Go nuts to cure a low sex drive – but beware of bikes

A MAN’S beard grows more on the days he has sex than on the days he doesn’t.

For men, sex increases levels of testosterone circulating in the blood – hence the beard growth – though the same effect is not found if he selfpleasures.

Testosterone increases with ‘competitive success’, say researchers, and sex induces the ‘mental state of a winner’, as opposed to the mental state after masturbation.

Eating at least one serving of vegetables a day and more than two servings of nuts a week was associated with a more than 50 per cent decrease in the probability of erectile dysfunction. Men eating three to four handfuls of pistachios, above, a day for just three weeks experienced a significant improvement in blood flow where it matters.

Nitric oxide also allows blood vessels to relax, which is why leafy, nitrate-packed greens might be ‘veggie Viagra’. Fenugreek seeds can also boost testosterone – in one study men who took fenugreek capsules daily reported a doubling of morning erections. The only side effect? It can make your sweat and pee smell like maple syrup.

Watermelon has a compound called citrulline which turns into the amino acid arginine in the body, which combats erectile dysfunction. Five daily servings of red watermelon or a single wedge of yellow flesh watermelon can help the problem.

And regular aerobic exercise can improve erectile function almost as much as the latest Viagra-type drugs – although there is a caveat. Middle-aged men should be aware of the higher risk of erectile dysfunction among cyclists, thanks to repeated compression of nerves in the pelvic region.