Part Six: The Effects of Common Aphrodisiac Foods and Trace Elements on Reproductive Function

◇A Guide to Caring for Your Husband's Health as a Good Wife◇

Previous articleBAO JIAN ZHI SHI

Health knowledge

◎Oysters: Oysters are rich in zinc, iron, phosphorus, calcium, high-quality protein, and carbohydrates. They have a salty taste and slightly cold nature, and are believed to nourish yin and suppress yang, tonify the kidneys, and astringe semen. Regular consumption of oysters by men can improve sexual function and sperm quality, and is effective for treating nocturnal emission, general weakness, and impotence due to kidney deficiency.

Quail: Quail meat is tender and flavorful, fragrant but not greasy, and has always been considered a top-grade wild fowl. Quail meat is not only delicious and nutritious, but also contains various inorganic salts, lecithin, hormones, and many essential amino acids. Quail meat and eggs are excellent tonics with strengthening and invigorating effects. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that quail meat can nourish the five internal organs, replenish essence and blood, warm the kidneys and invigorate yang; men who regularly eat quail can enhance sexual function, increase energy, and strengthen muscles and bones.

◎Sparrow Eggs: Sparrow eggs are rich in high-quality protein, lecithin, cephalin, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, iron, phosphorus, calcium, etc. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that sparrow eggs are sweet and salty in taste, and warm in nature, possessing the effects of nourishing essence and blood, and strengthening the kidneys and yang. They are suitable for symptoms such as insufficient essence and blood, cold limbs, and fear of cold. For those suffering from impotence due to kidney yang deficiency, amenorrhea due to insufficient essence and blood, dizziness, and poor complexion, regular consumption of sparrow eggs can have the effects of strengthening the body, beautifying the skin, and enhancing sexual function.

People with yin deficiency and excessive internal heat or excessive yang should not eat sparrow eggs.

◎Pine Nuts: Traditional Chinese medicine believes that pine nuts are sweet and slightly warm in nature, and have the effects of strengthening yang and bones, nourishing blood and beautifying the skin, moisturizing the lungs and relieving cough, and lubricating the intestines and promoting bowel movements. Modern medical research has found that pine nuts contain a lot of unsaturated fatty acids, high-quality protein, various vitamins and minerals. Regular consumption can strengthen the body, improve the body's immune function, delay aging, eliminate skin wrinkles, moisturize and beautify the skin, and enhance sexual function. It is a nourishing health food for middle-aged and elderly people. It has a good effect on those with poor appetite, seminal emission, night sweats, excessive dreaming, and weak erections. Pine nuts contain oils that can nourish the skin, making it delicate and soft.

◎Lychee: Lychee contains pectin, malic acid, citric acid, free amino acids, fructose, glucose, iron, calcium, phosphorus, carotene, vitamin B1, vitamin C, and crude fiber. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that lychee is sweet and warm in nature, and has the effects of nourishing qi and blood, replenishing essence and marrow, promoting body fluids and nourishing the stomach, and beautifying the skin. It is not only a health-promoting fruit for health and beauty, but can also be used to treat insufficient body fluids after illness, kidney deficiency with nocturnal emission, spleen deficiency with diarrhea, forgetfulness, and insomnia. Modern medical research has found that lychee can improve digestive function and blood circulation, thus having a skin-moisturizing and beautifying effect; it can improve sexual function and is used to treat nocturnal emission, impotence, premature ejaculation, and frigidity; it can also improve anemia and symptoms such as lower back and knee pain, insomnia, and forgetfulness caused by kidney yang deficiency. For those who are thin, dark-skinned, and suffer from impotence and premature ejaculation, take 10 dried lychees, 10 grams of schisandra berries, and 15 grams of rose hips, decoct in water, and take one dose daily. Long-term use can strengthen the body and treat the disease.

Lychees are warming in nature and should not be eaten in excess. People with internal heat or excessive liver fire should not eat lychees.

◎Goji Berries: Goji berries contain carotene, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin C, vitamin E, various free amino acids, linoleic acid, betaine, iron, potassium, zinc, calcium, phosphorus, and other components. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that goji berries are sweet in taste and neutral in nature, entering the liver, kidney, and lung meridians. They have the effects of nourishing the liver and kidneys, benefiting essence and improving eyesight, harmonizing blood and moisturizing dryness, beautifying the skin and complexion, and strengthening the body and darkening hair. They are a healthy medicine for improving male and female sexual function. They can be used to treat liver and kidney yin deficiency, dizziness, blurred vision, seminal emission and impotence, sallow complexion, dry and yellow hair, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, yin deficiency cough, and diabetes in the elderly.

Modern medical research has found that goji berries can enhance the body's immune function, strengthen the body's resistance, promote cell regeneration, lower blood cholesterol levels, resist arteriosclerosis, improve skin elasticity, and combat organ and skin aging. Regular consumption of goji berries can delay aging, beautify the skin, and improve sexual function.

Goji berries have a stimulating effect on the nervous system, so they are not suitable for people with hypersexuality.

