Too much or too little salt can affect health and help men enhance their libido.

"Of all flavors, salt is the most important." Salt, which may seem the most inconspicuous thing, is indispensable to human life. Salt is an important nutrient for the human body and an essential substance.

Studies have found that the human body of a middle-aged person contains approximately 1 gram of salt per kilogram of body weight, of which 50% plays a crucial role in maintaining cell osmotic pressure, water balance, and acid-base balance. Salt, also known as sodium chloride, contains sodium ions, which are components of pancreatic juice, bile, sweat, and tears. It is closely related to muscle contraction and nerve function, and plays a special role in the absorption of carbohydrates. Chloride ions are used to produce hydrochloric acid in the stomach, which helps in the normal absorption of vitamins and iron, participates in the activation of amylase, and inhibits the growth of bacteria that enter the stomach with food. Therefore, salt plays a vital role in the human body.

Modern medicine has confirmed that both excessive and insufficient salt intake are harmful to the human body. Prolonged excessive salt intake can easily induce high blood pressure, heart disease, and cause edema. Under normal circumstances, the human body does not lack salt, but if the body loses too much salt under certain conditions and it is not replenished in time, it will feel weak and easily fatigued. In severe cases, it can cause muscle cramps, nausea, headaches, and even dehydration, which can be life-threatening.

So, how much salt should we eat each day? This depends on the individual. People who engage in strenuous exercise or physical labor lose more salt and should replenish it more. In daily life, the average person consumes 6-8 grams of salt per day. The Chinese Dietary Guidelines recommend that each person consume less than 6 grams of salt per day. For patients with mild hypertension, the U.S. Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs recommends limiting it to around 4 grams, a standard also applicable to patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in my country.

In addition, soy sauce is another source of salt in the diet. Therefore, when calculating salt intake, the salt ingested through soy sauce should also be included. Soy sauce contains approximately 18% salt. To calculate the average amount of salt ingested per person through soy sauce, simply multiply the amount of soy sauce used by 18% and divide by the number of people eating. Adding this to the total amount of salt consumed gives the average daily salt intake per person.

There is a significant link between food and sexual function. Both traditional and modern medicine believe that certain dietary choices can enhance sperm quality, improve male virility, and tonify the kidneys. In fact, many foods in daily life have kidney-tonifying and virility-enhancing effects. Here are eight carefully selected dishes that men who want to boost their vitality may wish to try.

(1) Aconite and black bean stewed dog meat

Ingredients: One black dog, 15 grams of prepared aconite root, 500 grams of green-skinned black beans, and 12 grams of old ginger.

Method: First, slaughter the black dog and remove its internal organs. Then, wash the black beans, aconite, and old ginger, and put them into the dog's abdomen. Sew up the dog's abdomen with silk thread, put it in a pot with water, and simmer until it is tender. Finally, season the dog meat and it is ready to eat.

Efficacy: Suitable for low libido and weakness in the lower back and knees.

(2) Stewed lean pork with lotus seeds and lily bulbs

Ingredients: 200-250g lean pork, 30g lotus seeds, 30g lily bulbs, appropriate amounts of scallions, ginger, salt, and cooking wine.

Instructions: Wash the pork and cut it into chunks. Wash the lotus seeds and lily bulbs and set aside. Put all the ingredients into a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, and simmer over low heat until the meat is tender.

Efficacy: This dish has the effects of benefiting the spleen and stomach, nourishing the heart and mind, moistening the lungs and kidneys, and relieving heat and cough.

(3) Stir-fried pork kidney with chives

Ingredients: 1 pork kidney, 100g of chives, a little peanut oil and seasonings.

Instructions: Cut the chives into small sections and the pork kidneys into thin slices; heat the peanut oil in a wok until it is 70-80% hot, add the pork kidneys and stir-fry until they are half-cooked, then add the chives and stir-fry for a few more moments, then add the seasonings.

Efficacy: Warms the kidneys and strengthens yang, nourishes essence and qi.

(4) Quail stewed with corn

Ingredients: 3 quails, 150g corn kernels, 50g pine nuts, 50g pork fat, 1 egg white, and seasonings as needed.

Instructions: Cut quail and pork into pieces the size of corn kernels, add egg white, MSG, Shaoxing wine, and cornstarch, and mix well; deep-fry pine nuts in oil until golden brown; heat oil in a wok until it reaches 40% of its smoking point, add the quail and pork pieces, stir-fry for 2 minutes, remove and drain the oil; pour the corn kernels back into the wok, add the quail and pork, add Shaoxing wine and cornstarch slurry, bring to a boil, add lard and stir well, sprinkle with pine nuts and serve.

Efficacy: Nourishes the five internal organs, strengthens yang and tonifies the kidneys.

(5) Dog meat soup

Ingredients: 250g dog meat, 5g dodder seed, 3g aconite root, some scallions and ginger.

Instructions: Blanch the dog meat in boiling water until cooked through, then rinse it in cold water to remove any blood foam. Cut it into one-inch square pieces. Place the dodder seed and aconite root into a gauze bag. Heat a pan, stir-fry the dog meat, scallions, and ginger, then transfer the dog meat to a clay pot. Add the gauze bag, salt, and clear broth. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat until the dog meat is tender.

Efficacy: Nourishes Yin and strengthens Yang, tonifies the liver and benefits the kidneys.

(6) Garlic-flavored pork belly

Ingredients: 350g pork hind leg meat, several cloves of garlic, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, and chili oil to taste.

Instructions: Boil the pork in water, remove the foam, add garlic and wine, simmer over low heat for 40 minutes, remove and slice; then mash the garlic into a paste, mix with sugar, vinegar, soy sauce and chili to make a sauce, and pour it over the pork slices.

Efficacy: It is mainly used to treat kidney deficiency and impotence.

(7) Shrimp and Chive Stew

Ingredients: 250g fresh shrimp, 100g chives, vegetable oil, rice wine, soy sauce, and vinegar (all in appropriate amounts).

Instructions: Peel the shrimp and remove the meat; cut the chives into 3 cm long sections; heat oil in a wok, stir-fry the shrimp meat first, add soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, vinegar and shredded ginger, cook briefly; then stir-fry the chives in vegetable oil until tender, then stir-fry the shrimp meat in the wok, stir well and remove from heat.

Efficacy: Tonifies the kidneys and enhances male virility.

(8) Deer Antler Wine

Ingredients: 3 grams of deer antler, 30 grams of sliced ​​yam, and 500 grams of white wine.

Instructions: Place the deer antler and yam into a gauze bag, put the gauze bag into a bottle of white wine, seal the bottle, and soak for 7 days. Take half an ounce each time, 1-2 times a day.

Efficacy: Tonifies the kidneys and replenishes essence, treats impotence.

The above are mostly medicinal diets, which combine medicine and food, and often have the effects of health maintenance, disease prevention and treatment, and longevity. If you have low libido, erectile dysfunction, or premature ejaculation, combining these medicinal diets with drug and psychotherapy will yield better results.