Antioxidant solution to impotency

Erectile dysfunction, generally known as impotence, affects an estimated 18 million men in the United States alone, while Nigeria men share the borderline of the statistics. However, while this condition is no picnic, it is not as horrible or as permanent as it sounds or as it is generally believed to be. All the terror and the shame usually associated with this problem is only so because the condition is most often, completely misunderstood and the permanent solution evades us.

According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately five per cent of 40-year-old men and between 15 per cent and 25 per cent of 65-year-old men, experience ED on a long-term basis.

But ironically, close to 15 per cent of Nigerian youth between the ages of 27-35 are fast entering the list. A much more common problem which affects the majority of men at some point in their life is the occasional failure to achieve an erection, which could occur for a variety of reasons, ranging from drinking too much alcohol to being extremely tried or even variety of health problems.

But then, let us first attempt to define and to understand exactly what erectile dysfunction is, and how it is caused. Then, we would discuss how it could affect the lives of men who suffer from it, and how it directly or indirectly affects the people around them. Once we have a comprehensive understanding of the condition and what it entails, we’ll discuss how to cure it.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is generally defined as the inability to achieve or to maintain an erection long enough to engage in sexual intercourse.

However, to fully understand erectile dysfunction, one first has to understand how the process of erection works. Initially, you need to realise that the penis contains two chambers. These chambers are called the corpora cavernosa, which are filled with spongy tissue. They run the length of the organ and contain a maze of blood vessels shaped like cavernous spaces. An erection is achieved when the blood vessels of the corpora cavernous relax and open up because of nerve messages which stimulate the penis, and impulses from the brain and local nerves. As blood rushes in through the cavernous arteries to fill them, it is trapped under high pressure, which expands the penis and you would just take off!

So, under normal circumstances, when you are sexually stimulated, your brain would send a message downstairs, through your spinal cord and into the nerves of your penis. The nerve ending of the penis then releases chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters, which signal the arteries that supply blood to the corpora cavernous to relax and get filled with blood. As they expand, the corpora cavernosa close off other veins which would normally drain blood from the penis. As the penis becomes engorged with blood, it enlarges and stiffens, causing an erection. Problems with blood vessels, nerves, or tissues of the penis can interfere with an erection.

In essence then, erectile dysfunction is simply a problem with your blood flow caused by variety of issues ranging from organic, circumstantial, psychological, environmental, and psychosomatic to lifestyle and eating habits and so on. And thus, it is a problem that could be easily resolved. No need to be embarrassed about it, or to throw away your marriage relationships, and be distressed and depressed, for it could happen to anyone. Failure to achieve an erection less than 20 per cent of the time is not unusual and treatment is rarely needed. Failure to achieve an erection more than 50 per cent of the time, however, generally indicates that there is a problem requiring attention.

Sometimes, Erectile Dysfunction only occurs in certain situations. For example, you may be able to obtain an erection by just looking at nude pictures or just thinking about your wife or just remembering the last time you had an earth shaking sexual escapades, or you may find that you sometimes wake up with an erection. However, you may be momentarily unable to obtain an erection when you are with your wife.

In these circumstances, it is likely that the underlying cause of ED is primarily psychological, psychosomatic and circumstantial. However, if you are unable to obtain an erection under any circumstances, it is likely that the underlying cause is primarily physical.

In order to achieve an erection, the following conditions must occur. If there is something interfering with any or all of these conditions, a full erection would be prevented. The blood circulation into the penis must be adequate. The veins and tissues must be able to “trap and keep” the blood inside the penis. There must be a stimulus from the brain. The nerves must be very sensitive, the prostate must produce testosterone.

Common causes of Erectile Dysfunction include diseases which affect blood flow, such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) or venous leakage (weak veins), diseases affecting the heart in general, issues with diabetes mellitus, infection. Furthermore, psychological factors, such as stress, depression, and performance anxiety can lead to ED, as well as an injury to the penis. Additionally, chronic illness, certain medications, and a condition called Peyronie’s Disease (scar tissue in the penis) can also cause ED.

Now, as most men and couples fail to truly understand Erectile Dysfunction, its causes, and how it can effectively be cured, through entirely natural means at home or natural herbal preparations, exercises and even massages, they tend to get scared, and then leap to panic and irrational conclusions. The lack of understanding breeds unfounded fears, which spins a series of misguided thoughts and rash actions, and those in turn, engender significant distress, and a host of other problems in life.

All the distress, and each of those problems, can easily be avoided, however, by accomplishing some simple processes.

To be continued next week.

Questions and Answers

I am a distressed husband

I love my wife of six years. I sincerely do but my problem is that whenever I am with her, I do not have a desire for sex or have an erection. I would have to resort to the use of some enhancers. But recently, I am always sexually attracted to other women to the extent of developing an affair with another woman, which I do not like at all. I eventually stopped it but the same problem persisted with my wife. How can I get to have erection naturally with her again? I am in distress.

Pastor in distress,

This is a situation common to couples who have been married for many years and even at that, when such couples rekindle old flame, they usually overcome such challenges. I think first and foremost, you should work on your mindset and start seeing your wife as your mistress. The truth of the matter is you would always be surrounded by other women who are not your wife; that is part of life. You have to look for workable solution so as to maintain your sanity.

Another very important issue but which most wives take for granted is their appearance at home when they are not dressed for outing. As couples age in marriage and age in life, they may lose sight of the fact that people are visual regardless of the career, vocation, or profession, because the beginning of any relationship involved visual attraction. Now, that may become a turnoff for husband and wife when this is not prioritised. Neglecting hair, clothing and makeup, not observing oral, vulgar, bedroom hygiene and having issues with good manners, may become a major turnoff. I usually tell wives to pretend they are single and on their first date with someone new most of the time. This usually helps to keep them equipped with fact, style and values of life.

I’m only left with frustrating arousal

Funmi as interesting, educative and tempting as your articles are, they don’t really cover those of us married folks who just don’t have ANY sex in our relationship anymore. The only thing I seem to have is frustrated arousal, regret and wishes each time I read your article. In our own situation, my wife entered her menopause at an early age of 35 years due to one ailment. Although at that early stage, she did all she could to try and help out by using the oestrogen replacement pill for a while. She started with the pills and later started using the injection and then the patch. But she eventually stopped because she was scared of the side effects. And as soon as she did, her desires stopped as well, leaving me with no hope of effecting a change. She is just 37 years now but isn’t interested in any kind of physical attention other than kissing and cuddling. It is so very sad that our 12 years of marriage has turned into more like a “roommate” union. Now, I am left with an empty container. What can I do? Unfortunately I am a one- wife person, I don’t believe in sampling women around.

Saheed Agba Rabidun

You sounded so final but I believe there is still hope for your sex life. First, there are lots of natural herbs that would naturally replace her desire and stimulate her libido for good sex. But most importantly, maybe there is really nothing wrong with friendship and affection in a marriage relationship. It is this friendship that breeds more affection and spike desires. I will suggest you keep at good friendship. If your wife really loves you, she should be willing to accommodate your sexual needs even if she herself has no desire.

I still desire sex badly even at 82

I still want sex badly at 82 years. Am I normal? Although I am not sure about my wife’s desire, she is 65 years. I don’t think she is on the same page with me because she thinks we should have outgrown such by now, she is always very dry and sex to her is so painful. Through our 40 years of marriage, I was always the aggressor and the initiator and I could get aroused brushing up against her in the kitchen and up until now, I still can but not as frequent. In attempting to see if she was interested, I bought your book on sex for the elderly couples. I casually left it near her closet in the bedroom. I asked her if she found the book interesting and all I got was a questionable look and response. I am not physically attractive as I once was but I continue to look at attractive women walking about and my libido is still much active. How can I fulfil this desire without making a fool of myself?

Old Contractor,

To start with, become a special unavoidable friend to your wife, shower attention and praise on her, talk to her in a way as if she is a young teenager who is in her first dating period. Show her open affection in such a manner that she would become embarrassingly happy. Continue this for days, weeks and months. Take her on a trip to places she has dreamt of. Buy her the types of underwear she likes and make her wear them in your presence. Praise her looks while she is putting them on and go to the extent of suggesting you help her wear them. Treat her like a baby; even at that age, caress and massage her body while she is resting, insisting such caressing is good for her. Continue with these gestures and before you know it, she would be the one asking for sex and not the other way round in spite of her earlier refusal. This is because sex to a woman of any age is not only attached to her heart but also to her emotion. When you have successfully entered into the heart of any woman of any age, you would easily enter her legs regardless of any prevailing situation or circumstances.

My vaginal is too short and orgasm seems to be unattainable.

Except cases where surgical operation has been performed on the wall of the virgina, a typical vaginal has standard size. The vagina is an elastic, muscular canal with a soft, flexible lining that provides lubrication and sensation. The size does not affect orgasm either. The vagina actually connects the uterus to the outside world. The vulva and labia form the entrance, and the cervix of the uterus protrudes into the vagina, forming the interior end. The vagina receives the penis during sexual intercourse and also serves as a conduit for menstrual flow from the uterus. During childbirth, the baby passes through the vagina (birth canal).

The hymen is a thin membrane of tissue that surrounds and narrows the vaginal opening. It may be torn or ruptured by sexual activity or by exercise. Research indicates there’s no standard size or shape for a woman’s vagina; but there could be many differences in shapes and looks among women of reproductive age, depending on the numbers of normal vagina deliveries such women have had. Orgasm via vagina is possible when your husband pays more attention to the tip of the vaginal by stimulating it, because the first few inches of the vagina is where the nerves of the vagina is highly populated. So, even if you have short or long vagina, it has not much importance to achieving orgasm. What is most important is the fact that you have vaginal entrance which every woman does. This is the part that gives orgasm when properly stimulated or caressed.

By Funmi Akingbade.

Breast orgasm, a myth or reality?

A man recently walked into my office with his wife and looked straight into my eyes and said, ‘Please can you teach me how to make my wife experience a breast orgasm?’

‘Breast orgasm’, I asked? And he nodded and repeated after me and said, ‘Yes Madam, breast orgasm’. He continued, ‘My marriage clocked four years yesterday and I have done all to make my wife respond to me. But she seems not to be interested in sex with me in particular, because, according to her, I only waste her time and kill her libido during sex. And after long hours of persuasion and pleading, she would simply say her idea of good sex is when I make her experience breast orgasm. She said that was what her former boyfriend used to do to make her enjoy sex to the ultimate level.

‘Madam, apart from the fact I was psychologically deflated that my wife still preferred another man on bed or still carried the memories of her former lover, I also want to learn and do better,’ he said.

The breasts are one of the erogenous zones and while some women are able to reach orgasm from breast stimulation alone, some others may not be able to. The idea of some women experiencing breast orgasm with or without any genital stimulation could sound stressful and perplexing to many husbands who do not see any reasons for foreplay or love play. But this is, by 80 per cent, one of the many libidoral fantasies of a good number of married women. The fear of, ‘how will my husband respond to this if I bring up the subject’, has incapacitated this idea from the mind of many of these wives.

The orgasm this category of women normally feel is not just in their nipples, but throughout their breasts, though more intense around the areolas. Scientifically, the breasts can swell up to 25 per cent when a woman is aroused. This boost makes the breasts super sensitive, and quite larger. Nipple stimulation actually activates the same region of the brain as clitoral, vaginal and cervical stimulation do. Research has discovered that stimulation of the nipple activates an area of the brain known as the genital sensory cortex. This is the same brain region activated by stimulation of the clitoris, vagina and cervix. What this means is that women’s brains seem to process nipple and genital stimulation in the same way. In the light of this, it is not at all surprising that many wives are aroused by having their nipples rightfully touched and that, for some, this may be enough to lead to orgasm. During this time, the nipple actually goes from a pale erected organ to a deeper manner, the more a woman is aroused. This is true because the blood flow increases when a woman is turned on. This sexy gentle nipple stimulation may be what it takes to send many wives over the edge for orgasm and the desire for passionate sex. As a matter of fact, this is the most compensatory help for many circumcised wives.

However, just as breasts come in all shapes, sizes and colours, wives’ preferences during breast play do differ. Majority of women may love having their nipples caressed while some might find this not important. Also, breast sensitivity changes with women’s menstrual cycles, so what some wives may literally like this week, may be a piss off the next week. The mysterious rhythm of a woman’s body is kind of exciting. It is very needful for the husband to understudy this and be equipped with relevant facts.

A woman’s breasts contain the same trigger-happy nerves found in the clitoris making breast orgasm the second most common form of orgasms for women. That is the reason the nipples reach out for more when kissed, caressed or stimulated. But most husbands simply ignore these magnificent twin globes in a rush to head down south to get to where they think is the best possibility for orgasm.

The woman’s breasts at any stage, (even if the shape is pendulum, flat, small, sagged) have a direct hotline to her clitoris and when breast play is done with skill and finesse, it can lead to a dazzling multiple orgasm for her. At the very least, breast and nipple stimulation can even over-raise the libido of a woman that has undergone bad circumcision, and send her arousal soaring with pleasure!

Just as there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ bra, there isn’t any one method that will work for every wife all the time. Breast sensitivity, hormonal changes, her personal preferences, etc., will influence your choice of technique. If you, as the husband, are not sure as at how best to proceed, you both can be naked and sit facing each other in the nude and get her to show you what arouses her.

Think about it, inasmuch as you wouldn’t like it if your wife just grabbed your penis out of nowhere and started jerking it around roughly, she needs to be warmed up first by light, soft and slow stimulation. And please don’t just do one thing over and over. It may become too repetitive and boring, and even if she loved it at first, after a while it would lose its effect. You’ll get the best results by using a combination of different stimulation techniques.

You’re starting off soft, so try tracing circles with the tip of your finger over her stomach and chest, gradually moving in to the breasts and nipples.

Experiment with licking, nibbling, sucking and stroking the neck, chest and nipple area. Assess her arousal either by watching if her nipples rise, darken and intensify or through the sex sounds she makes. You can also place your hands over hers and ask her to show you how she wants to be pleasured.

Keep in mind that the more turned on she becomes, the more sensation she would be able to endure. So start off slowly and gently by using the feathery touch of your fingertips to stroke the delicate skin of her breast. Slide your fingers down across her breast, making slow, lazy circles over it; slide your palms in circular motions around the entire breast area. Press firmly. You can either do one breast at a time or use both hands and do both together. Continue even after her nipples become erect. Cup as much of each breast in your hands as possible and move them around. Massage them. Squeeze them gently then more firmly. Massage the nipples with or without oil or the saliva of your tongue. Press on them. Roll them gently between your thumb and forefinger. Use firmer and firmer pressure. Use one hand to encircle her breast and push it up and out similar to a push-up bra.

Slide your hands over her breasts, cupping them with the palms of your hands. Knead them, cup them, and massage them gently, then more firmly, varying your speed and pressure. You should consider using a massage oil or lotion to make your hands slide over her skin more easily. Use oil or lotion to begin stimulating her nipples over and again. Run your fingers over them. Press them. Roll them between your thumb and index finger. Remember to keep her sensitivity in mind here and at all time. As much as you don’t want to hurt her, you should try to give enough stimulation to make it really pleasurable. Pull on them with slow-fast, repetitive strokes. It is all about maximum masculine control and maximum feminine pleasure. One of the beauties of this is that it helps many husbands with premature ejaculation to be able to practice Kegel exercise at the same time this is going on. Cup her breast with one hand and push it up. This has the effect of pushing her nipple out making it firm and temptingly inviting. Rotate it around in a circular motion with the pads of your fingers. At this stage, you can now move on to using your mouth. Use your tongue to lick her breast from the bottom all the way up and over her nipple. Give her open mouth wet kisses all over her breasts and nipples. Run your tongue softly over her nipples in a flat position. Then flex your tongue and flick the nipple with it. For some categories of wives who would love to be ‘fingered’, this is the right time to dip your finger into her vagina and roll the finger inside her in the same manner you are rolling your tongue around her nipple. This simple treat breaks the idea of frigidity or any form of resistance from your wife. As a matter of fact, it is at this stage she will cry out loud for more.

You can still proceed further by trying to give her gentle love nibbles and bites on her breasts. Make your way to her nipples and nibble on them gently. Try covering your teeth with your wet lips first to test her sensitivity. If she has extremely sensitive nipples or is in a sensitive phase in her cycle, you might need to skip nibbling and biting all together because this could be hurting her. If you’re not sure, ask her if the pressure is okay.

Suction your mouth around her nipple and suck in and out. Run your tongue over the nipple while you suck. Kiss and lick each breast and nipple. Flick her nipples with your tongue. Gently bite then suckle her nipples then lick and blow on them. This stage is also helpful for pregnant women who are in their last stage of pregnancy as it help to soften their breast and make it succulent for the child during breast feeding because of the systemic erection and relaxation of the nipples.

Pull your lips and use them to make a seal around the nipple. Suck in and then out without breaking the seal. The nipple will feel alternating currents of vacuum and pressure. This is the stage many menopausal wives feel like a new bride one more time because it helps them to have deep sensations specially when the husband tries stimulating the breasts of his menopausal wife orally, when she is lying above you. What happens here is that her breasts will be more sensitive when they are hanging down because of the increased blood supply to the nipples. Some other categories of women find it highly arousing when their husbands caresses their nipples with the tip of an erect penis, while some women get aroused by having an erect penis sliding in-between their well-oiled breasts as they are being squeezed together.

Remember, although some wives can reach orgasm from breast play, not all women would be able to. But there is no harm in trying. However, don’t put pressure on yourself or her to achieve this result. Just enjoy yourself! Breast play can also magnify a clitoral or G spot orgasm, so any of these techniques can also be used in combination with stimulating other parts of her body for a truly intense experience.

These are ways husbands can learn how to stimulate their wives’ breasts to the state and stage of powerful breast orgasm. So what are you still waiting for? Get down together while I eagerly await your feedback!

Questions and Answers

Saturday Punch Newspaper is healing countless homes

Hi Funmi,

The last time I mailed you, you took quality time to explain the positive effect of locating and putting to use my ‘G‘-spot on my marriage. Well, I did exactly what you advised me to do with my husband. Few nights after, while having sex, we hit it as he was thrusting extra slowly. It felt awesome, but then, it was like a switch in my body came on, and l realised he was hitting my ‘G‘-spot over and over with each stroke. When he noticed that l was in another world, he made it a habit henceforth, the last one that drew us closer was; I was lying on my back and my husband’s pointed finger was inside me. He was moving his finger as if saying ‘come here sweetheart’. I felt the tip rub against my vagina wall and an intense pressure built up. Then, he entered me from behind, his penis somehow pointed directly against my ‘G‘-spot, and the sensation was really intense. This is the only way I can have a ‘G‘-spot orgasm and it always makes me want more. Thanks a lot. Now, there are no excuses again from me. I do not only look forward to it, I am the one calling for sex, regardless of the stress and tension from work.

Daniel Koko

Can I really win this war of premature ejaculation?

I am 38 years old. I am married, but seriously battling with premature ejaculation. It looks so insurmountable I cannot sustain an erection after penetration for more than one minute. Most of the time, it lasts between 30 and 45 seconds. As of the time I am mailing you this letter, my wife has stopped complaining and at the same time, stopped trying to help. Even when I try to see if an erection can occur, her response is just killing. I feel less than a man. I know that I am not satisfying her in bed. Way before now, I use to have sex with her close to five times in a week and that is when she was not having her menstrual period. This thing started immediately when I started having sex. In the first month of our marriage, I was still able to last between three and four minutes after penetration. Ever since, I have not been able to repeat or surpass that achievement. I thought it would get better over time and I assumed it was because I was not sexually active before marriage. Unfortunately, there has not been any improvement. Is there hope for me? We have no children and I am afraid of my wife bringing in an illegitimate child as my mine, because as of now, she seems sexually satisfied and does not care if I ask for sex or not.

Mr. Adelokifu Alakuso

Mr Alakuso, I think before you give up on the battle over premature ejaculation, get all the necessary medical assistance, examinations and test and seek for natural remedies and cure. Medicine is now improving on the cases of all and any type of erectile dysfunction challenges. Many cases that have been written off are getting fact base solutions. Kindly contact me for help. You will be shocked that your case will become a history.

Can I inhale cancer cells drugs?

