Aphrodisiac: Half an hour of exercise daily and tomatoes have no miraculous effects.

**For male enhancement: Exercise for half an hour daily.**

It is said that on Mount Olympia in Greece, there is a classic motto embodying the spirit of the Olympic Games: "Do you want to be a good husband? Run!"

This statement could be considered a free "aphrodisiac" for middle-aged men. Wang Shenghan, a urologist at Beijing Xuanwu Hospital who is busy at the Beijing Olympic Center, told reporters that for men in their 40s and 50s who experience pseudo-ED, simply doing regular aerobic exercise such as jogging or brisk walking can restore normal sexual function. In other words, for them, such simple exercise can replace the effect of Viagra.

Why do middle-aged men experience false erectile dysfunction (ED)? Dr. Wang explains that as people reach middle age, work pressure increases, physical condition declines, motor skills decrease, and androgen levels also decrease. These conditions are what Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to as stagnant liver qi and poor blood circulation, especially for those with a quick temper. If this isn't addressed through timely replenishment of energy through exercise, a decline in sexual function is very likely to occur.

However, this condition has not yet developed into true erectile dysfunction. Middle-aged men can effectively improve their sexual function by persisting in aerobic exercise for more than half an hour every day, or at least exercising once every other day.

A foreign study indicates that the penis is more sensitive to a decrease in blood flow than the heart.

Therefore, erectile dysfunction may be a precursor to cardiovascular disease. Dr. Wang affirmed this statement. During sexual intercourse, blood from the cardiovascular system flows to the penis. If the cardiovascular system already has insufficient blood supply, and is now busy supplying the reproductive system, the heart may suddenly malfunction.

Both erectile dysfunction and heart disease are caused by reduced blood perfusion to organs, while exercise can keep blood vessels clear.

"To be masculine, you must first improve your cardiopulmonary function. Using drugs like Viagra to enhance virility without improving cardiopulmonary function does more harm than good. Exercise can prevent erectile dysfunction and also prevent heart attacks," said Dr. Wang.

Regarding specific forms of exercise, the ancient Chinese medical text, the *Huangdi Neijing*, discusses the generation of Yang Qi in the limbs. Therefore, whether it's jogging or brisk walking, any exercise that strengthens cardiopulmonary function, exercises the limbs, and is within one's physical capacity is acceptable.

By Ye Yi, reporter for Health Times

Expert Support: Wang Shenghan, Urologist, Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing

Tomatoes don't have miraculous effects.

When dining with friends, do you often hear phrases like "Men should eat more tomatoes," often accompanied by a sly smile? Some businesses also heavily promote the health benefits of lycopene for men. But is eating tomatoes really that good for men?

Dr. Lü Bodong, chief physician of the Department of Andrology at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, stated that tomatoes do indeed have benefits for men, including preventing prostate cancer and improving sperm concentration and motility, potentially enhancing sperm into "super sperm." However, people mistakenly equate sperm quality and fertility with "aphrodisiacs" and therefore believe that eating tomatoes can enhance male virility, thus imbuing tomatoes with a mystical aura.

Lu Bodong pointed out that some foods contain trace elements and bioactive substances that can strengthen sperm, improve semen quality, and enhance sperm motility. However, it should be noted that while these benefits may not necessarily enhance male virility, sperm quality and sexual ability are two different things. Therefore, the claim that tomatoes can "enhance male virility" is far-fetched.

Similarly, many so-called "aphrodisiac foods," such as seal kidneys, bull penis, deer penis, sparrows, and male moths, as well as some nutritional supplements such as human milk, cow's milk, and royal jelly, almost none of these foods have a direct effect on strengthening reproductive organs. Moreover, long-term, large-scale, and indiscriminate consumption can lead to increased hormone concentrations in the blood, which can cause "feedback inhibition," causing the testes to stop producing hormones and further aggravating the condition.

"Aphrodisiac" is a treatment method for kidney deficiency in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Lu Bodong reminds everyone that healthy people should not blindly seek "aphrodisiacs," and even less should they believe the exaggerated claims in false advertisements. Whether or not one needs "aphrodisiacs," and how to do so, should be done under the guidance of a specialist doctor. Although tomatoes cannot "aphrodisiac," their benefits for the male prostate and sperm are undeniable.

Lu Bodong suggests that men may want to eat tomatoes once a day, preferably cooked. This is because lycopene is a fat-soluble substance, and it's easier to absorb when cooked. However, heating should not exceed 30 minutes, otherwise the lycopene will be broken down.

He further emphasized that when consuming large quantities of raw tomatoes on an empty stomach, the acidic components such as pectin, fruit acids, and phenolic compounds in tomatoes can easily react chemically with bile, coagulating into insoluble lumps and forming gallstones. Therefore, people with a predisposition to gallstones, a family history of gallstones, or who skip breakfast should be cautious.

Author: Geng Qiang, Department of Andrology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine