Having a problem rising to the occasion in bed? Try these natural remedies

There is nothing unsettling a man’s mind like failing to rise to the occasion in bed when your better-half expected a magical experience between the sheets.

It is embarrassing, ego-crushing, confusing and leaves one feeling like a stand-out loser on an extremely big stage. A stage that you wouldn’t want to broadcast your inadequacies.

Doctors majorly attribute the failure of the little man’s inability to rise to the occasion to lifestyle changes.

A man’s libido -- holding all factors constant -- doctors say, reduces as his age advances, and, therefore, chances of one suffering erectile dysfunction are higher among older men.

However, there are simple remedies that one can employ to continue being strong in the game.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) can occur for many reasons.

Sometimes it is as simple as the side effect of a particular medication, says Havard Medical School.

“Roughly 75 per cent of men, the cause is more complex,” says the medical school.

According to Havard, ED may result from vascular disease, neurological disease, diabetes, or prostate-related treatments or surgeries.

The medical information authority suggests the following five measures to keep ED at bay:

-Start walking-

According to one Harvard study, just 30 minutes of walking a day was linked with a 41 per cent drop in risk for ED. Other research suggests that moderate exercise can help restore sexual performance in obese middle-aged men with ED.

-Eat right-

In the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, eating a diet rich in natural foods like fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and fish — with fewer red and processed meat and refined grains — decreased the likelihood of ED.

-Pay attention to your vascular health-

High blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides can all damage arteries in the heart (causing heart attack), in the brain (causing stroke), and leading to the penis (causing ED). An expanding waistline also contributes. Check with your doctor to find out whether your vascular system — and thus your heart, brain, and penis — is in good shape or needs a tune-up through lifestyle changes and, if necessary, medications.

-Size matters, so get slim and stay slim-

A trim waistline is one good defense — a man with a 42-inch waist is 50 per cent more likely to have ED than one with a 32-inch waist. Losing weight can help fight erectile dysfunction, so getting to a healthy weight and staying there is another good strategy for avoiding or fixing ED. Obesity raises risks for vascular disease and diabetes, two major causes of ED. And excess fat interferes with several hormones that may be part of the problem as well.

-Move a muscle-

A strong pelvic floor enhances rigidity during erections and helps keep blood from leaving the penis by pressing on a key vein. In a British trial, three months of twice-daily sets of Kegel exercises (which strengthen these muscles), combined with biofeedback and advice on lifestyle changes — quitting smoking, losing weight, limiting alcohol — worked far better than just advice on lifestyle changes.