My husband is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for prostate gland cancer. He is at the same time insisting I use my mouth on his penis but I feel it is not safe. What if I accidentally taste the cancer drug or cancer cell in his semen?

Mrs Irabuka Kudirati

Even though the drugs that are used during chemotherapy are not excreted in semen in quantities that could be dangerous, it is not safe to use your mouth on his penis while he is undergoing chemotherapy. Using a condom on his penis might bail you out if he is insisting.

by  FUNMI AKINGBADE

30 health benefits of banana

Intake of fruits greatly improves the health, and one fruit with plenty benefits is banana. Cheap to come by, and in abundance, banana can help in many ways. Even the outside of the banana can work wonders. Here are 30 reasons you need to ensure you eat more bananas:

1. It improves eyesight: Bananas contain a lot of Vitamin A, which is vital for the health of your eyes. Vitamin A is also needed to prevent macular degeneration when you get older.

2. Maintains a healthy digestive system: Banana contains a compound called fructooligosaccharide, which produces the enzymes that assist with the absorption of nutrients from the food that you eat. Thereby making it excellent for the digestive system. There are also ingredients in bananas that will ease constipation and help protect you against gastric ulcers.

3. Controls blood pressure: Bananas are a rich source of the minerals: potassium, magnesium and calcium. These minerals, potassium in particular, are known to be very good at stabilising blood pressure. The eating of bananas is often recommended for people who suffer with hypertension, as a part of an overall treatment plan

4. Prevents heart disease: Bananas are also good for your cardiovascular system in many different ways. They contain sterol fat, which helps to stop cholesterol being absorbed by the body, they are a good source of Vitamins C and B6, which promote a healthy heart and they are rich in potassium that can help prevent heart disease.

5. Recommended for diabetics: Because of the potassium that bananas contain, they are often recommended as a fruit that diabetics can eat. As well as the blood sugar stabilising effect of the potassium, bananas have a low glycaemic index, so they don’t cause the spike in blood sugar levels that some other fruits do.

6. Prevents Osteoporosis: Eating bananas regularly is also good for the health of your bones and teeth. The potassium in bananas helps the body to absorb calcium, which is essential for maintaining strong teeth and bones. Bananas can help prevent the development of the bone disease osteoporosis.

7. Protects against Alzheimer’s disease: Bananas contain antioxidants that protect the brain cells form being damaged by free-radicals. It is rich in antioxidants and so protects the neurons in the brain from oxidative stress and may reduce the risk of degenerative brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

8. Helps you sleep better: The magnesium and potassium in bananas act as a muscle relaxant and that, along with the carbohydrates that bananas contain, will help you get to sleep and make you sleep more soundly if you suffer from insomnia.

9. Help with depression: They contain the amino acid tryptophan and vitamin B6, which help the body to produce the feel good hormone serotonin, which promotes a general feeling of well-being.

10. Help with weight loss: Eating a high fibre diet is one of the easiest ways that you can lose weight and Banana contains a lot of it. As a snack, it helps you feel full but gives you very little calorie because they contain lots of soluble fibre.

11. Reduces the risk of cancer: Adding bananas to your diet can reduce your risk of cancer. Like many fruits, bananas are a good source of antioxidants, which fight the cancer inducing damage that can be caused by free-radicals in your body. The high fibre content of bananas also keeps your bowels working properly, which can help prevent the development of bowel cancer.

12. Lowers cholesterol: The water soluble fibre in bananas can reduce the levels of bad cholesterol in your blood. Bananas contain a number of such soluble fibres including psyllium and pectin, which help the body expel the bad LDL cholesterol, which causes clogging and hardening of the arteries, but these fibres do not have the same effect on the good HDL cholesterol that your body needs to function properly.

13. Prevents anaemia: Iron deficiency, or anaemia, can cause dizziness, weakness and headaches and can, in extreme cases, be fatal. Bananas are a good natural source of iron, which the body needs to produce haemoglobin in the blood. Eat more bananas and you will have a lot more energy, and you will have a rosy complexion too.

14. Remove warts: Rubbing the inside of a banana skin on a wart regularly, or you hold a small piece of banana skin over a wart overnight with a bandage or plaster, it will gently remove the wart and you won’t have to use harsh chemical treatments that can burn and sting.

15. Relieves heartburn: If you wake up in the night with heartburn, try eating a banana, because bananas contain a natural antacid that neutralises the stomach acids that are the cause of heartburn. A banana will quickly restore the balance of the digestive system and bring quick relief for indigestion and heartburn.

Read also: Here are 10 foods to burn those calories

16. Cures cracked heels: Massaging some banana pulp on cracked heel and leaving it on for ten minutes then washing it off again moisturises the skin and helps remove cracks from the heel. The anti-bacterial agents in bananas also help to remove any infection, and the banana pulp will have moisturised and nourished your skin.

17. Thickens hair: Benefits of bananas go even further. Bananas make a great ingredient for homemade hair masks. If you make up a hair mask of one mashed up banana mixed with some natural yoghurt and a tablespoon of coconut oil, it will add volume to your hair and promote new hair growth. It works best if you apply the mask to your hair and then leave it on for about twenty minutes before you wash it out again.

18. Removes excess oil for the skin:
Banana helps those with greasy skin. You can make a wonderfully effective facial scrub for oily skin by mixing together one mashed up banana, a tablespoon of oats, a tablespoon of honey and two tablespoons of almond milk. Massage this into your face and it will gently exfoliate the skin and it will remove excess sebum too.

19. Whitens teeth: Bananas skins contain a natural whitening agent that will work wonders on stained teeth. Rub the inside of a banana skin over your teeth and leave it for ten minutes before you rinse out your mouth. If you do this daily, you will soon have sparkling white teeth again.

20. Reduces wrinkles: Gently rub the inside of a banana skin over any fine lines in your skin that you may have and it will nourish and soften the skin and bring back some of its elasticity. Wash off after about five minutes. If you do this daily, you should be able to see a noticeable reduction in the lines in your skin in just a few weeks.

21. Cures acne: Banana contains some fantastically effective anti-bacterial agents that are great for treating acne. To make natural anti-acne face mask, mix one mashed up banana with a pinch of nutmeg and a teaspoon of honey (make sure you are not allergic to these natural ingredients). Apply this to your face, leave it on for about five minutes, and then wash it off again with warm water. Watch those pimples disappear!

22. Treats frizzy hair: Dry, frizzy hair can be treated with a banana hair mask. Mash up two bananas and add three tablespoons of honey and one tablespoon of argan oil. Massage the mixture into your hair, right down to the roots and scalp, and leave it in for half an hour. Then, you can wash and condition your hair as usual, and you will find that the banana hair mask has rehydrated your hair and tamed the frizz.

23 Treats dry skin: A mixture of pulped bananas and honey will clear up blemishes and rehydrate the skin. Simply apply the mixture to your face and leave it in for about five or ten minutes, then wash off.

