Can I improve my sexual health by changing my diet?

Your body -- including your sex organs -- is maintained by what you eat and drink. Eat right, and everything improves -- including sexual health.

As with most things in life, I think a helpful motto is: "All things in moderation, including excess." The idea is to avoid extremes in any direction and yet to preserve the pleasure of eating as well. For example, a lot of research shows that guys who are overweight -- especially in the belly -- have lower testosterone levels and are more likely to have problems with their erections. That's because excess fat gets converted to estrogen-like compounds which curtail the production of testosterone. Also, fat in the blood can clog the small arteries feeding the penis. So if you're overweight, try to lose at least some of it. I know…easier said than done. But if you start by cutting back on processed foods loaded with high-fructose corn syrup, and avoid sugary drinks, you'll be making a great start.

Moderation is also a good guideline when it comes to vitamins and minerals. Many studies show that deficiencies of vitamin E, vitamin B12, zinc, selenium, and a host of other vitamins hurt a man or a woman's fertility. But that doesn't mean you should go out and start popping extra zinc tablets. Mega-doses of any vitamin can cause problems -- the body is simply not built for such levels and you'll be wasting both money and your health this way. Everyone needs adequate levels of all the key vitamins, particularly the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E. It's best to get your vitamins from real foods -- because fruits and vegetables give you a lot of other good stuff besides vitamins, like fiber and minerals. But with today's lifestyles, that isn't always possible, so I think it makes sense to take a general-purpose vitamin supplement every day just to cover your bases.