◎Astragalus complanatus seeds: Astragalus complanatus seeds are the mature seeds of the legume Astragalus membranaceus (also known as Tribulus terrestris), or simply Astragalus membranaceus. They are rich in selenium, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, fatty acids, tannins, and vitamin A. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Astragalus complanatus seeds are sweet and warm in nature, entering the liver and kidney meridians. They have the effects of tonifying the kidneys and strengthening essence, nourishing the liver and improving eyesight, moisturizing and softening the skin, and strengthening the waist and bones. They can be used for skin care and beauty, and to treat kidney deficiency and lower back pain, impotence and seminal emission, dizziness, excessive vaginal discharge, and decreased vision. The *Ben Cao Feng Yuan* states: "Tribulus terrestris has a descending and tonifying nature, benefits the kidneys, treats lower back pain, and is an essential medicine for seminal emission and weakness." The *Ben Cao Hui Yan* states: "Tribulus terrestris is a medicine for tonifying the kidneys and astringing essence... tonifying the kidneys and strengthening essence, enhancing yang and promoting fertility."

Modern medical research has found that Astragalus complanatus seeds are rich in selenium, zinc, vitamin A, and other substances, which protect the skin, keep it smooth, soft, and elastic, enhance sexual function, and delay aging. Patients suffering from kidney yang deficiency leading to frigidity, impotence, premature ejaculation, nocturnal emission, and insomnia can benefit from taking Astragalus complanatus seeds. It can not only improve symptoms of sexual dysfunction but also has good skin-nourishing, hair-darkening, and beautifying effects, restoring youthful vitality.

Astragalus complanatus is warm in nature and has a yang-tonifying effect, so it is not suitable for people with yin deficiency and excessive fire or those with strong yang and easy erection.

◎Pigeon Meat: Pigeons are highly prolific and have a strong libido, mating frequently due to their exceptionally high levels of sex hormones. Therefore, pigeons are considered a powerful tonic for boosting yang energy and strengthening the body, believed to replenish kidney qi and enhance sexual function. Pigeon eggs are even more beneficial than pigeon meat. Studies have shown that pigeon eggs, like pigeon meat, are rich in protein, vitamins, and iron, making them highly nutritious. The following dietary therapies are effective in strengthening sperm and tonifying the kidneys.

Stew half a pigeon, 10 grams of Morinda officinalis, 10 grams of Dioscorea opposita, and 10 grams of Lycium barbarum. Drink the soup and eat the meat. If it causes dryness, you can stew the pigeon with an appropriate amount of white fungus, which will be nourishing without causing dryness.

Take 2 pigeon eggs, 10 grams of goji berries, and 5 grams of longan pulp. Boil the pigeon eggs together and consume. You can add a little rock sugar when eating. If you don't like sweets, you can add a little fine salt for seasoning. This can also help the medicine enter the kidneys.

Trace elements and male reproductive function

In recent years, people have discovered that trace elements such as zinc, copper, iron, and magnesium are closely related to the function of the male reproductive system. Their deficiency or excess can affect semen quality, leading to infertility or reproductive endocrine disorders.

Zinc is one of the most studied trace elements in recent years. Zinc deficiency can affect male sexual function and fertility, but excessive zinc can also affect normal sperm production. Zinc is one of the essential trace elements for the human body, participating in the activity of various enzymes and many physiological processes. Long-term zinc deficiency can affect pituitary function, reducing the synthesis and secretion of gonadotropins, and causing spermatogenesis disorders, resulting not only in a reduced sperm count but also an excessive number of dead sperm. In addition, zinc deficiency can cause abnormal changes in the activity of enzymes in prostatic fluid, affecting semen liquefaction and normal sperm motility, causing abnormal acrosome function of sperm, and reducing their ability to swim and penetrate the egg, thus causing infertility. Male infertility patients caused by zinc deficiency should, in addition to actively seeking medical treatment, pay attention to eating more zinc-rich foods, such as oysters, pork liver, peanuts, and walnuts, to supplement the body's zinc deficiency.

Excessive copper can inhibit sperm metabolism. Manganese is essential for maintaining life and normal reproductive function, but excessive amounts can also harm the body. Small amounts of cadmium are toxic to the body, especially the testes. Selenium and nickel are essential elements for the human body; selenium deficiency can affect sperm motility, and selenium can also resist the damage to the reproductive system caused by cadmium, lead, and copper. Lead is the most harmful to male fertility. Excessive boron, iron, molybdenum, cobalt, and silver can all affect male fertility. Iodine deficiency leads to decreased male sexual function and poor semen quality.

In summary, many trace elements have a significant impact on male fertility. Even essential trace elements such as zinc, manganese, and selenium can cause harm if consumed in excess, while some trace elements can be harmful even if consumed in small amounts.

Does phimosis or paraphimosis in men affect their sex life after marriage?

When the glans penis and urethral opening can only be exposed when the penis is fully erect or the foreskin is manually retracted, it is called phimosis. When the foreskin opening is too small or too tight, and cannot be retracted or the glans penis and urethral opening cannot be exposed even when erect, it is called paraphimosis.

Phimosis and paraphimosis can cause the following problems: In men with phimosis or paraphimosis, smegma accumulates under the foreskin, causing long-term irritation to the glans penis. This increases the incidence of penile cancer in men and increases the risk of cervical cancer in women due to chronic irritation. Poor hygiene in the external genitalia can also lead to balanitis or posthitis in men and urinary tract infections in women. If the foreskin cannot be retracted for a long time, smegma accumulation can easily lead to foreskin stones. Phimosis can cause infertility. An overly long foreskin prevents the glans penis from being frequently exposed to the outside world, resulting in increased sensitivity and a higher risk of premature ejaculation. Furthermore, balanitis can easily trigger chronic prostatitis.

In conclusion, if phimosis or paraphimosis is found during a premarital examination, circumcision can be performed to avoid affecting the health of both men and women or their sex life after marriage. This is beneficial for both genital hygiene and sexual health, so why not do it?