24. Reduces the itching from insect bites: If you get bitten by an insect, then rubbing the inside of a banana peel on it will reduce the swelling and soothe the soreness and itching that insect bites and stings cause.

25. Reduce puffiness around the eyes: Beauty benefits of bananas are almost unlimited. The potassium in bananas will draw excess fluid out of the skin and reduce the appearance of puffy eyes almost instantly. Gently rub some mashed up banana into the areas under your eyes and leave it to it for about five or ten minutes. When you wash it off, your puffy eyes will be gone.

26. Banana and olive oil hair mask for shiny hair: Here’s another great banana hair mask recipe, this time for shiny hair. Peel and mash one ripe banana and then mix in a quarter of a cup of olive oil and the white of one egg. Massage the mixture well into your hair and scalp and leave it in for fifteen minutes before you wash it out again with shampoo. Bananas contain some wonderful nutrients that will condition your hair and bring back the shine and bounce.

27. Tones the skin: For a clear, glowing complexion, mix one tablespoon of mashed banana with a spoonful of honey, tablespoon of sweet almond oil and teaspoon of sandalwood powder. Apply the moisture to your face and leave it in for about fifteen minutes and your skin will feel fresh and smooth and you have a beautiful, natural looking, glowing complexion.

28. Cures dandruff: The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of bananas are great for treating dandruff. Mash up one banana and mix in a tablespoon of coconut oil, a few drops of lemon juice and a teaspoon full of natural honey. Massage the mixture well into your scalp and leave it in for twenty minutes. This hair mask will hydrate your scalp and fight any fungal infection, so your hair will soon be free of flakes of dandruff.

29. Cleanses and gently exfoliates the skin: Because bananas are rich in Vitamins A, C and E, they provide a gentle and natural way to cleanse the sin. To give your skin a deep down clean, lift dirt and grease from the pores, and exfoliate dead skin cells, make up a mixture of mashed banana and coffee grounds. Rub it gently into your face and it will leave your skin fresh and clean.

30. Treats chapped lips: If you get dry, chapped lips, just rub a little banana pulp on your lips and then apply sweet almond oil, before you go to bed and leave it on overnight. If you can resist licking your lips, it will moisturise the skin and help to heal any cracks in your lips.

Foods that can increase your sex drive.

What foods can increase sperm and give him the best chance to get her pregnant?

Getting pregnant is not always as easy as we think it should be. One common problem is a low sperm count, but the good news is that there are foods that are not only super tasty, but super good for sperm.

The best part? Some of these foods are also aphrodisiacs... so if you've gotten a little bored with getting it on to get pregnant, whip up a menu based on these sexy foods.
Asparagus - That little green vegetable that gets so much flack for what it does to the smell of your urine actually has some fantastic powers over sperm. The ridiculously high amount of Vitamin C prevents sperm from oxidizing,and it protects the cells of the testicles. Additionally, Vitamin C decreases free radicals so your man’s body can focus on producing sperm instead of fighting off disease.

Avocado - Summer is the perfect time to pick up some yummy avocados forguacamole… and a hot night at home. Packed with vitamin E, vitamin B6, and folic acid, avocados boost sperm motility and give it the strength to penetrate an egg.
Bananas - Upon reading that this fruit can help your guy out, we handsome giggly flashbacks to Drew Barrymore putting a condom on a banana in Never Been Kissed. Phallic shape aside, there are some awesome things going on in bananas to help increase sperm count. Bananas have a rare enzyme in them called Bromelain, which has been shown to regulate sex hormones. There’s also a good amount of vitamin B1, vitamin A, and vitamin C which will help increase his stamina and boost his body’s ability to make sperm.

Beef - This was a little surprising to us given that doctors are constantly saying to lay off red meat if you want a healthy heart. Lean beef,though, is a fantastic source of zinc. A little research on the Dr. Oz site told us that zinc has protective properties that keep free radicals from getting at your man’s little swimmers. In fact, zinc goes even further to prevent testosterone from converting to estrogen, which is the culprit of a low sex drive.

Dark Chocolate - There’s no sexier food to bring into the bedroom than dark chocolate, but now, it’s not just the seductive taste you’ll want it for.Dark chocolate contains L-Arginine HCL, an amino acid related to the argininein walnuts. It also doubles your guy’s sperm count and semen volume. Men who eat a little dark chocolate everyday have also noted that they have stronger and more intense orgasms. BONUS: it does that for you, too. wink emoticon

Garlic - Along the same lines as ginseng, garlic possesses the power to increase blood flow. The chemical allicin not only helps keep plaque from building up in the arteries, it also improves the flow of blood to the genitals and boosts the strength and endurance of the sperm. Garlic also contain sselenium and vitamin B6 to prevent sperm damage and regulate hormones.
Ginseng - Dr. Oz recommends ginseng for guys who are dealing with less than impressive bedroom scenarios, but a little more online research tells us that men in Asia have been supplementing ginseng into their diets for centuries because it improves virility. In fact, ginseng increases libido, sexualperformance, and aids in blood flow to the testicles. In a study at SouthernIllinois University, 45 men with erectile dysfunction were put on a ginsengregimen, and at 16 weeks, 60% of those men reported having stronger erections.

Oysters - The fact that oysters are an aphrodisiac was first presentedto me in the form of Sex in the City. The process of feeding to each other andsucking down the slimy little things really gets people going. Did you know theyalso have sperm count increasing benefits? A good portion of a sperm cell iscomposed of zinc, which oysters are relatively high in. Eating oysters can notonly increase sperm production but it can aid in the repair of damaged sperm.

Pomegranate - This is the most super of all super foods. It seems likeit can truly cure whatever ails you from the common cold to low sperm count.Because of the intense cocktail of antioxidants in pomegranates, the juice canlower a chemical in the blood called malondialidehyde. That chemical destroyssperm, so drinking pomegranate juice is like putting a super hero cape on allthose sperm so they can destroy the evil free radicals and get to the egg justin time.

Walnuts- In high school, we were given acomparison between the size of a walnut and a testicle. Strangely enough, sizeis not the only link between them. Walnuts contain arganine, which helps thetesticles to increase sperm production and also aids in semen volume increase.It also contains Omega-3 fatty acids which improve the blood flow to the penis.These nuts also have twice the antioxidant power over other nuts so they do agreat job of protecting the little guys, too. BONUS: eating 7 walnuts a daylowers cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.

Sex keeps you healthy

Men who have sex at least twice in a week can almost halve their risk of heart disease, according to new research. This study was conducted with over 1,000 men.

Sex is an activity that involves intense physical and emotional elements. Sexual intercourse may be a marker for a healthy heart because sex can be a form of physical activity which, like exercise, gives your heart a workout. People who have a desire for frequent sex, and are able to do so, are likely healthier overall; especially because men who have regular sex may also be in a supportive relationship, which offers stress reduction and emotional benefits.

