Natural Remedies For Erectile Dysfuntion

1) L-ArginineL-arginine is an amino acid that the body uses to make nitric oxide, a substance signals smooth muscle surrounding blood vessels to relax, which dilates the blood vessels and increases blood flow. Relaxation of smooth muscle in the penis allows for enhanced blood flow, leading to an erection. L-arginine is found naturally in foods such as meat, dairy, poultry and fish. It is also available as oral L-arginine supplements, which some product manufacturers market as a "natural Viagra").

2) Propionyl-L-Carnitine One study examined the use of two forms of carnitine, propionyl-L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine in 96 men who with erectile dysfunction after prostate surgery. One group were given a placebo, another group took propionyl-L-carnitine (2 grams per day) plus acetyl-L-carnitine (2 grams per day) and sildenafil (Viagra) when needed, and the third group used Viagra alone. Propionyl-L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine were found to enhance the effectiveness of sildenafil, and result in improved erectile function, sexual intercourse satisfaction, orgasm, and general sexual well-being compared to Viagra alone.

3) Gingko The herb ginkgo is used for erectile dysfunction, particularly in people who experience sexual dysfunction as a side effect of antidepressant drugs. It appears to relax smooth muscle and enhance blood flow in the penis.In one study of 60 men with erectile dysfunction, there was a 50 percent success rate after six months of ginkgo treatment. Two additional studies, however, found that ginkgo was no better than a placebo.For more information.

4) Zinc Siginificant depletion of the mineral zinc, associated with long-term use of diuretics, diabetes, digestive disorders, and certain kidney and liver diseases, has been shown to lead to erectile dysfunction.

5) Ashwagandha The herb ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is sometimes called Indian Ginseng because it is thought to have similar effects on the body. It is thought to increase energy, stamina, and sexual function. No studies, however, have examined whether it is effective for erectile dysfunction in humans.Side effects of ashwagandha may include drowsiness. It should not be combined with sedative drugs.

6)Yohimbe The bark of the west African yohimbe tree is a source of yohimbine, a compound that has been found to stimulate blood flow to the penis, increase libido, and decrease the period between ejaculations. Yohimbe is not recommended, however, because it is potentially dangerous, even in small doses. Side effects may include dizziness, anxiety, nausea, a severe drop in blood pressure, abdominal pain, fatigue, hallucinations, and paralysis.
Other Natural Remedies .

Catalase Increases Lifespan

Catalase is an antioxidant enzyme that, like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase, is produced naturally within the body. It helps the body to convert hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, thus preventing the formation of carbon dioxide bubbles in the blood. Catalase also uses hydrogen peroxide to break down potentially harmful toxins in the body, including alcohol, phenol, and formaldehyde.

We need oxygen to live, yet when our bodies use oxygen they produce free radicals that damage cell membranes, proteins, and DNA. Free radicals are chemically unstable atoms or molecules that cause other atoms and molecules in the body to become unstable as well, a process that causes extensive damage to cells and tissue, and could lead to a depressed immune system, infection, cardiovascular disease, joint disease, and mental decline.

Free radicals are also thought to be a key component of the aging process. Catalase works closely with superoxide dismutase to prevent free radical damage to the body. SOD converts the dangerous superoxide radical to hydrogen peroxide, which catalase converts to harmless water and oxygen. Catalases are some of the most efficient enzymes found in cells; each catalase molecule can convert millions of hydrogen peroxide molecules every second. Hydrogen peroxide is a naturally occurring but destructive waste product of all oxygen-dependent organisms. It is produced in the human body when fatty acids are converted to energy, and when white blood cells attack and kill bacteria.

Catalase, which is located in the cell’s peroxisome, prevents this naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide from harming the cell during these processes. It also helps prevent the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to hydroxyl radicals, potentially dangerous molecules that can attack and even mutate DNA.

It has been theorized that one of the primary reasons cells age is the damage to DNA caused by free radicals and oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide, and that elevating levels of the body’s natural free-radical fighters—SOD, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase—could both improve human health and increase human lifespan. Dr.Martin Chalfie and his colleagues at Columbia University found new evidence supporting this theory, when they recently discovered and isolated a gene in nematodes that uses catalase to neutralize free radicals and protect cells from oxidative damage. Mutating this gene to turn catalase production on and off increased and decreased the lifespan of the nematode accordingly. It may be that human aging, like that of the nematode, is a result of exposure to free radicals rather than the passage of time. Catalase, superoxide dismutase, methionine reductase, and glutathione peroxidase are all manufactured in the body. However, if you want to try to combat the effects of aging or ward off serious illness, you may want to supplement these enzymes.

Curcumin's Anti Inflammatory Effects

Curcuminoids inhibit enzymes which participate in the synthesis of inflammatory substances in the body. The natural anti-inflammatory activity of curcuminoids is comparable in strength to steroidal drugs, and such nonsteroidal drugs as indomethacin and phenylbutazone, which have dangerous side effects.Arthritis is caused by continuous inflammation, which is a result from a complex series of actions and/or reactions triggered by the body's immunological response to tissue damage. Moderate inflammation is necessary for the healing process; however, continuous inflammation leads to chronic conditions like arthritis and its associated pain.

In a double-blind, controlled study, three groups of patients received either curcumin (400 mg), the anti-inflammatory prescription drug phenylbutazone (100 mg), or a placebo (250 mg of lactose powder) three times daily for five consecutive days after surgery. They had been admitted for either a hernia condition or an accumulation of fluid in the scrotum. The results: curcumin was just as effective as phenylbutazone in reducing post-operative inflammation.

COLD SORES AND LYSINE

Amino Acid L-Lysine has been reported as a prevention or lessened the duration of cold sores. Apparently, the herpes virus uses another amino acid, arginine, to grow and replicate while lysine inhibits the virus' ability to replicate itself.

Reduce your intake of arginine-containing foods as mentioned below. If you get sores frequently take 1,500 to 3,000 mg. daily as a preventive measure. When you feel a sore coming on, take 3,000 mg daily until the sore crusts over.

Experiment with the dosage until you find one that inhibits recurrence by reducing the amount until you find the optimal maintenance dosage, perhaps to 300-600 mg. Lysine may also be applied topically to the sores. If you get a cold sore, taking lysine should will shorten the time you have it considerably, generally within five days. No amino acid in large doses should be taken for long periods of time. Take the lysine between meals, preferably on an empty stomach.

Foods containing chocolate, peanuts and other nuts, grains, peas, seeds, oatmeal and whole-wheat products should be cut out or reduced from the diet. These foods are high in arginine.

Why Doesn't The Medical Industry Warn You About CoQ10 Depletion?

Statin drugs also deplete your body of CoQ10, an antioxidant compound that is central to the process of energy production within your mitochondria, and in the quenching of free radicals.Statins lower your CoQ10 levels by blocking the pathway involved in cholesterol production -- the same pathway by which Q10 is produced. Statins also reduce the blood cholesterol that transports CoQ10 and other fat-soluble antioxidants. The loss of CoQ10 leads to loss of cell energy and increased free radicals which, in turn, can further damage your mitochondrial DNA, effectively setting into motion an evil circle of increasing free radicals and mitochondrial damage.

There are no official warnings in the U.S. regarding CoQ10 depletion from taking statin drugs, and many physicians fail to inform you about this problem as well. Labeling in Canada, however, clearly warns of CoQ10 depletion and even notes that this nutrient deficiency “could lead to impaired cardiac function in patients with borderline congestive heart failure.”

Benefits Of Conjugated Linoleac Acid

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is an omega-6 essential fatty acid (EFA), which is said to burn fat, build muscle, and fight cancer. CLA has been called “the fat that makes you thin,” but the average American diet provides less than 1 gram of conjugated linoleic acid a day. Some researchers attribute the rise of obesity in America to the consumption of less and less CLA. It should be fairly easy to get CLA from dietary sources alone—its main sources are beef, cheese, milk, and other dairy foods.

