satisfaction rates of swimmers in their 60s and found that they were the same as those of the younger 20s.
So how does exercise increase blood flow? One way that exercise increases blood flow is by raising nitric oxide levels. Nitric oxide causes blood vessels to dilate and wider veins mean more blood flow. Exercise is also involved in vascular remodeling, which is the process of rebuilding small veins and capillaries throughout the body, including the penis.
Exercise can also address another cause of erectile dysfunction, low testosterone levels. Healthy levels of testosterone are essential for the blood-trapping muscles of the penis to maintain erections. Regular exercise, especially weight training, has been shown to keep testosterone levels healthy as we age.
Exercise can also improve your sex life by improving your mood. Exercise can help reshape your body, which can help your self-image. Exercise also causes your body to produce endorphins, which are chemicals that improve mood and help counteract the effects of a stressful life, and nothing depresses libido more than high levels of stress.
Exercise can also help us have healthy sexual function as we age. One study looked at combining a low-fat diet with exercise, and the results were spectacular. Not only did the participants show increased blood flow, they also experienced an average 16% drop in blood pressure, a 19% decrease in blood pressure readings, cholesterol decreased 17%, and triglyceride levels they were reduced by 20%. These are important markers for cardiovascular health, and a strong cardiovascular system can help ensure high flow to the sexual organs as we age. Other lifestyle habits, such as eating a healthy diet and not smoking, were also important.
Starting an exercise program with an elliptical trainer is a great way to prevent or even reverse erection problems. An elliptical trainer with movable arms will work the major muscle groups in your body. An elliptical workout has a lower rate of perceived exertion compared to other exercises, which means your workout will seem easier than how hard your body works. Moving arms, with a high level of resistance, can work the upper body in a similar way to lifting weights, raising testosterone levels. Providing all of these benefits in a single exercise machine is what makes an elliptical trainer so effective for treating erection problems.
So hop on your elliptical trainer and throw away your Viagra and Cialis meds. An exercise program on a new or renovated elliptical can help you maintain healthy sexual function throughout your life.