The medical world is finding that regular sex is so good for you that when you go to see a doctor, they are asking many questions about your sex life to give them an indication of your overall health. Apparently, sex is not only good for your heart, it also keeps many other illnesses away.

For example, sex can actually cause you to get fewer colds. Research has shown that couples who have sex weekly have a 30 percent increase in immunoglobulin A, an antibody that fights infection. Sex can also help women have a more predictable period schedule, as a result of being exposed to male pheromones.

In addition, having sex reduces stress — for physiological as well as emotional reasons. Anything that will reduce stress is good for you, as too much stress can lead to many diseases, including cancer. Sex activates a nerve that has a calming effect. Having sex also lowers blood pressure, which reduces the risk of heart disease.

Sex can even reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol! The following are other good health results that a good sex life can give you:

• Fewer colds because of an increase in immunoglobulin A, an antibody that fights infection

• Women can get more predictable periods because of exposure to male pheromones

• A better physical response to stress

• Lower blood pressure, which lowers your risk of heart disease

• Lower your bad cholesterol and increase your good cholesterol

• Help tone your abdomen and pretty much any muscle in your body

• Natural increases in estrogen, thus improving the appearance of your hair, skin and nails

• Improve your memory because blood flow  increases to your brain

• Increased feelings of motivation because of the release of endorphins

As you can see, a good sex life is one way to stay happy, healthy and fit. So, if your doctor starts grilling you about your bedroom habits, now at least you know why.

And this is actually only the tip of the iceberg. Sex has also been found to boost self-esteem and improve intimacy in your relationship. This is because sex and orgasms result in increased levels of the hormone oxytocin — the “love” hormone — that helps you feel bonded to your partner.

As oxytocin increases, so do hormones known as endorphins, which in turn lessens feelings of pain related to everything from headaches and arthritis to symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, PMS. It can also help you to get a better night’s sleep.

Further, for women, having sex can help strengthen the muscles of your pelvic floor (the same ones used to stop urination). As you age, having strong pelvic floor muscles reduces your risk of accidents.

Of course, these benefits are assuming you’re having sex with a mutually monogamous partner, otherwise you risk catching a sexually transmitted disease.

Sexual pleasure begins in your brain

Your brain and nervous system control your sex glands and genitals, and this is why they also control your sexual desire, as well as orgasms. This is why, for example, visual images trigger sexual desire in both sexes.

Your brain stem also emits nerve impulses that control erectile function. These nerve impulses navigate through the erection centre of your spinal column to the erectile tissue of your penis, where they trigger a chain reaction in the membranes of your vascular muscle cells. This sophisticated chain reaction is dependent on a messenger molecule called cyclic guanosine monophosphate, or cGMP.

However, this works in reverse as well: an erection softens as soon as another enzyme, called phosphodiesterase, starts to degrade the cGMP molecules.

Drugs like Viagra, Levitra and Cialis work by inhibiting phosphodiesterase, which may help maintain your erection. But, these pills will not create an erection in and of themselves. Your initial erection still has to be triggered psychologically. Without that initial impetus, potency pills will have no effect whatsoever. This is also why these pills are ineffective for many men who take them hoping for a magic jack-in-the box effect.

As you might suspect, because your sexuality is so intimately tied to your mind, anxiety, defensiveness, fear, and failure of communication are all destructive psychological forces that can take a heavy toll on your libido, whether you’re a man or a woman, by acting as road blocks to desire.

According to Professor Gert Holstege of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, fear and anxiety need to be avoided at all costs if a woman wishes to have an orgasm.

To be concluded
By Oladapo Ashiru

The teenager and the challenges of sexual pressure

A good percentage of our teens and young adults today are under the siege of sexual pressure. Many willing teens and young adults easily give in to the pressure of sex and not because they actually bargained for it or were in full support of the sexual experiencing they were having. But it has been discovered that lack of good parenting and mentorship have led many of our young stars into undue negative early sexual exposure and disaster.

Parents and guardians, in a bid to balance business and parenthood, fail in their responsibilities towards these young ones.

The negative media influences (Internet) cannot be over emphasised. It is from the internet these teens and young stars are polluted as many of our teens get hooked to porn sites as early as age 10 and sometimes below. Masturbation, pornography, sex chatting have now become the order of the day among these teens. It is from internet that these young ones are pressured into bad gangs, sexual perversion etc. Research has shown that many sexual activities are pre-programme into all children’s games, phones, ipad, iphones, Facebook dating etc. Then again, the violence-saturated media leads to the ever-increasing acceptance of violence among our young adults.

I am of the opinion that parents and guardians should do a bit more on sex education than they have done. Then, we would be able to salvage our teens and young adults from this impending sexual disaster.

But the greatest challenge is actually how to start this sex education.

Many well-meaning parents want to know the best approach they can adopt with their teenagers when they want to introduce and discuss sex and sexuality with them. Talking to your teenage child about sex and puberty can be quite challenging as some parents even avoid the topic completely because they are ignorant of their teens budding maturity, exposure and even the extent of what he or she knows already.

Others have the concern that talking about sex and their teens’ body change would lead to early experimentation. Some other parents hesitate to start the conversation out of unnecessary fears, as such, leaving their teens to chances. I think it is not safe for parents to leave children to chances while wishing all would be well. Why not effect the changes you want to see in them?

A sex therapist expert says sex education is easier passed to the male teen than the female teen. This is the more reason a teen girl should be taught way ahead of her male counterpart. As soon as a girl- child reaches puberty, you should not delay discussing sex and puberty any longer. Many teens turn to friends and the media to get answers, much of which may be way off base. You might be surprised to know that although teens report getting most of their ­­information from the above two sources, the number one source they would wish they could go to with questions is ‘you,’ their parents.

Besides, refusing to talk about puberty and sex doesn’t make the potential problems go away. Seventy -nine per cent of adolescents report that they have had sex by age 10, and by their senior years, the number would have even jumped to 87 per cent. Talking about sex with your teen won’t cause them to explore their sexuality. In fact, some studies show talking openly and honestly about sex could help prevent unwanted teenage pregnancy. When it comes to talking about sex and puberty, don’t think of it as one big, difficult conversation. Instead, think of it as a series of conversations that should take place throughout their teen years. Do not shove so much content on them at one sitting than they can absorb and process. Offer information in snippets, as you give them time to think and invite them to ask you questions.

The first step is learn how to encourage them to share details about their lives with you, no matter how embarrassing. Starting off with girls especially needs some level of smartness. You can start by indicating that you are not sure if she has started puberty and sex education in school or you can ask her if she has started menstruating. The truth of the matter is many teens hide this information from their parents.