However, conjugated linoleic acid is produced in large part by grass-fed cows—cows in the U.S. are more likely to be fed in feedlots rather than allowed to graze freely. This has lead to a great reduction of CLA in American milk, beef, and dairy supplies. Right now, the only way for the average American to get the same amount of CLA regularly consumed in other countries is through supplementation.

Research suggests that conjugated linoleic acid may indeed help reduce body fat. In laboratory studies performed with mice, CLA reduced body fat by 88 percent in just six weeks. Initial studies of the effects of CLA on humans have been promising as well. In a double-blind study published in the December 2000 issue of the Journal of Nutrition, participants who took CLA lost six pounds more body fat compared to those in the placebo group. The study found that 3.4 grams of CLA each day is needed to reduce body fat.

Conjugated linoleic acid has been researched as a possible treatment for many diseases, including breast cancer, obesity, and heart disease. It may also help increase metabolism, build muscle, boost the immune system, and help regulate blood sugar.

In a study conducted at Purdue University in Indiana, CLA was found to improve insulin levels in about two-thirds of diabetic patients, and moderately reduced the blood glucose level and triglyceride levels. CLA supplementation may be especially helpful to those with diabetes or hypothyroidism, although anyone with a serious illness should consult a doctor before taking supplements. CLA is available in most drugstores and health food stores, and often marketed as a weight-loss formula or fat burner.

The December 2000 study used Tonalin, but there are many other brands to choose from. Just be sure to get a reputable brand—some conjugated linoleic acid supplements were revealed to be nothing more than vegetable oil in fancy packaging. There have been no toxic effects linked to CLA supplementation, although some people do report stomach upset when they take extremely high doses.

Two Hormones Critical For Regulation of Blood Suger Levels And Fat Burning

Metabolism can roughly be defined as the chemistry that turns food into life. Insulin and leptin, therefore, are critical to health and disease. Insulin and leptin work together to control the quality of metabolism (and, to a significant extent, the rate of metabolism).

Insulin works mostly at the individual cell level, telling the vast majority of cells whether to burn or store fat or sugar and whether to utilize that energy for maintenance and repair or reproduction. This is extremely important, because, at the individual cell level, turning on maintenance and repair equates to increased longevity. Turning up cellular reproduction, on the other hand, increases the risk of cancer.

Genetic studies in simple organisms have convincingly shown the link between energy stores, reproduction and aging to be at least partially mediated by insulin (which in simple organisms also functions as growth hormone) When insulin signals are kept low, indicating scarce energy availability, whether or not, in fact, energy is scarce, lifespan can be greatly extended.

Levels of insulin are largely determined by glucose (and amino acid from protein) levels. In many people with diabetes, insulin levels are also determined by how much insulin they are taking. Many have been told that what they eat does not matter as long as they take enough insulin to cover it.

This couldn't be further from the truth. Consider two people with equivalent blood sugar levels but who are taking different amounts of insulin. The person taking higher amounts of insulin will likely age faster and accumulate the "diseases" associated with aging, such as heart disease, obesity, and even diabetes itself. Yes, that person's diabetes will get worse. Why? Because most cases of type 2 diabetes are caused by overexposure to insulin.

Just as you become unable to smell the odor in a smelly room after having been there awhile, your cells become unable to "smell" the essential messages from insulin (and leptin) after they have been exposed to high levels of these hormones. Your body responds to this inadequate signalling either by producing higher levels of insulin and leptin or by requiring more to get the message across, contributing to a vicious cycle.

In short, low insulin is very healthy and good for you as long as its message is being heard. Most treatments for type 2 insulin-resistant diabetes, however, involve drugs that raise insulin or utilize injections of insulin itself. Treatment of type I diabetes also generally requires excessive quantities of insulin.

The tragic result is that conventional medical treatment for diabetes contributes to the manifest side effects and the shortened lifespan that people with diabetes experience. The major cause of poor results from conventional diabetes treatments is not that people with diabetes are inadequate students who simply need more education. The major problem is actually what is being taught, and this needs to be changed.

