Those who have functionality issues often run to their doctor and demand ED meds. Many more ignore the issue, hoping it goes away. The truth is there are a lot of guys who can reverse ED with simple lifestyle changes. One of the most crucial is getting enough exercise. Not only does it increase functionality, particularly lower body exercise, but it also increases one’s sex drive.
A recent study with 300 male participants found that those who had better functionality and a higher sex drive also tended to get more exercise, measured with what was known as metabolic equivalents (METS). The results were published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Those who had the best sexual functioning and highest libido had six hours of light exercise, three and a half hours of moderate exercise or two hours of strenuous exercise per week. Participants who exercised much less also tended to have lower functionality scores, researchers found.
Other factors that influenced functionality included diabetes, heart disease, old age and smoking. Smoking could be current or past. Researchers at the Cedars-Sinai Center for Integrated Research in Cancer and Lifestyle in Los Angeles conducted the study, led by the center’s director Dr. Stephen Freedland. Dr. Freeland said that certainly exercise programs should be individualized. The same thing that works for one won’t work for everyone. But in a press release he said, “We are confident that even some degree of exercise, even if less intense, is better than no exercise at all.”
Previous research tended to focus on white men. But in this study, the pool of participants was racially diverse. Despite that, the results across all races were the same. This is the first study to investigate the impact of exercise on sexual functioning and libido across racial lines. To improve functionality try to get as much cardiovascular exercise as possible. 45 minutes per session five times a week is ideal. Work your way up to that if you haven’t exercised in long time. Talk to your doctor about the best ways to incorporate exercise into your weekly schedule and which ones will likely improve sexual functioning.