While you open up such talks, observe their body changes. For most girls, the development of breasts is the first sign of puberty. This development can be an awkward time if you haven’t talked to her about this yet. Development begins with breast buds, which are lumps just under the nipple that can be tender. It is normal for one to develop before the other. As breasts develop, the area around the nipple (areola) will darken and hair can grow around it. As breasts development continues, growth can be uneven. This is normal and the size difference tends to decrease throughout development. If breast development occurs quickly, stretch marks may form. This is normal and they usually become less obvious over time. While for most boys, the development is more obvious in the change in their voice, it gets deeper and they start developing armpit and pubic hair.

Along breasts development, the young girl gains body fat and her hips widen, which sometimes may lead to weight gain. Your daughter may be concerned that she’s gaining weight, but explain that she’s just gearing up for a growth spurt. Girls need healthy weight gain during this time in their lives. Be careful not to make them feel pressured to diet. Remember that how you feel about yourself will be reflected in how your daughter views herself, so be mindful about what you are communicating about body image. While for boys, there may not be obvious change in weight, rather, they may just grow taller with long bones.

Half of all girls in Nigeria today get their periods before their 11th birthdays; 70 per cent by age 13, and 88 per cent by age 15. While some girls can’t wait to start their periods, others may feel afraid or anxious. To add to their anxiety, many girls don’t have a complete understanding of their reproductive system or what actually happens during the menstrual cycle.

Tell her how long a period normally lasts and how often they occur. Tell her that her menstrual cycle would likely last for seven days or less. Her period may be irregular for the first few years. Once her cycle becomes regular, most girls get their period every 25 to 30 days. Some get them as frequently as every 21 days or as infrequently as every 45 days. Let her know what to expect.

With boys, the testosterone gushes out fast with higher pressure making them to be aware of their sexuality. This testosterone sometimes causes them to experience night emissions; this is the natural way the body regulate the level of semen and sperm cell in the scrotal of the boy. Note please that night emission is not the same thing as wet dreams. While night emission is done without any human effort or assistance, wet dream is a fantasy imagined.

You can explain that during her period, hormones can cause nausea, cramping, and diarrhoea. Explain sanitary products to her. Explain the different options and discuss the pros and cons of each and show her how to use them. Talk about the odours and discharges between periods. Explain to her the discharge from her vagina is a way of naturally cleansing itself. Teach her to wipe from front to back after using the bathroom to avoid vaginal or bladder infections. Explain the reasons why she has to change the sanitary products. Let her know that the use of toilet rolls for menstrual period is the reason for many onsets of chronic itching, yeast infection, some types of toilet infections and some forms of pelvic inflammatory diseases.

Explain the differences between normal vaginal discharges and infectious discharges. Caution your daughter against using feminine sprays. This is not the ideal time to tell them not to be close to a boy or else they would get pregnant, NO! Tell them the truth about the beauty of sex and the proper place for sex which is in marriage and that sex is not meant for teens and young adults however raging the passion for sex may appear. Tell them that the ability to become a pregnant mother or ability to be a father is not the same thing as been mature enough to shoulder the responsibilities of parenthood.

Do not paint a distorted picture that sex is bad. Tell them sex is a sweet beautiful thing that happen between you and their dad or you and their mum and that they were the products of mature sexual relationship as it were. Let them know that the perfect, conducive and appropriate place for good sex is in the marriage and tell them the everlasting benefit of sex within the marriage confinement.

These will help them rather than telling them not to go near boys. These teens unavoidably mingle with the opposite sex at one point in time or the other. Proper mingling should be encouraged more than just giving orders that they could easily break when they discover it is actually baseless and you were not telling them the truth. Back this up by being the best friend they could ever confide in. It is normal for a teen to be sexually attracted to another teen but let them know the implication of early feelings of passionate love and sex. Let them be able to ask you questions that they may think you may not be comfortable with.

Questions and Answers

Natural sperm boosters needed?

Are there natural sperm boosters for men? I love to be a father but all efforts have failed. I hopefully do not want to resign my hope and faith. Do you have anything to say to this?

Falati Olopefoku

The most common cause of male infertility is low sperm count. Absence of sperm in the semen is less common, affecting only 1 per cent of all men and 10-15 per cent of infertile men. But if you aspire to fatherhood, research reports have discovered that eating lots of walnuts can help out and improve sperm quality in healthy young men. Their study is part of a growing body of evidence that men’s dietary and lifestyle choices might affect their fertility.

The new study, funded in part by the California Walnut Commission, enrolled 117 men aged 21 to 35 who ate a typical Western diet. Half the men were randomly assigned to eat 2.5 ounces of walnuts a day, along with their usual diet. The other men were told to continue their regular diet but not to eat any tree nuts. Walnuts are the only nuts with appreciable levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which some studies of male infertility have linked to better sperm quality. Animal and human studies have shown that omega-3 fats and other polyunsaturated fatty acids “play critical roles in sperm maturation and membrane function. Previous research has shown that men with poor sperm counts saw improvement after taking fish oil supplements high in omega-3 fats, high intake of omega-3 fats was linked to more normal sperm size and shape, while high intake of saturated fats was related to lower sperm concentration.

What about the spots on my penis?

I have spots on my penis. There are some really tiny ones on the tip of my penis, and other spots that look like acne on other parts of the penis and the scrotum. What are they? Sometimes I feel pained and biting sensation on the tip and shaft of the penis. Why is this?

Playboy Henry

These two types of spots are very common and not serious. First of all, they are not really spots on the tip of your penis but a natural secretion of the sebaceous glands, which can have a bad smell. It is important to pull back the foreskin from the glans and wash it every day. As for the penis and the scrotum, these small white spots under the skin are sebaceous cysts and are not serious. But if you experience pain and biting sensation, you may likely have been infected with some types of sexually transmitted diseases, you need treatment fast.

He has no interest in sex

My husband and I have a one-year-old son, and for months my husband has had no interest in sex. I am always the initiator, and he turns me down with excuses about being tired or having financial worries. I wonder what it would be like to be married to someone who made me feel wanted and beautiful. What do you suggest?

Want answer.

There are lots of reasons a husband might lose interest in sex. Fatigue and financial worries are legitimate causes for many men. But you seem to connect his disinterest with the birth of your baby. Pregnancy and delivery of a baby cause more than just abdominal stretch marks and post-partum depression for the mother. New dads get their own set of psychological stretch marks that can make sex less appealing.

A father often reacts to the invasion of his space by a competitor. Suddenly he doesn’t have you all to himself. Here’s this other little male getting time at your breast. The baby puts new time constraints on both of you. Your focus of attention and affection may have shifted toward your son. And your husband knows that, as a father, he’s not supposed to feel jealous of his own baby. But subtle resentment can develop. Another factor can be a husband’s unconscious compartmentalisation of “mothers” versus “sexual playmates.” As a mother, you’ve moved onto a sort of sacred, revered pedestal outside the category of a woman who should be sexually stimulating. You may have encouraged this attitude if you wanted a break from sexual play after childbirth.