If you have lost the ability to smell an odor in a room, the best way to smell it is not to make the smell stronger (analogous to taking or making more insulin). What you should do is walk out of the room to re-sensitize your nose. When you walk back in, you can smell the odor well again, even if it has been reduced.

This is how diabetes needs to be treated. We need to reduce, not increase, the levels of insulin, so that your cells can "smell" it better. You need to reduce not just your blood suger , but also your insulin, and the only way to do that is to get "more bang out of each insulin buck" by increasing insulin sensitivity. Contrary to what you have been told, there are no insulin sensitizing drugs. Only changing what you eat (combined perhaps with supplements that augment the dietary changes) can do this. Fortunately, changing diet does this very well, well enough to reverse most cases of type 2 diabetes completely.

Source :Dr. Ron Rosedale

NITRIC OXIDE AND THE BLOOD PRESSURE RELATION

High blood pressure (sometimes called hypertension) is also known as the silent killer because there aren't any real symptoms. Nearly one of every three American adults (65 million people) has high blood pressure and in 2002 high blood pressure was implicated in almost 50,000 deaths. High blood pressure is the 13th largest cause of death in the United States (American Heart Association 2005).

Furthermore, studies have estimated that a 55-year-old person who has normal blood pressure has a 90-percent lifetime risk of getting high blood pressure. High blood pressure has resulted in damage to blood vessels in the eyes, heart, brain, and kidneys.

As bleak as this may seem, the good news is that high blood pressure can be controlled by prescription drugs or by natural methods.Many people prefer lowering blood pressure naturally because you avoid the unpleasant side effects that can accompany prescription drugs.Two of the best natural ways of lowering blood pressure naturally are exercise and diet. You don't have to join a gym to get the exercise you need. Simply committing to walk for 20 to 30 minutes at least 3 times a week can have a positive effect on blood pressure. In addition, there are other benefits for the joints, bones and muscles.

A few modifications to your diet can also do wonders for your blood pressure. Start with reducing the amount of salt. If this is hard for you to do then reduce the amount gradually until you have eliminated it completely. Be aware that processed foods are often high in salt (sodium) so read the label.

Recently another method of lowering blood pressure naturally has emerged. This is called nitric oxide therapy and is the result of the research by Nobel® Laureate Dr. Louis Ignarro. Dr. Ignarro and his team of researchers knew that nitrogen in the form of nitro-glycerin had been used for years to help relieve angina or heart distress but they didn't know how it worked. They discovered that the nitric oxide molecule has a profound effect in dilating arteries and blood vessels which could reduce blood pressure and support cardiovascular health.

The next step was to determine how to create nitric oxide in the body. They found that the amino acid, arginine or L-arginine, causes nitric oxide to be produced in the arteries and blood vessels. They also learned that exercise will have the same effect.In addition, they discovered that nitric oxide has other beneficial effects, which impact the immune system and the nervous system. The popular prescription drug Viagra was developed as a direct result of Dr. Ignarro's nitric oxide research.

The question then was what foods provide a source of arginine. There were many on the list including nuts, red meat, and certain vegetables.


Arginine content (grams /100 gram of food)

Plant products

Peanuts, Spanish 3.13
Peanuts 3.09
Almond nuts 2.47
sunflower seed 2.40
Walnuts, English 2.28
Hazelnuts 2.21
Lentils, raw 2.17
Brazilnuts 2.15
Cashew nuts 2.12
Pistachio nuts 2.03
Flax seed 1.93
Beans, kidney 1.46
Pecan nuts 1.18
Soybeans, green, raw 1.04



Animal products

Fish, tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids 1.74
Chicken, broilers or fryers, giblets, raw 1.19
Salmon, Atlantic, farmed, raw 1.19
Shrimp, mixed species, raw 1.18
Egg, yolk, raw, fresh 1.10
Egg, whole, raw 0.82
Egg, white, raw, fresh 0.65
Pork, fresh, separable fat, raw 0.56
Milk, whole, 3.25% milkfat 0.08