Talking these things through is best, but if he refuses, there are other things you can do. First, try to decrease his life pressures and financial demands, since these are the excuses he gives. Second, try to find out if he has emotional needs that have been left unmet since the baby came. Third, work toward regaining your figure and your playful availability. Fourth, make babysitting arrangements, kidnap him to some romantic spot and seduce him. Finally, let him know he’s still your hero. If you are wondering what it would be like to be married to someone “who made you feel wanted and beautiful,” you could be vulnerable to an affair. Please, please be careful! Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can listen to someone say how beautiful you are and not be lured into trouble.

I am helpless

I have almost given up on my premature ejaculation problem. My first wife fled with my children on some spurious and unfounded excuses. But ostensibly, it was because of this nagging ailment. I have done all that is physically, spiritually and medically possible in the quest for solution, but I have failed woefully. This has not deterred me though because I know that God‘s care and mercy extend beyond any imaginable limits. I believe your advice and counsel in this area can help me. You have certainly started a medium that would unfree millions from their fears and helplessness. My prayer for you is that your desires and aspirations would be rewarded with solutions from the almighty God. I am a helpless man in this area.

Helpless man

I would love to say that you are not helpless, because you have not extensively exhausted all medical solutions both natural and orthodox. This is because of the fact that there are always new discoveries every day that may help you out. Researchers are of the opinion that they would keep on coming up with varieties of solutions, which are all available if you go to the right source. To deal extensively with this epidemic, kindly give me a call for help.

By FUNMI AKINGBADE

Dealing with bad breath

Suffering from halitosis? To ascertain your answer, simply lick the inside of your wrist with the back of your tongue; wait for a few seconds until the saliva dries. If you get an unpleasant smell from your wrist, there is likelihood that you are a sufferer.

Also referred to as smelly mouth, studies have estimated that up to 50 per cent of people have halitosis.

It is important to know that halitosis can occur even if you brush and floss your teeth regularly. Bad breath is caused by the gums and tongue – not the teeth.

Sometimes, it could only last for a short period, but with some sufferers, it is persistent.

Halitosis can be as a result of poor dental health habits. It can also be worsened by the types of food one eats and incessant indulgence in other unhealthy lifestyle habits.

Clinically considered a minor issue, persistent bad breath may be as a result of serious health issues. Buttressing this, a dentist, who is also the Secretary-General, Nigerian Dental Association, Dr. Kolawole Obagbemiro, said a smelly mouth can be a pointer to some underlining problems.

He said, “Halitosis is mostly caused by sulphur-producing bacteria that normally live on the surface of the tongue and in the throat. Sometimes, these bacteria start to break down proteins at a very high rate and odorous volatile sulphur compounds are released from the back of the tongue and throat. Anyone with bad breath should go for oral examination. Persistent bad breath may be a warning sign of gum (periodontal) disease. Gum disease is caused by the buildup of plaque on teeth. Bacteria cause the formation of toxins to form, which irritate the gums. If gum disease continues untreated, it can damage the gums and jaw bone. Other dental causes of bad breath include poorly fitting dental appliances, yeast infection of the mouth, and dental caries (cavities).

“The medical condition, dry mouth (also called xerostomia) also can cause bad breath. Saliva is necessary to moisten the mouth, neutralise acids produced by plaque, and wash away dead cells that accumulate on the tongue, gums, and cheeks. If not removed, these cells decompose and can cause bad breath. Dry mouth may be a side effect of various medications, salivary gland problems, or continuous breathing through the mouth.”

According to Obagbemiro, the disease affects all ages, including babies. A baby can be infected by a mother, who is a sufferer but who constantly puts her mouth in the baby’s. Thus she inflicts bacteria in the baby’s oral environment.

But men stand a higher risk of suffering from halitosis. Explaining further, Obagbemiro said, “From research, bad breath is more common in men because women tend to pay more attention to hygiene and regularly take care of their bodies compared to men.”

A nutritionist at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Okunola Oladimeji shared the same view but with a caveat:

“To the best of my knowledge, I don’t think there is any research that states that men are more likely to have bad breath than women. It is more common in men than women. This is because women are more conscious of personal hygiene and would always go the extra mile to smell and look good. Once a woman notices that she has bad breath, she could go to any length to deal with it; a man may not be too concerned even when his attention is being drawn to it,” he explained.

Stressing the need for proper but healthy eating habits, he said consumption of sweets and junk foods at night propels bad breath.

“Generally, late night meals are unhealthy. When such meals are taken and one doesn’t brush one’s teeth, particles are stuck in the teeth and this serve as breeding ground for bacteria. Ideally, one should brush at least twice in a day — morning and before going to bed at night.”

An uncontrolled lifestyle of alcohol and cigarettes consumption is another cause of bad breath.

Oladimeji explained that, “Persons addicted to alcohol permanently suffer from halitosis. Not only that, consuming leftovers without heating on the stove or other cooking device, could cause bad breath. Also, don’t forget the tongue. It is a major cause of mouth odour, if your tongue is not well washed, it could cause bad breath,” he said.

For those who opt for bubble gum in dealing with bad breath, he warned that chewing gum aggravates the situation in any sufferer

“Chewing gum regularly doesn’t take care of bad breath; rather, it damages one’s teeth. Even when some minty bubble gum is taken, they provide a temporary relief and once the flavour is drained, the smell continues. But before visiting a dentist to complain of bad breath, ensure you are not taking drugs that could propel bad breath.

Speaking on the symptoms of bad breath, Obagbemiro said, “If one notices a white coating on the tongue especially at the back of the tongue, this could be a symptom of bad breath.”

Other symptoms, he said, include dry mouth, build up around the teeth, post-nasal drip or mucous, morning bad breath and a burning tongue, thick saliva and a constant need to clear the throat and constant sour, bitter metallic taste in the mouth.”

Treatment for halitosis is simple and can easily be carried out by adhering to dental instructions. According to the chief dental Officer, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr. Olufemi Orebanjo, treatment is based on the primary cause of halitosis.

He said, “Avoiding dehydration by drinking lots of water and maintaining a good oral hygiene are major steps to take. This means brushing and flossing of the teeth are important. Already, some mouthwashes and toothpastes are manufactured for this purpose and can assist in fighting halitosis.

“Gentle, but effective tongue cleaning is also required. A variety of tongue brushes and scrapers have been produced in recent years. The tongue should be brushed in a gentle but thorough manner, from the back towards the front of the tongue, keeping in mind that the hardest to reach back portion smells the worst. But consult your dentist to identify the cause of the bad breath and to get the most effective treatment for you.”

Orebanjo, however, noted that the condition shouldn’t be treated with kid’s gloves.

He said “Halitosis may be related to a disease in one’s digestive system or airways. If left untreated, the person’s health deteriorates and could lead to death. Doctors don’t like mentioning this aspect so as not to scare people.”

Mentioning the fact that bad breath affects people of all age groups, he advised that everyone, including men, should be concerned about personal hygiene.

By MOTUNRAYO JOEL